diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 78044c03b8..d16ec6ed20 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -20,10 +20,18 @@ services:
         STORE_MODEL_IN_DB: "True" # allows adding models to proxy via UI
     env_file:
       - .env # Load local .env file
+    depends_on:
+      - db  # Indicates that this service depends on the 'db' service, ensuring 'db' starts first
+    healthcheck:  # Defines the health check configuration for the container
+      test: [ "CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:4000/health/liveliness || exit 1" ]  # Command to execute for health check
+      interval: 30s  # Perform health check every 30 seconds
+      timeout: 10s   # Health check command times out after 10 seconds
+      retries: 3     # Retry up to 3 times if health check fails
+      start_period: 40s  # Wait 40 seconds after container start before beginning health checks
 
  
   db:
-    image: postgres
+    image: postgres:16
     restart: always
     environment:
       POSTGRES_DB: litellm
@@ -31,6 +39,8 @@ services:
       POSTGRES_PASSWORD: dbpassword9090
     ports:
       - "5432:5432"
+    volumes:
+      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data  # Persists Postgres data across container restarts
     healthcheck:
       test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -d litellm -U llmproxy"]
       interval: 1s
@@ -53,6 +63,8 @@ services:
 volumes:
   prometheus_data:
     driver: local
+  postgres_data:
+    name: litellm_postgres_data  # Named volume for Postgres data persistence
 
 
 # ...rest of your docker-compose config if any