So often mothers during pregnancy tend to focus on what
their baby will need postpartum, without giving much thought, if any at all, to
what THEY will need postpartum. Postpartum recovery is something I didn’t give
much thought about when I was pregnant with my first child. “Pain? I mean, I
just gave birth. The worst is over now, right?”, and, “Breastfeeding is
natural. How hard can it be? I won’t need anything for that”, are some thoughts
I had. So I didn’t get anything to make the postpartum period or breastfeeding easier
for myself first time around, but after becoming pregnant with my second baby,
I learned to not only prepare for the new baby, but to also prepare myself for
my postpartum needs. Now that my second child is born, I wanted to make this post
to share what I got second time around that made life easier for me and to give
other moms ideas on what she might want or need. I will talk about my
postpartum essentials first and then my breastfeeding essentials last, because
I know not every mother chooses to breastfeed.
POSTPARTUM ESSENTIALS
Postpartum Tea
I made my own postpartum tea as a low-waste option to buying
it in individual tea bags. They also have loose-leaf postpartum teas you can
buy online, but I chose to formulate my own based off what I wanted to achieve
postpartum. I used nettle leaf as a natural treatment for postpartum fatigue,
red raspberry leaves to tone my uterus, shepherd’s purse to reduce postpartum
bleeding, oatstraw to prevent anxiety and postpartum depression, and blessed
thistle to stimulate milk production. Nettle and red raspberry leaves are also
known to increase milk supply. I mix and store the leaves in a mason jar and
put 1 tablespoon in a tea strainer and steep in hot water when I’m ready to
drink. I drink this 1-2 times per day, every day.
2 cups Nettle Leaf
2 cups Red Raspberry Leaves
1 cup shepherds purse
1 cup oatstraw
1 cup Blessed Thistle
Thick Pads
Thick pads are a must postpartum because there is so much bleeding, if you have a vaginal birth that is. I bleed so much I have to layer two pads the first week. After that just I just use one, until I don’t have to wear one at all. Pads are a must if you have a vaginal delivery! You are not allowed to insert anything into the vagina until your 6 week postpartum checkup, so anything like diva cups and tampons are not allowed.
After Ease Herbal Tincture
This is my most beneficial buy for postpartum pain. I heard
about this herbal tincture from WishGarden when I was pregnant with my first
baby, but didn’t buy it because I didn’t think I’d need it. Knowing now how
painful the postpartum period is, I made sure I had a bottle this time around.
It’s so powerful I’ve barely needed to use it. I didn’t use it the first few
days, but once I opened it up and started using it, I only needed it the first
three days. After that I had no more postpartum pain and cramping. I love
healing my body through natural remedies!
Witch Hazel
I got this aloe vera infused, alcohol-free watch hazel to
make padsicles. I poured the witch hazel on top of some of my pads, folded them
back up and put them in the freezer. I used them the first week to help soothe
vaginal pain and soreness.
Baby Wrap
I. LOVE. BABYWEARING! I love keeping my baby close instead of pushing him in a stroller or lugging him around in a car seat carrier. I wear it while I’m out and about such as taking my kids on a walk and when I’m at the store, but I also wear it around the house to calm him if he’s cranky while I’m making food or doing chores. Sometimes it’s the only way I can get him to nap. Having a baby wrap is just really convenient. My baby wrap is by Solly Baby.
Heating Pad
I’m not sure if I would purposely go out and buy a heating
pad postpartum, but it was something I loved using since I already had one. I
used it every single day the first week and even a little bit afterwards. I
would use it during the day and even sleep with it at night. I used the heat to
help soothe postpartum cramping and cramping while breastfeeding. I would cramp
in my lower abdomen and sometimes my lower back, so those were the two areas I
would always place the heating pad.
This one is a weird one because I consider prenatals a postpartum essential not because I feel like I need them, but because it’s essential for me to get rid of them. I’d rather not throw them away just because I’m not pregnant anymore. The boost in nutrients is great, but once I’m finished with the bottle I don’t buy vitamins anymore. Right now I am finishing up my vegan prenatals and omega supplement.
BREASTFEEDING
ESSENTIALS
Comfortable Nursing
Clothes
It didn’t take long after I started breastfeeding to realize
how hard it is to breastfeed in regular shirts and bras. I had two nursing bras
from having my first baby, but breastfeeding wasn’t successful with her, so I
didn’t ever have to get more. This time around, breastfeeding has been successful
but that also means I had to buy more clothes to accommodate nursing. I found
breastfeeding hard to do in regular shirts and bras, especially while out in
public. If you have baggy shirts than can pull down or be pulled to the side,
that can work, but for me, all my clothes are pretty tight fitting. I needed my
shirts and bras to be able the snap down to accommodate comfortable nursing. Some
good websites for nursing attire is Seraphine Maternity, Hatchgal, Latched
Mama, Kindred Bravely, and Motherhood Maternity.
Milkies Milk Saver
Breastfeeding didn’t last long with my first baby, but one
thing I learned in that short time was that a milk saver was worth having. I
got the Milkies Milk Saver because when you breastfeed, you have a let down on
both breasts (yes, even the one the baby isn’t sucking on), and if I didn’t
have a milk saver to catch it, all that milk would get all over me, my clothes,
and even sometimes my surrounding area. Some women just let it happen, some put
a towel over their breast and let it soak in the towel, but I treat breastmilk
as “liquid gold”, and something not to be wasted. Sometimes only a few drops
come out, sometimes an ounce or more. Either way, I use it every feeding and
then syringe feed it to my baby either in between switching breasts or after a
feeding.
Reusable Nursing Pads
Some women don’t leak at all, but I’m one of the moms that
do. I leak a little bit during the day and while I’m sleeping. I’d rather
change a pad than to change my bra and shirt. I use reusable ones as an
eco-friendly and zero waste option. I can just wash it and reuse them again and
again. I got mine from Bamboobies and Kindred Bravely.
Hot and Cold Pack for
Breasts
My sister got me the Lansinoh Therapearl 3-in-1 Breast
Therapy after my first child and I used it then and I’ve been using it again
with baby #2. I used to put it in the freezer for a few hours to help with engorgement
pain, but I mainly heat it in the microwave and apply it to help with a letdown
and to help the milk flow.
Breast Pump
A breast pump is my ultimate breastfeeding essential. I use
it every day, multiple times a day. I put my baby to the breast for every
feeding, but even when he’s finished eating, I can still pump a few ounces.
Sometimes my baby also sleeps for long stretches, so I pump if a few hours have
gone by and he’s still sleeping. This keeps my breasts stimulated to keep
making more milk and to give me relief from having full breasts. I have the
Spectra S2 Electric Breast Pump that I got free through my insurance. High
quality breast pumps can be expensive, so use THIS site to see if your
insurance will cover your breast pump.
Breast Pump Car
Adapter
My baby seems to sleep more and not be interested in eating
while we’re out all day. This left my breasts full and in pain. I got a car
adapter so I can pump in the car during long car rides and in between
destinations if needed to, and the milk can be stored for later. I also used
this for my 6 week postpartum visit because I wasn’t allowed to bring my baby
with me. My doctor’s office is an hour away, so I pumped 30 minutes while
driving there, I was there for the appointment 2 hours, and I pumped again for
30 minutes on the way home. Otherwise my breasts would have gone 4+ hours
without stimulation and would have left them in pain from being full.
Hands-Free Pumping Bra
A hands free pumping bra is a must for mothers who want to
multitask while they pump. It can get tiring just sitting there holding them
the duration of a pumping session, which can be up to 30 minutes. I mainly have
a pumping bra so I can pump in the car like I mentioned above, and it will also
be especially handy for when I return to work. I can pump and have my hands
free to eat and talk on the phone while on breaks.
Breastmilk Storage
Bags
I have an oversupply, so breastmilk storage bags are a must
for me so I can have a stash for my partner to feed the baby when I return to
work and can donate to a mother and baby in need what’s left over. I chose the
ones from Lansinoh because of their leak proof double seal and the higher bag
count (comes with 100 bags).
I know not every mother will need or want what’s on this
list, but this is what I have needed, liked having, and what has made the
postpartum period easier for me. Let me know down in the comments what your
favorite postpartum essentials are!
