There is such a heavy emphasis throughout a woman's pregnancy to be 100% prepared for baby. You have to have all the gadgets, and this specific monitor system, and at least 30 outfits in every size... the list could go on! New moms obsess over everything that needs to make its way to the baby registry, but so often forget about their own needs once baby makes it out this side of the womb!
Don't get me wrong, baby registries are far more fun to create than a postpartum kit, that is for sure... I have even created a little corner for my own suggestions that you can find here! But that being said, us mamas need a little TLC, and having some inexpensive items on hand can help us feel a little more human in those first few weeks.
Now that I have birthed two babies, with extremely different labor, delivery, and recovery stories, I can honestly say these items would be a life-saver for any type of experience including our brave C-Section moms! These are also what have worked for me... and if after reading this, you have a must-have item that wasn't on the list, I'd love to hear from you by commenting below!
When it came to a postpartum kit, I knew it had to include the following parameters: (1) It needed to be safe for me and baby. (2) It needed to be as clean and non-toxic as possible. (3) It needed to be affordable! I think all of those needs are pretty well met here!
What You'll Need in Your Kit
I know it seems excessive, but so will the initial blood-loss... Continuous bleeding for several weeks is to be expected, seeing as the detachment of the placenta from your uterine wall leaves quite the internal wound. Don't worry... as women we have been primed for this with a lifetime of menstrual cycles, so you'll handle this like a champ. As always, make sure you call your care-provider if you feel like the bleeding may be more than normal (a full super pad every hour or more).
If you're serious about a quicker healing time, you should be spending a lot of down time on your bed or couch. Trust me from experience, you don't want to be having to clean up blood when you're trying to relax. These Puppy Pads help ensure your bedding and fabrics come out unscathed.
When all else fails, I like keeping a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide handy! Much safer than bleach, I give my towels, sheets, bathroom mats, undies, a quick spray or squirt and toss them in the washer! This is also why I choose to have mostly white linens, so that I can just throw them all together without worrying about "bleaching" something that's dark!
If you had a baby before, you'll recognize these bad boys. Some ladies make fun of these boy-short undies with a grandma flare, but I for one LOVE them. If it wasn't weird and I didn't have a husband, I would probably just wear these for the rest of my life... so you bet your booty I make every excuse to wear these in late pregnancy and for probably far too long postpartum. If you have a nice nurse, you can probably score a few extra of these in the hospital, but I had a home birth, and wasn't about to go without! I found this pack of six on Amazon, and they are all currently soaking in my sink of water and hydrogen peroxide. TMI? Maybe, but I am sitting here writing this in a pair of Hane's Briefs, and it's just not the same.
4. Heating Pad
Hopefully you already have one of these babies from pregnancy, but if not, make sure you grab one now. You'll use it for million things later on anyway. We are all aging, some quicker than others.
How many grey hairs do I have now?
Having a heating pad or corn bag is a life saver when your muscles just went
through battle, and are now returning to their original location. A little warning, heat can pull fluid away from the muscles and dehydrate them, so alternating between ice and heat is usually a smart idea!
They don't call it "Labor" for nothing. This is hard work, and to some degree you will feel it after it's all said and done. I won't sugar-coat it, the first few days can be tough, but if you stay on top of the pain, get good rest, and have someone present to take care of you and baby, this pain is not intolerable. I say this from the experience of tearing, episiotomy, and sphincter abruption (yes you read that correctly), I know about after-birth pains. That being said, I handled my first and second delivery quite differently.
With my first, I had all the above issues. I had an epidural, round the clock pain meds in the hospital, and was sent home with a handful of Percocets and direction to take round the clock Ibuprofen. The result? More pain... and I'll tell you why. Opiate pain meds can create this bad cycle of constipation (we are getting real personal here) and when you already have lots of stitches and trauma to that...uh... area, you may find yourself like me, crying on the shower floor wondering which was more undignified; having my (nurse) husband give me an enema, or showing up to the Emergency Room to tell them "I can't go..."
THAT was one of the most painful experience of my life, and so round two, I decided I would be taking a different approach altogether. Unmedicated everything. No pain meds in pregnancy, labor, or postpartum. None. And before you tell me "Kaitlin, there's just no way I could ever do that", yes you can. I promise you, you can... because I had chronic pain with both pregnancies and I do not obtain any superpowers different from the woman down the street.
There's a plethora of reasons I didn't want to take over-the-counters this past experience, and that's another post for another time, but I was able to successfully manage everything naturally.
Lidocaine: This is by far the least "natural" option, and definitely comes with ingredients I prefer to avoid, especially with that specific, delicate area (you know what I am referring to). That being said, there is a time and place for medicine, and when you are dealing with tears, stitches, and episiotomies, this is that time and place. A little spritz after using the restroom or shower will bring relief for a while!
Arnica: The holy grail of homeopathy, these little tablets got me through first trimester migraines, chronic SPD, and general postpartum soreness. You can't overdose and they are completely natural. I have a container of these in every room, diaper bag, and purse.
AfterEase: No one really talks about the nursing cramps you have first week of postpartum. Some women only experience this after their second baby, but I had it with both boys! Rumor has it, that these cramps get worse each child, so there's something to look forward to... All jokes aside, it is quite incredible how God has designed each aspect of carrying a baby with so much thought. When the baby nurses, it signals the uterus to contract back down to its normal size. This function typically comes with period-like cramping, but like the kind of period you might call out of work for. I had several people suggest AfterEase, and I, without a doubt felt like it truly helped a lot!
It was my preference and choice to go medication free, but any of these can be used regardless of what you decide to do for pain relief. You and your body just went through war, so give yourself some grace!
5. Aloe, Witch Hazel, Pads, Peri Bottle, Tucks Pads, Non-Tox Baby Wipes, Perennial Spray - Bathroom Essentials.
This is the biggest category, but probably the most important. Going to the restroom will look a little different for the first few weeks, and having a bucket of these items will make things a bit more comfortable.
Aloe, Pads, and Witch Hazel: I have a full Postpartum highlight saved over on my Instagram going over how I make Postpartum Padscicles. They will be a frozen relief for your hoo-ha, mark my words. That being said I also like mixing Witch Hazel and water in my Peri Bottle to help cleanse that area. I also make sure to grab plenty of pads. Some for the padscicles, and A LOT for the next few weeks of postpartum bleeding. With my first son, I bled for about six weeks, so make sure you grab enough. I got an assortment of Overnight, Super, and Regular size, depending on how heavy I was bleeding that day. Make sure to get pads that are fragrance-free, and no harsh chemicals. I prefer Bamboo ones! I get these Organic items over at Public Goods! You can use my code KAITLINPGA for 15% off your entire first purchase!
Peri Bottle: Again, the hospital will give you one of these, however I love this one specifically because it works upside down! It's much easier to maneuver, and you don't have to stick the whole bottle down in the toilet bowl to reach! I know there is a popular one with Frida Mama, but this one is basically the same thing but CHEAPER!
Tucks Pads: These moist pads are soaked in Witch Hazel, and are so cooling and nice! Full disclosure, I dealt with hemorrhoids for MONTHS, and so it helped to tuck (no pun intended) one of these in, and sleep with it all night! Things were significantly less swollen in the morning! You can also do this with Apple Cider Vinegar!
Non-Toxic Baby Wipes: I searched high a low for a brand I could trust when it came to baby wipes, and I have been really happy with Kinder by Nature. After learning that many baby wipes contain some pretty nasty ingredients such as:
1. Bronopol
2. DMDM Hydantoin
3. Fragrance/Perfume
4. Parabens
5. PEG’s (polyethylene glycols)
6. Phenoxyethanol
7.Propylene Glycol
8. Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)
9. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
10.Triclosan
These ingredient's can be really harmful in the long run, so when I found Kinder by Nature, I was really stoked. The reason I have them listed for you too mama, is that it can be nice have a cool damp wipe instead of regular toilet paper. You probably don't want to flush these, but I make sure to keep a pack in bathroom for myself.
5. Perennial Spray: This was a new add for my latest delivery, and I am really liking it! All organic ingredients, this herbal spray by Earth Mama, has come in clutch! I typically spray this first for the healing and cooling effect, and then the lidocaine if I need to double up! You can find it here on Amazon, but it's even cheaper on Thrive Market! I love Thrive so much, and if you use this link you can get a full or trial membership, and $20 off your first purchase!
All of these items are fairly inexpensive and last a while! I just got a little storage bin, and keep them on my counter, an arms length away!
6. Postpartum Recovery Tea, Mother's Milk, and Nipple Balm.
Teas: I have really been getting into researching the medicinal effects of herbal drinks, and now with the experience of having an ultra-fast labor, which I largely credit drinking my Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, I am all for Postpartum and Lactation Teas as well. I have tried several but I really like these two brands! I have them both listed on my Amazon Shop! Keep in mind the Mother's Milk contains Fenugreek, which can have the opposite effect on some nursing moms, and hinder milk supply, so make sure you stop drinking if you notice a drop in supply. I love the Pink Stork brand as it is also all organic, and each product is prayed over! They just seem like an overall great company!
The Nipple Butter is also by Earth Mama, and not only does it smell amazing, it is very soothing! Wether you are experiencing severe cracks, or just sore nipples from nursing, this stuff is amazing! This balm is also much cheaper on Thrive! I'm constantly blown away at my favorite products being much cheaper over there!
These items are focused on mama, and of course there are so many I would add for baby and for delivery in the first place! Check out my Amazon Shop under Birth and Pregnancy to see all of my favorites in these categories! I hope this guide gives you a little starting point to feeling prepared for your postpartum recovery!
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