Prompt 37: The Postpartum Support Plan (Meals, Help, Boundaries)
When to use it
You want to set up the postpartum help before the baby arrives — meals, household help, visitor boundaries — so you don't have to organize it while sleep-deprived.
The Prompt
I'm [N] weeks pregnant and I want to set up postpartum support NOW, before baby arrives.
My situation:
- Household: [E.G., "just me and partner" / "we have a toddler" / "extended family nearby" / "we're on our own"]
- Partner's leave: [E.G., "2 weeks" / "6 weeks" / "none" / "I don't know"]
- Family availability: [E.G., "mom can come for 1 week" / "family is far but wants to help" / "no family help" / "too much family, need boundaries"]
- Friends: [E.G., "tight-knit, would help" / "small circle" / "no local friends"]
- My home: [E.G., "small apartment, no guest room" / "house with space" / "multi-level"]
- My culture: [E.G., "we have specific postpartum traditions" / "we don't have a tradition" / "my culture expects family to come"]
Please give me:
1. The 4-week postpartum support plan (Week 1, 2, 3, 4 — what you need when)
2. A meal train setup (how to organize, what to ask for, what NOT to ask for)
3. A "visitor policy" you can send family/friends BEFORE baby arrives
4. The "I need help but don't know what to ask" list (give this to friends)
5. How to handle: too much help, not enough help, unhelpful help
6. The "first 2 weeks alone" plan (if you won't have help)
7. Specific postpartum services worth paying for (postpartum doula, night nurse, cleaning service, meal delivery)
8. How to say "no" to visitors without guilt
Important: I want a real plan, not a Pinterest checklist.Example output
*"Week 1: someone physically there 24/7 (partner, mom, or paid postpartum doula). Tasks: bring me food, hold baby while I shower, do laundry. Week 2: 4-6 hrs/day of help. Tasks: meals, light housework, watching baby while I nap. Weeks 3-4: drop-in help, 2-3x/week. Meal train: set up via MealTrain.com with 2 weeks of dinners. Ask for: 'No-drop-in' meals or 'drop at door.' Visitor policy to send: 'We'd love a short visit in week 2+ — please text first, stay <1 hr, no sick visitors, no surprise visits.' Services worth paying for if no help: postpartum doula ($30-50/hr), meal delivery (factor, CookUnity), cleaning service (1x/week). 'No' script: 'We're in a quiet healing period. We'd love a video call instead.'"*
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