Top 15 Postpartum Essentials Every Mom Needs
Are you prepared to handle the postpartum period?
Has your doctor shared what essentials you will need to help with the recovery once you are home?
There is so much that pregnant women purchase when it comes to the baby, the nursery, and baby gear/toys. But do we actually consider what the mothers will need once home? I know I didn’t during my first pregnancy. But things were different the second time around. I was much more prepared and knew exactly what to buy and help with the recovery period.
You will have a newborn to take care of, but you will also need to take care of yourself. And if you had a cesarean birth then your recovery timeline may be much longer than if you were to have a vaginal delivery. Not to say that having a vaginal birth is easier. NO BIRTH IS EASY.
The postpartum recovery period is critical and essential for a mother’s body to fully heal. To help with the healing process you will be needing some essential items. To make things easier, I have compiled a list of my top postpartum essentials. It is best to stock up on them prior to going into labor, preferably, sometime in the early part of your third trimester. All of these items are easily available through top retailers such as Target, Wal-mart, and Amazon.
I have made things easy for you where you can just click on the item and it will take you to an amazon order page.
HAPPY SHOPPING!
1. ICE PACKS
Post-birth, the vaginal area will most likely be sore and inflamed. Considering what it just experienced (if you had a vaginal birth) increase of fluid and increase in blood flow is to be expected. By applying the ice packs to the vaginal area, it can quickly provide some relief, especially in the first 24 hours after birth. Some hospitals provide ice packs in the mother’s postpartum room but it may be wise to bring your own or keep extras on hand to use once you return home. You may want to ask your provider to confirm if the hospital provides ice packs. If not, then bring your own to the hospital. Frida Mom has recently come up with a 2-in-1 product that functions as an absorbent maxi pad and an ice pack. It covers the entire perineal area.
BUY NOW: Frida Mom Instant Ice Maxi Pads, $20, Amazon.com
2. MAXI PADS
Upon childbirth, your body will lose a lot of blood and have a discharge called lochia for a few weeks. It is best to pick a good mix of pad sizes (large enough to cover the entire perineal to lighter ones). It is best to stick to pads since using tampons or vaginal cups are not recommended for use in the postpartum period. Since lochia contains bacteria, the use of tampons and cups during this period would risk infection. It is best to use pads so everything excretes the body. Plus if you had a vaginal birth then you need to give it time to recover and heal properly.
BUY NOW: Rael Organic Cotton Sanitary Pads - Overnight Size, Heavy Absorbency, Unscented, Ultra Thin Pads for Women, $13, Amazon.com
3. GRANNY UNDERWEAR
The hospital provides some super sexy mesh underwear but it is best to invest in some high waisted granny panties. I prefer to get them in two different sizes (true size and one size up). Getting them in a larger size will help in the early weeks when your wearing the ice packs and large pads or recovering from a c-section. Plus, by using these you will be protecting your nicer underwear.
BUY NOW: Wirarpa Women's High Waisted Cotton Underwear Ladies Soft Full Briefs Panties Multipack, $21, Amazon.com
4. PERI RINSE BOTTLE
If your a first-time mom, you probably have never come across one of these before and didn’t even know that this little bottle would be your holy grail when it comes to recovery. Let me just tell you from personal experience that this bottle was essential to my recovery. Some hospitals may provide something similar as well. Be sure to pack it in your hospital bag in case they don’t provide one. This will help clean your vaginal area after using the bathroom and cleaning off the excess blood. It is not recommended to use toilet paper after childbirth since the vaginal area is still sensitive and swollen. Filing the bottle with warm water and squirting the bottle front to back is recommended.
BUY NOW: Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle for Postpartum Care, $16, Amazon.com
5. PERINEAL SPRAY
Perineal sprays act as a local anesthetic to help numb the area and relieve pain. It also provides a cooling sensation that helps with the discomfort and itch. You can use what hospitals usually hand out which is the Dermaplast or pick the more natural option listed below. Earth Mama spray is benzocaine and butane free and is one of the better natural options for mothers. It is best to apply it before applying a clean ice pack/pad.
BUY NOW: Herbal Perineal Spray by Earth Mama | Safe for Pregnancy and Postpartum, Natural Cooling Spray for After Birth, Benzocaine and Butane-Free 4-Fluid Ounce, $12, Amazon.com
6. WITCH HAZEL PADS
Hemorrhoids are commonly experienced by postpartum women due to the pushing and straining that is involved during childbirth. Witch hazel pads help shrink blood vessels as well as soothe the perineal area. Some even choose to line their menstrual pads or ice packs with the witch hazel pads to add another layer of relief. You can also add witch hazel into the peri rinse bottle to help relieve some discomfort and help soothe the area. Some hospitals may provide these in the recovery room but if not then you can always ask for some or bring your own.
BUY NOW: Tucks Md Cool Hemorrhoid Pad, $7, Amazon.com
7. EPSOM SALT
If you have heard of a sitz bath then you know where I am going with this. A sitz bath is when you use a basin that sits over the toilet and fill it up with Epsom salt. Sitting in a sitz bath can help relieve the pain and discomfort associated with the perineum and rectum. Usually, hospitals will carry these so if you do not have this already then be sure to ask for one prior to leaving the hospital.
BUY NOW: Epsoak Epsom Salt - 2 lbs. USP Magnesium Sulfate Unscented, $8, Amazon.com
8. PAIN RELIEVERS
You may already have these in stock but its always good to keep an extra bottle at home just in case. They may start you on pain relievers at the hospital and will give you instructions on how to take them once home in your discharge paperwork. If you had a c-section then you may even need prescription-strength painkillers to help with the pain from the surgery for the first few days to weeks. Are you breastfeeding? Well, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are considered safe during breastfeeding but please confirm with your health care provider.
BUY NOW: Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets with 500 mg Acetaminophen, Pain Reliever & Fever Reducer, 100 ct, $10, Amazon.com
9. STOOL SOFTENER
Have you heard about the “first poop” experience after birth? Well, it’s real. And all the other poops may not feel the same either, at least for a few weeks. It is best to stock up on a good stool softener like Colace. You don’t have to bring this to the hospital with you since this is something you can always ask for. But it is good to continue taking at least for the first few weeks post-birth.
BUY NOW: Colace Clear Stool Softener 50mg Soft Gels, $9, Amazon.com
10. HEATING PAD
Experiencing some cramping is normal in the first few days to weeks. It may be intensified during breastfeeding. Using the heating pad will help relieve crampiness, back pain, and any other soreness you may be experiencing from the labor. You can also use the heating pad to warm up the bassinet for the baby prior to putting them to sleep in there. It helps to warm up their bed for 10 minutes or so on a low setting. Remove the heating pad prior to putting the baby down to bed.
BUY NOW: Sunbeam Xpressheat Heating Pad, Burgundy, 12 x 24-inches, $35, Amazon.com
11. GIRDLE
Using a girdle postpartum can be helpful in supporting your back, abdomen, and help with recovery from a c-section. A proper girdle will help hold in all the abdominal muscles and tissues. It can also help c-section moms secure their incisions and being exposed and pulling apart.
BUY NOW: 3 in 1 Postpartum Support - Recovery Belly/waist/pelvis Belt Shapewear Slimming Girdle, Beige, One Size, $23, Amazon.com
12. NIPPLE CREAM
This is essential if you plan to breastfeed. One thing no one tells you is that your nipples will crack, bleed, and hurt in the first few days/weeks and this right here will help. It will save you from screaming your lungs off when your little one latches. Another thing you can do to help soothe the nipples is to express a little breastmilk and rub it or let the milk dry off on the nipples. When getting a nipple cream be sure to get something that is lanolin based or has other natural soothing ingredients safe for the baby. You may want to wipe the nipple area prior to nursing though.
BUY NOW: Organic Nipple Butter Breastfeeding Cream by Earth Mama, $13, Amazon.com
13. NURSING BRAS
Post-birth, your breasts will go through changes and they will become very full, especially, after your milk comes in. You want to be able to give your breasts room and not wear wired bras when postpartum. Investing in about 4-5 good nursing bras that will provide good support and make it easier to nurse is a great idea. The good ones are EXPENSIVE! But they are so worth it. I have personally purchased cheaper ones and they did not meet the bill. So then I had to purchase the expensive ones anyway. Don't make the same mistake I made.
BUY NOW: Kindred Bravely Extra Soft Organic Cotton Wireless Nursing & Maternity Sleep Bra, $33, Amazon.com
14. NIPPLE SHIELD
Nipple shields are fairly cheap and good to have on hand. These will help mothers with flat nipples, babies having a tough time latching, or can also be used when your nipples are cracked and/or bleeding. It's a good idea to take with you in the hospital bag so the lactation consultant can show you how to use it if it seems confusing.
BUY NOW: Medela Contact Nipple Shield, 24mm Medium, Nippleshield for Breastfeeding with Latch Difficulties or Flat or Inverted Nipples, Made Without BPA, $8, Amazon.com
15. WATER BOTTLE
Getting enough water is going to be essential for all mothers after giving birth. You're going through so many changes inside and out and you want to make sure that you are constantly supplying your body with enough water so it needs to stay hydrated. Once your milk comes in you will need to drink even more water since breastmilk is mostly water. The more water you drink and stay hydrated the more milk you can produce. Be sure to always keep a water bottle nearby throughout the day and night. It is best to drink from a stainless steel bottle.
BUY NOW: Thermoflask Double Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle, 32 oz, Cobalt, $20, Amazon.com
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xoxo,
Unnati
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