Photo is by the amazing Wilderlove Co.
Today we’re getting down and dirty in this post with a list of products that are helpful to have when you are recovering from having a baby. It’s not exactly a fun topic, but let’s face it – we’re all aware that labor is not an easy feat, and the recovery that goes along with it isn’t a cakewalk either. Thankfully, there are some products that exist on the market that can ease some of the pain, discomfort, and inconvenience. This list does not include breastfeeding products, as I plan on doing some separate posts on breastfeeding.
When I was pregnant with Carson, I didn’t know what I would really need after giving birth, and to be honest, I was a little embarrassed to purchase some of the products that I had read about. (Pre-Carson, I would have also been mortified to even write a post on this topic, but after having a kid, every last shard of modesty has gone out the window and all topics are fair game.). I now realize that the best time to purchase the more “embarrassing” items are when you’re eight months pregnant, because you have a very visible excuse as to why you’re going to need them.
In any case, no one really cares or pays much attention to what you’re purchasing anyway, and if you really can’t get over the embarrassment of standing in line with your perineal spray, stool softener, and XXL Super Absorbent Overnight Maxi Pads, there’s always Amazon. I would definitely recommend stocking up on these a few weeks prior to your baby’s due date, because the last thing you want to deal with when you get home from the hospital with your newborn is making a pharmacy run OR trying to explain what you need at the store to your shell-shocked partner who is still trying to figure out what hit him.
Before we begin, I have some advice that my manager at work so wisely gave me when I was pregnant (I so appreciate the “moms supporting moms” culture at my job, and my boss has been wonderful in this area – she really gets it): Hospitals provide postpartum products to you while you’re there, and in most cases, they will give you enough that you can take some home. Bring home as much as they’ll allow you to – you will not be sorry that you did this, trust me. The list of products below are the items that I mentioned that you may want to have on hand in addition to those items that you bring home from the hospital:
- Large/high-waisted cotton underwear – Nothing too tight, too low, or too pretty! You will get disposable underwear at the hospital, and I would recommend bringing home some clean pairs of these (you can actually wash them and reuse them for a while, just to get through your postpartum period). But depending on how many pairs you bring home, you will likely want to buy some additional comfortable underwear to use postpartum. I had bought some basic cotton pairs of underwear for maternity purposes and was able to use those postpartum – “period panties,” so to speak. If you have a C-section, you’ll want underwear with a higher waistline that doesn’t rub against your healing scar.
- Pads – the super absorbent, thick kind – For those of you who haven’t had a baby, as I eluded to above, you will be making up for the periods you missed in the 6 weeks following the birth of your child, so get ready! It’s not fun, but you will be preoccupied with your new baby and won’t have a whole lot of time to think about it. The best thing to do is to buy some giant pads and move on, and just know that it won’t last forever (even though some days it may feel that way!).
- Ibuprofen – Make sure that you have a big bottle of ibuprofen on hand. Hopefully you won’t need it for long, but it definitely helps ease the discomfort following birth (and the pain that goes along with breastfeeding as well, if you plan on doing that).
- Peri squirt bottle – I took the one from the hospital home, so this is always an option, but Frida makes an upside-down version which is more ergonomic and easier to use without making a mess. It will help keep the area clean.
- Perineal spray – The hospital gave me Dermoplast numbing spray, which was definitely a lifesaver, and I did take that home and used it right up. Thankfully, I also had a bottle of Earth Mama perineal spray on hand, and there are numerous other brands on the market to try. (My nurse advised me not to use the Dermoplast every time I went to the bathroom after surgery, and I’m not really sure of the details on that, but you may want to discuss with your doctor just to ensure you know the frequency at which you can use these products.)
- Stool softener – You will be scared out of your mind to have your first bowel movement after birth, but thankfully, if you’re diligent about taking stool softeners and also eating fruit and fiber, it won’t be as bad as you think it’s going to be.
- Instant ice pads – The hospital gave me these amazing single-use pads that instantly turn into ice pads when you snap the ends together, and Frida makes a similar product. I could only bring one or two home with me from the hospital, and I really wished that I had more when I got home.
- Witch hazel perineal pad liners – This is another great product that I was able to take home from the hospital, but I used these for a while – long after I was already out of ice pads. They would definitely be worth having on hand, as you can go through them quite easily, and they are cooling and soothing to the area. Once I ran out of what the hospital sent home with me, I bought some of the witch hazel pads (they were round) and continued to use them for weeks after giving birth, but I like the Frida pad liners because they fit in your underwear better.
- Heating pad – As your uterus contracts back to its original size, you’ll experience some cramping, especially when/if you breastfeed. It was nice to have a heating pad to help with this in the first week or so – of course, be careful with your newborn (I wouldn’t recommend using it while you’re holding the baby or breastfeeding, but immediately after breastfeeding can be nice).
- Sitz bath – This is the one thing that I never had nor used postpartum, but I wish I would have (especially given the infected stitches that I had). A sitz bath is a shallow bowl used for cleaning the perineal area. You can buy postpartum bath salts, or you can use regular Epsom salts – either one will help soothe the area, discourage infection, and encourage healing. I plan on getting one the next time around!
My hope is that this post will help make postpartum more comfortable for someone out there! It’s not something that’s typically talked about, but I realize now how many products exist on the market that serve this purpose. Just go to Target in the baby section – there will be a whole range of postpartum products right near the breastfeeding products, which I never knew existed before having a baby. There are lots of different brands of many of these items that work just fine, but hopefully this list will provide some basic guidance on what is useful. You got this, Mama!
P.S. Carson’s birth story, and my fourth trimester.
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