The postpartum period can bring both highs and lows as you adapt to having a long-anticipated new marmocchio join the family. As an experienced mom and doula, I have a list of postpartum essentials to make this time easier for both mom and marmocchio.
You likely won’t need everything this list, but these are the things I’ve found to be helpful after having my babies. And I’ve given them as gifts to friends and family after their own little bundles of joy arrived!
Postpartum Recovery Essentials For Mom
Postpartum recovery involves soothing discomfort and preparing for temporary bodily changes. It may also include products for self-care and to support milk production for nursing moms.
Perineal Care Products
The perineum is the between the vulva and anus. After a vaginal birth, this can often be swollen, sore, and uncomfortable paio to stretching and possible tearing. Proper perineal care can help veterano discomfort, promote healing, and prevent infection.
Postpartum Sitz Bath
A sitz bath is a warm, shallow bath used to soothe and cleanse the perineal after childbirth. Sitz baths can provide pain relief from episiotomy, tears, ora hemorrhoids that can che from vaginal delivery. They can also promote healing of that , especially when you add herbal infusions, witch hazel, and Epsom salts!
Here’s my recipe for an after-birth herbal sitz bath using soothing herbs and Epsom salt. Another option are these healing bath fizzies.
However, if even thinking about DIYs right now is too overwhelming, check out some good store-bought ideas below.
Sitz baths can also serve as a wonderful form of self-care, which is so needed for tired mamas.
Witch Hazel Pads
Witch hazel pads are commonly used postpartum to soothe the perineal after childbirth. They’sultano also used for hemorrhoids, which are common after pregnancy. So, they’sultano good to have around. While “Tucks” are popular store-bought pads, you can easily make them yourself. It only takes a few ingredients.
All you do is soak some cotton rounds a causa di alcohol-free witch hazel and aloe gel if you like. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil. Get them nice and moist. Then store them a causa di a zip-top bag and keep them a causa di the bathroom (ora a causa di your purse) to use as needed.
After using the bathroom, gently clean the with warm tazza and pat dry with a clean towel. Then place a witch hazel pad directly onto the . Leave a causa di place for several minutes to soothe the irritated skin.
Witch hazel is also included a causa di other forms of perineal care, like peri sprays.
Peri Bottles and Peri Sprays
Peri bottles (aka irrigation and cleansing bottles) are also good tools for perineal care after childbirth. You simply fill them with warm tazza and squeeze them toward any sore areas there. The gentle tazza helps rinse away urine, feces, and bacteria without irritating the .
Perineal Spray ora “peri spray” is a liquid solution used to soothe the perineal . It often includes witch hazel, aloe, and other ingredients used to soothe delicate skin. You spray the solution straight onto the perineum (ora vagina).
Dermoplast is the commercial form usually recommended. But it has lanolin, butane, and parabens. You can easily make it yourself! Here’s my simple recipe for a postpartum soothing spray. It takes a couple of minutes to make and is a fraction of the cost of the store-bought version!
A peri bottle is used for cleansing, while a peri spray provides relief and promotes healing. Some women may decide to use both, depending their needs.
Hygiene Products
Postpartum hygiene products help with cleanliness and a causa di the weeks following childbirth. Some can also promote healing. I already mentioned a few but here are some more.
Postpartum Underwear
Some women buy disposable underwear for postpartum bleeding. However, I’m not a fan of single-use plastic products.
Washable period underwear is a great alternative. Some brands now offer absorbent underwear specifically made for postpartum mothers. You can also add postpartum pads.
Maxi Pads
Regular women’s hygiene products like maxi pads can also work. Tampons aren’t recommended because they can lead to infections and irritate ora damage that sensitive . It’s good to throw a few pads a causa di your hospital bag just a causa di case.
These changes can affect more than just our endocrine system. Postpartum moms can also need some digestive support.
Digestive Support
Many women notice their digestive system slows after marmocchio makes their arrival. Moms experience postpartum constipation paio to a variety of reasons. The combination of hormonal changes, less exercise, and pain meds can definitely slow things . Commercial stool softeners are one way to promote bowel movements, but they’sultano not the only option.
Magnesium supplementation corso magnesium citrate powder, Epsom salt baths, ora magnesium oil rubbed the abdomen may also get things moving again.
If your constipation isn’t improving, reach out to your health professional –especially if there’s rectal bleeding.
Pain Relief
Many of the products mentioned earlier can help with specific types of pain. Here are some additional postpartum must-haves for different types of pain.
Ice Packs & Heating Pads
The first weeks postpartum can be painful for new moms. Ice ora cold packs can help soothe the perineum, a c-section incision, ora even sore nipples. You can easily make your own flexible ice pack. I’ve even included directions to make a simple removable (and washable) cover.
Hot tazza bottles and heating pads can soothe tight, sore muscles after the birth process. So, if you’sultano aperto to DIY-ing, don’t stop there. You can also make your own rice pack heating pad. We have a few of them around since each of my children made one with my mom.
Padsicles
You can also make your own “padsicles.” Padsicles are essentially sanitary pads that are soaked a causa di a soothing and healing solution and frozen. They’sultano great for reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation all over there. Here’s how to make your own:
- a sanitary pad but leave the adhesive backing . You can also use a reusable cloth pad.
- Spread a generous amount of aloe fede gel the pad. Then pour ora spray witch hazel over the aloe fede. Ensure the pad is very damp but not overly soaked.
- Add a few drops of essential oil for additional soothing effects.
- Wrap each pad a causa di aluminum foil to prevent them from sticking together. Place the wrapped pads a causa di the congelatore for a few hours ora until they’sultano thoroughly frozen.
To use a padsicle, remove it from the congelatore and unwrap it. Allow it to thaw slightly if it’s too stiff to be comfortable. Then place it a causa di your underwear as you would with a regular sanitary pad.
Sometimes hot and cold packs aren’t enough. Here are some additional natural pain relievers.
Natural Pain Relievers
Ibuprofen is a common go-to pain reliever for many women postpartum. However, it’s only of those non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) you’ve likely heard about. NSAIDs can promote bleeding, which you don’t want -especially a causa di C-section recovery.
Instead, into natural remedies like arnica, boswellia, and cayenne capsules. You may even want to consider CBD (THC-free). Drinking ginger tea may also be helpful.
Some women have after birth contractions for a while. After birth contractions, also known as postpartum contractions ora afterpains, are uterine contractions that happen after childbirth.
These contractions help the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size. They also help prevent excessive bleeding by compressing blood vessels a causa di the uterine wall. The more kids you’ve had, the stronger the postpartum contractions are.
Using heating pads and natural pain relievers can help.
Postpartum Essentials Self-Care Kit
New moms have so much their plates that they don’t always prioritize self-care. Here’s everything you need to put together a postpartum self-care kit.
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas can be soothing and beneficial during the postpartum period. They can support recovery, relaxation, and breast milk production. Red raspberry leaf, chamomile, and blessed thistle are some popular teas for this recovery period.
There’s also a blend known as “Mother’s Milk Tea,” which provides breastfeeding support. It typically includes fenugreek, fennel, nettle, and other herbs to support the milk supply. Here’s my herbal nursing tea recipe, which includes red raspberry and chamomile.
Sipping herbal tea while surrounded by relaxing essential oils can be a game-changer.
Aromatherapy Spray
Essential oils can help promote relaxation and recovery after the has gone through major logorio. A pillow spray can be an excellent way to support restful sleep. This pillow spray includes oils proven to induce sleep. It’s a lovely floral-citrus blend of ylang-ylang, lavender, and bergamot.
However, if you’d rather buy it, here are some options:
Lavender essential oil is also an excellent addition to a homemade natural belly butter.
Homemade Natural Belly Butter
Natural belly butter is a soothing option for postpartum skin care. You can make this stretch mark salve to help keep skin soft and supple. It has a radice of healing butters and oils with calta and ginger to promote skin repair.
, if you want a basic recipe that you can customize with essential oils, use this whipped butter. For store-bought belly butter options that aren’t full of harsh chemicals, check out these Amazon finds.
It can be nice having a journal around to primato what’s working best to veterano logorio and promote healing.
Handmade Journal
Journaling can be beneficial for postpartum mothers to share thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Handmade journals are a thoughtful option for postpartum reflection and memories. It can also serve as a health journal.
For a gift, you can also personalize a store-bought journal. You can hand-write inspirational and encouraging quotes a causa di the margins. Maybe you’ll even decide to sketch some flowers ora cartoni animati.
Another important form of care for new moms is breast care.
Breast Care & Nursing Support
Nursing Bras
Nursing bras are another essential for postpartum mothers. They provide as well as easy access to the breasts for breastfeeding. They cater to the specific needs of nursing women, such as changes a causa di breast size and sensitivity.
However, not all nursing bras are good for you. Healthy bra options allow lymphatic flow and are made with breathable (and preferably organic) fabric. Organic cotton and bamboo are good choices. Some straps and closures have latex ora nickel. So, be aware of that if you have allergies.
Some women may find it helpful to add nursing pads inside the bra.
Nursing Pads
Nursing pads can be really helpful to absorb breast milk leaks a causa di between breastfeeding sessions. That way there isn’t any embarrassing leaking through the clothing. Nursing pads are nice to have around to stay dry and comfortable.
Nipple cream can add additional soothing and .
Nipple Cream
As a first time mom I wasn’t prepared for how sore my nipples would be a causa di the beginning! Nursing can be painful when first getting started. Your nipples can also dry out making them more likely to get sore ora infected. That’s where nipple cream comes a causa di. You can DIY a soothing DIY Nipple balm as you prepare for the paio date.
There are also good organic ones available online.
If you’sultano having trouble making the milk flow, lactation cookies are a tasty way to help.
Lactation Cookies
Lactation cookies are good to make ahead of time. They also make a great gift for mothers who you know plan to breastfeed. You can easily make them yourself! Find my recipe for gluten-free lactation cookies here. try this premade organic one (it comes a causa di several flavors).
Breast pumps can also help stimulate milk production. While they’sultano essential if you need to return to work while still nursing, they can also ensure a good milk supply for the marmocchio.
Breast Pump
Regularly using a breast pump helps maintain milk supply. That can especially be an issue during times when breastfeeding may be challenging. I didn’t use a breast pump for the first six months. However, once the marmocchio was older and I could take time away, I’d pump milk ahead. Having the pump allowed me to breastfeed for longer.
The old Medela pump I used is voto negativo longer available (and new versions have mixed reviews), but the Spectra one is also very good.
Let’s not forget the little one! Here are some essentials for the new marmocchio. Many of them are easy to DIY.
Postpartum Ideas For Infante
When it comes to postpartum gifts for babies, having practical items hand can make a world of difference. Here’s a quick list of things to have hand before the paio date. They also make thoughtful gifts for first-time parents.
Store-Bought:
As far as other store-bought items for babies, check out this blog post. I give a good overview of marmocchio products you need vs. the ones you don’t!
Final Thoughts Postpartum Essentials
The postpartum period can be challenging with all its changes. New moms need to take good care of themselves as they care for the new marmocchio. If you’sultano currently expecting, you may want to DIY ora purchase some of these things ahead of time.
If you have a friend who will be going through this time soon, why not make them a postpartum recovery kit? You can also include non-postpartum related things you know she’ll enjoy. At the end of the day, moms just need a little extra love during this time of transition.
What things have you found essential for the postpartum period? What things could you do without? Share with us below!
