Postpartum Essentials: So often women spend so much time focusing on pregnancy and how to care for your newborn once they are born, we forget about the postpartum recovery. Or maybe you haven’t thought about how to care for you after giving birth. Here is a list of things moms need for postpartum recovery after birth.
Postpartum Essentials
So often women spend so much time focusing on pregnancy and how to care for your newborn once they are born, we forget about the postpartum recovery. Or maybe you haven’t thought about how to care for you after giving birth. Here is a list of things moms need for postpartum recovery after birth.
Generally, it is the first six weeks of giving birth that is considered a recovery period. Now if there were complications or things like that your timeframe could be adjusted some.
Things Moms Need Postpartum To Recover
Pads
The first thing you need is pads to have on hand. You can bleed for 2-6 weeks after giving birth. Most hospitals will provide pads while you are there, but you will need them for when you arrive at home. Make sure you do not use tampons during this time. Your perineal area needs to heal. Learn how to make padsicles as well, which is a great way to relieve pain and discomfort.
Witch hazel is great to use with your pad to help soothe and relieve any aches and pains you might have. They have pads you can use to lay on top of your pad.
Sitz Bath
A sitz bath is excellent to have to help ease your achy pelvic floor. You can find a variety of brands online to purchase, or even your local stores might carry them. You could also opt for an herb bath that will soothe your needs. Many moms swear and say this is a top item to invest in to have on hand if you need it.
Mesh Gauze Underwear
The gauze underwear the hospital gives you is a lifesaver! Some hate them, but I will say they are pretty comfy when your feeling pained. If you don’t want mesh undies, then reach for oversized underwear that is higher rise. It will help not press on your waist and hurt. This is also good if you had a c-section.
Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen
A great item to have a fresh bottle on hand. If you are feeling pretty good with minor aches, this is a great option to have for those aches and pains you might experience that can be relieved by an OTC pain medicine.
Large Water Bottle With a Straw
When you start nursing, you will notice your water intake goes up dramatically–that’s because your body is making a lot of milk! You should be drinking at least 75 oz a day–I find I drink more like 125-150 oz. when I am nursing! To save some of the hassles out of remembering how many glasses of what you’ve consumed, buy a large 25 oz. water bottle. Aim to drink at least four of them a day–and get a flexible silicone straw to use so you can use it while reclined (nursing the baby!)
Stool Softeners
Stool softeners are good to have on hand to help make using the restroom easier after giving birth. If you get pain medication you will, it can cause constipation, so some health providers recommend even taking stool softeners right after you give birth to help prevent you from straining. After delivering four babies vaginally, believe me, you want a stool softener! There’s nothing as scary as going poop after having a baby!
Ice Packs and Heating Pack
Make sure to have a handful of frozen peas on hand or opt for ice packs (these are worth their weight in gold!) Most hospitals will send you home with a few; but, some won’t. Perineal ice packs are most helpful for the first 24-48 hours according to nurses. These are great for your perineal area for relieving pain but also even for breastfeeding moms. You might also find sometimes heat feels nice on your achy back or your stomach (helps with cramps!) Generally, cold is best, but you might discover heat feels good at times.
Protein Bars
Having a protein-heavy one-handed snack you can eat while nursing a baby is a lifesaver when you are postpartum! When my fourth child struggled to gain weight as a newborn (and I struggled to make enough milk,) my lactation consultant recommended I increase the amount of protein in my diet. Once I started eating more fats and protein, I noticed the quality of my milk went up and my baby started gaining weight!
Nipple Cream
If you are breastfeeding, invest in a nipple cream–you will thank me later! They have balms that you can apply after each feeding to help prevent chapped and or cracked nipples. The key with chapped nipples is preventing them in the first place! Use nipple cream regularly over the first three weeks and you’ll find that your nipples adjust as needed.
Nursing Pads
When your milk comes in you will find that sometimes you leak milk! When you sleep, these nursing pads are helpful for preventing your bedsheets from getting wet (and your shirts)! I haven’t personally used these leak catchers, but some moms swear by them!
Chuck Pads or Disposable Underpads
These are lifesavers for the first 14 days postpartum! I use one of these on my bed to prevent my staining the sheets with blood postpartum. When you are a new mom, the last thing you need to worry about is treating blood stains on your lovely bedding! Bring a few of these “chuck pads” home from the hospital, or buy your own, and you’ll use them for the first two weeks after birth.
Nursing Tanks and Bras
Theses two items will simplify your life. Nothing is worse than those late-night feedings and struggling to get prepared to feed the baby. Nursing tanks are so easy for that quick to unclip, and you are good to start feeding–plus, your tummy is covered up when your nursing (which I prefer.)
Rice Bags or Nipple Heating Pads
When your milk comes in, you can get often get engorged breasts and clogged ducts (if your baby doesn’t sufficiently empty them.) If you have hard knobs in your breast, then you’ll know you have a clogged duct. To treat it, you’ll want to massage your breast before and after a feeding and also treat it with heat to open it up. I battled constant clogged ducts for four years with my first two children. Taking a shower helps while massaging your breast, but an easier way to deal with them is to use a breast heating pad. You can buy one hereYou can buy one here or you can DIY one–fill a tube sock with rice. Put it in the microwave to warm up and voila–you just saved about $20!
Dermoplast Spray
Dermoplast spray is a great numbing spray you can use to help ease pain in your perineal area and even for hemorrhoids. There are other brands you might be able to find that offer the same numbing relief that is safe to use.
Peri Or Squirt Bottle
The hospital can send you home with a peri bottle to use; this is great for using the restroom. You will be tender, so using a squirt bottle or peri bottle will rinse you without hurting the area as it heals. This newly designed peri bottle eliminates the design flaws of the old ones!
Postpartum Support Belt
You can buy a postpartum belt that is great to help keep your stomach tight and help it to shrink back to regular size faster. There are many brands that you can choose from and make sure to read the directions before you start using it. I also recommend consulting with a doctor to ensure it is safe.
- Best-Buy: The Most Popular Postpartum Support Belt/ Girdle (Over 5,000 five star reviews)
- Celebrity Favorite: Belly Bandit Postpartum Wrap
These are essentials I have found a great way to help make postpartum easier on mom. Now, if you have any other essentials, you recommend leave a comment and let me know!
Generally, it is the first six weeks of giving birth that is considered a recovery period. Now if there were complications or things like that your timeframe could be adjusted some.