By the time most parents leave the hospital with their newborn, they are shocked and scared. In the rest of the world, families receive help and guidance during this process. Somehow, we fall short in preparing parents for life AFTER BIRTH.

How can we make the transition to motherhood easier? Realistic expectations are a good place to start. Learning to feed, soothe and care for your baby takes time. In the first days and weeks after birth, most moms are exhausted and emotionally raw. Recovering from childbirth, mastering breastfeeding and baby care is no small feat. But, with some preparation and help, you can alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress.

Step one: Build Your Support Network. You need to know other moms. Moms who have been where you're going and came out the other side. Moms who will be happy to discuss the color of your baby's poop! Make friends with the moms in your prenatal yoga class, childbirth class, and go to at least one La Leche League, Dar a Luz Network, or New Moms' Group while you're pregnant.

Step Two: Know your Resources! Even if you don't think you'll ever need them, it's much easier to gather the information before you find yourself in a crisis. Have the contact information on two breastfeeding professionals that do home visits in your area.

Step Three: Prepare your home. I'm not talking about the latest baby gadgets. I'm talking about staples and necessities. Think about all that you might use in a two-week period. Stock your freezer and start collecting Take-Out menus. Chances are, you'll be ravenous and have less than 20 minutes to prepare any meal! If you're only going to have limited help, check out laundry services and possibly housecleaning services.

Step Four: Scope out your team. Even if you're lucky enough to have a partner with family leave, you're going to need help. If you have a friend or relative who you communicate well with, figure out how much help they can offer. Delivering a few casseroles and helping with laundry, groceries, and giving you a break can be a lifeline. If no one you know fits the bill, consider hiring a Postpartum Doula. (Most Postpartum Doulas will also help you complete steps 1-3!)

Step Five: Take care of yourself! There will most likely be days when you don't get to shower or even brush your teeth. But, you have to make time to address your basic needs. You need to sleep more than you need a clean house. You need to get out for a walk, or visit with a friend, or do whatever makes you feel good. If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of your baby.

Step Six: Pace yourself. This is the biggest key and potential pitfall to postpartum recovery. Life After Birth is a marathon. If you push yourself too far, it could be days or weeks until you can get caught up again. This is NOT the time to test your limits. Take it slow. It's okay to ask for help. Eventually, you'll feel in control again. Right now, it's best to let go and try to accept life as it comes.

Step Seven: ENJOY! Your baby will only be this small for a short time. If you watch closely, you can almost see them growing! Motherhood is a learning process. You will make mistakes. You will learn on the job. If you can relax your expectations and pace yourself, you can truly enjoy your baby's first weeks.