Why Freezer Meals Postpartum Made Recovery So Much Easier
I am definitely a type A person. I like things to be done in a certain way and I like to check all the boxes. So naturally when I had my first baby I wanted to ensure that all meals were accounted and planned for when she came. I created a full 2 week meal plan with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. So to say I was stocked and would have plenty of freezer meals postpartum was an understatement. But my reason for preparing all the meals was more from a desire to have a plan and make sure I stayed in control. The result was much different than I expected.
Having meals prepared was such a blessing to myself and the family in the moments that we needed them. Now, trying to ensure you have the perfect number of meals like I did the first time is silly and caused me much stress so don’t do that. But even if I had only made a couple of meals, it would still have had the same impact.
In my second pregnancy, the focus was no longer ensuring that everything was in exact order. It became a sort of preparation of love for all of us. I wanted to be fully present with the newborn and not have the mental stress of planning for meals. I also saw how helpful it was for my husband to have something he could do for me without being super stressed out and out of his comfort zone while I was resting.
So with all that being said, preparing freezer meals for postpartum is definitely a worthwhile pursuit for everyone in my opinion.
Why Should I make sure I Have Freezer Meals Postpartum?
Rest and recovery
For those reading this that are first-time moms, I’m going to paint a picture for you because I personally did not know what to expect of postpartum when I was pregnant the first time.
After you deliver, for most people it will essentially feel like you’ve gone through surgery. It’ll be hard to walk and you’ll likely feel worn out, especially if you labored overnight. But you will be ravenous. So you’ll need lots of food. But you will not be easily able or want to get up and cook or fix something. Enter freezer meals.
Unless you have a husband that can cook, freezer meals will be your key to rest and recover properly. Do the work on the front end, be in a better place on the back end. Trust me.
Remove mental burden
I already mentioned this in my own experience, but having freezer meals postpartum takes the mental clutter out of your head. As homemakers, one of the constant lines of thinking in our heads is “what the next meal will be?” Prep freezer meals and you won’t have to think about it for a little bit. You can just send your husband or kids to the freezer and tell them to find something and heat it up!
Poor support system
I am so blessed to have family and a church that supports new moms by bringing meals as well in the first few weeks. But for those who don’t have a good support system, freezer meals would be the best strategy to support yourself and your family in that next season of life.
Limit stress
Similar to the mental burden but when you’re postpartum, people can’t rely on you as the manager of the house for at least a week or so. So thinking ahead and putting meals away is really thoughtful for taking care of your family before you’re not actually able to care for them while you’re recovering. You’ll all be happier, I promise.
Adequate nutrition
Homemade meals will obviously always be healthier for you than take-out. So preparing freezer meals makes sure that you at least have some meals that’ll be nourishing rather than always eating out. Also, if you’re like me and have a loving family that always brings lots of junk food, keeping something you know is better for you can be helpful.
How Do you Prep Freezer Meals Before Baby?
I outline the exact process I use for postpartum freezer meal planning in this post, but here’s a brief summary:
Step 1: Meal count
First, you decide how many meals you’ll make. This can be any variety of meals that you think you’ll want. For example, you could do all breakfast meals or all dinner meals. Either way, you decide how many you’ll plan to make.
Step 2: Meal selection
Now that you know how many breakfast, dinner, snacks, and/or desserts you’ll be making, it’s time to choose which ones you’ll be making. Stick to simple, comforting foods here.
Step 3: Freezer organization
You’re going to want to make sure that you have plenty of space to put the freezer meals until you use them. So clear out your freezer or make a plan for ensuring enough space for all your meals.
Step 4: Schedule food prep
We’re getting close! The next step is to look over your calendar, think about when you can fit in doing some food prep, and decide on some dates that you can make your planned meals.
Step 5: Gather your supplies
You have a plan all laid out, now you just have to execute. It’s time to go shopping and pick up all the ingredients and supplies you’ll need. You could make this super simple and just add some extra ingredients to your normal grocery list. Don’t forget freezer bags!
Step 6: Cook & freeze
You’re done! Now you just wait for baby to make their appearance.
final encouragement
If you are able, I would highly recommend doing some prep work so you can have freezer meals postpartum. Even if you don’t make full meals, prepping some food before baby comes will be such a blessing when the time comes for you to recover. Good luck!
Need More Help?
- Grab my Postpartum Freezer Meal Plan Checklist for a printable version of my freezer meal planning process so you can follow along as you prep!
- If you want a complete, done-for-you meal plan you can check out my 2 Week Postpartum Freezer Meal Plan.
- For a more in-depth explanation of creating your own postpartum meal plan, take a look at this freebie.
- I also have an upgraded version of the freebie with extra resources and more step-by-step guidance that walks you through exactly how to make and execute a freezer meal plan all by 36 weeks.
