I had a c-section with my oldest and was just so grossly unprepared for the whole life-after-baby period. I actually thought everything just went back to normal after the baby was born; like a light switch.
Well, I was wrong.
But thankfully I was in the hospital for 5 days (you’ll never hear me say THAT again) postpartum, so I had tons of nurses and doctors taking care of me. So I never really needed to stock my house with things for my postpartum time. I just had some big pads and a tiny sample sized tube of lanolin for sore nipples.
When I had my second and third sons at home, I was much more prepared for life postpartum.
Here’s everything that I had on-hand during my life in the first few days postpartum.
Padsicles: Take some of those big overnight pads, spread aloe vera gel all over the inside, put a teaspoon of witch hazel and lavender essential oil put in the freezer. Take one at a time out as you need them and let sit for a few minutes before you use them. These things sound so weird, but oh my word are they amazing! Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
A pillow to sit on: Things they don’t tell you: your, ahem, backside WILL hurt. Like WOAH. Even sitting on the couch hurts. Get a super soft pillow with a waterproof cover. It’s a sound investment.
A peri bottle: Peri bottles will be your best friend in the first week or so! Every time you go to the bathroom (every. time.), fill it with warm water and a drop of lavender essential oil to help you go to the bathroom. It really helps.
Sitz bath spray: My midwife left this for me after I had my first homebirth and I absolutely loved it! Motherlove makes some incredible sitz bath spray. Spray it on pads if you don’t have time for a sitz bath. It really helps soothe everything down there.
Sitz Bath: So if you DO have time for a sitz bath, do it! Absolutely get some Motherlove’s sitz bath. You’ll thank me later!
Gel cooling nipple pads: Nursing for the first time HURTS. This helps. Super cheap, hippie alternative: cool cabbage leaves. No kidding. Stuff one of those bad boys in your bra cup.
Coconut oil: Cracked nipples. Ow. This is the perfect solution for sore nipples without the chemicals!
Chux pads: For bed, for the couch, for the rocking chair, car… everywhere you will sit, or sleep, you WILL need these a lot for the first few days! Just get the 50 pack and keep them around. You’l never know when you might need them (like when you’re potty training)!
Those super heavy overnight pads: once you graduate from Depends (true story), you’ll need something heavy duty with wings.
Guinness or any other milk stout beer: I know there’s someone out there screaming “NO! No alcohol EVER!” Guinness is like 2% alcohol. It’s delicious, it helps a new mom calm her nerves, and (old Irish wives’ tale from my great-great-grandmother) helps bring in the milk. Do NOT slam a 6 pack and think it’ll help bring in your milk. It doesn’t work like that. Have one, relax, and enjoy it.
A big water bottle: You need to drink a lot of water for breastfeeding! Not to mention it’s jut good for you in general. I got a 32 ounce Camelbak water bottle; BPA free, and super big (means you don’t need to get up and refill it every 5 minutes.
Invest in a good water filter, too. You’ll be going through a lot of water, like a gallon or more a day, make sure you’re drinking good water!
Fenugreek Seed: This stuff is great. It really helps bring the milk in and increase milk supply.
Boppy Pillow: Life saver for those super tiring first days! And every day after. It helps so much! I’m typing this NOW while nursing my son using my Boppy with my computer on the table. I couldn’t’ live without this thing. I absolutely love it.
Arnica cream: I had back labor with my kids and the only thing that helped was my steel-worker husband squeezing my hips together like he was trying to smash a watermelon. The next day felt like I fell down a flight of stairs. Arnica was incredible. Any muscle aches or soreness and this is my go-to. It also doesn’t get into your milk for the little one.
The best, and most important thing you will need is time.
Recovering from having a baby is not easy or glamorous. But with a lot of love and time to heal, you can survive your postpartum period.
What couldn’t you live without postpartum?
Whoa.. you have such a great list here! I’ve had two babies, but didn’t know about sitz bath and sitz bath spray. I should try it if I ever have my third and fourth.
I used a commercial nipple cream back then to soothe my crack nipple, but you’re right that we can simply use coconut oil for that. Smart!
Btw, I’ve never used a breastfeeding pillow before. I simply used an old-fashioned method with regular pillow (one on lap, one behind my back). How long do you use this boppy pillow to aid you in nursing? I thought it is only useful for the first few months after birth, is that true?
Rina, I was skeptical about the sitz bath and the spray, but it was incredible. It really made a difference in how I felt. And with my 2 oldest, I used my Boppy until they stopped nursing at 11 months. I’m hoping to the same with my third. I can still nurse without it, but I always use/ used it because my kids are really big and having some extra support for their body weight really helped me.
Lots of good resources, but I think the most helpful thing you’ve done here is to admit that you needed some help to get over the hump of post-partum and then opened the door for others to do the same. I love the look of your site!
I was actually completely different, as far as the hospital stay went. I couldn’t wait to get out and get home! I was there for 3 days, was released, and back in the following day because my son developed jaundice. What drove me nuts was all the interruptions, especially in the middle of the night. It seemed like when I finally had a window to sleep, a nurse would come in to check my vitals or check the baby and wake him. It was so frustrating.
I had a c-section, so my issues were different and the pain was somewhere else, but all in all this is a great list!
Oh my goodness I know! When the nurses just pop in at 3am and do a check up… are you KIDDING ME!? Not to mention in my son’s first 24 hours he had a heel prick every hour because they thought he had gestational diabetes because of how big he was (9lb. 9oz.). I mean, really!?
I really have to do a separate one of these posts for c-sections. The pains really are different, but they’re just as awful (if not worse, honestly!).
Such a good list! My mom was so nice and brought lots of these things for me. But man, it was still rough! I think the biggest thing I need for next time is the permission to take it easy and not expect everything to be “normal” right away. Love your blog! I am visiting from the link party 🙂
That’s so great, Ashley! I’m the same way; taking it easy doesn’t come naturally to me!
Wow! That’s a lot! I haven’t had kids yet, but I am sure I will understand then! haha
I totally get it, Kristin! If I didn’t have kids, that list would be basically the best birth control method ever! I swear it’s not the worst thing in the world! Especially when you have that precious bundle of joy in your arms. 🙂
Ahahahaha just noticed this comment and it’s kind of true… I think it shows how baby-crazy I am that I was unfazed… ;P
(I did start doing kegels while I read tho… is that TMI???? rofl)
This looks like a really good list!! I’ve been “collecting” post-partum information like this, and I’m pretty sure a few of those items are new to me… PINNING IT!! 😉
Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience with me!!