Postpartum Essentials
​These are highly recommended items that will save you in the first few weeks after coming home from the hospital. They'll help you heal more quickly, stimulate milk production if you are breastfeeding and just generally keep you feeling good!
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01/ General Care
Whether you have a vaginal delivery or C-section, you will have some healing to do. In particular, you'll bleed for a surprisingly long time, so you'll want to keep yourself comfortable and well-nourished for the first six weeks (at least!). Besides these recommendations, make sure to continue taking all of your prenatal vitamins. Your body just ran a marathon in pregnancy and delivery, so you will need to make sure you're maintaining your stores of vitamins and minerals.
This was the BEST tip I received when I was pregnant. Buy the brand name; the generic ones, even Frida Mom, don't work as well. You'll wear these for at least a couple of weeks postpartum and it makes the shedding process much, much more manageable. Most women bleed for six (!) weeks after birth.
There's no great way to sugarcoat this one. After either type of birth, you want to make your bowel movements easy. This specific product is great because it's a softener and not a laxative, which can be painful. Take 1-2 of these daily as soon as you deliver (or even before)! It will save you.
Sweet almond oil is known for its benefits to postpartum skin and stretch marks. Even if you don't have stretch marks, rubbing this oil on your belly, bum and thighs will help your skin regain its elasticity and heal. It also just feels pretty nice! This one is high quality and organic.
The First Forty Days
This is a wonderful book about how to support and nourish yourself in the first forty days after birth. It'll help to get you and your partner into the right mindset for caring for your body, and provide some great recipes for healing foods. It's such a great read.
02a/ Healing After V-Birth
After a vaginal birth, a few products can make your healing and recovery much easier. It's worth having these on hand ahead of time since you'll need them right away when you get home. These may seem scary or unnecessary - just don't give it much thought right now, order them, don't look at them until you get home from the hospital, and deal with it then. The nurses will teach you how to use them before you leave. You'll be so thankful for these when the time comes!
Unbelievably brilliant product. They'll have these in the hospital but will only give you a couple to bring home. Get a pack of these and use them until you run out. It will speed your healing up and give you a lot of relief.
Peri Bottle
Frida Mom makes a really great peri bottle. This will make peeing much easier. It might seem useless right now, but just order it.
Perineal Pads, Balm, or Spray
Tucks makes great witch hazel pads to offer some cooling relief in the first few days. Earth Mama also makes a great natural spray and perineal balm.
02b/ Healing After C-Section
After a C-section, the best thing you can do to heal is to rest as much as possible and nourish yourself. But a few products can help to support your healing journey and keep you as comfortable as possible.​
High-Waisted Underwear
Having an extra layer of protection over your incision can be very helpful. Hatch makes a more supportive high-waisted brief and a softer, less tight version.
Silicone Scar Patches
You can use these as soon as your doctor says it's allowed and moms swear by its benefits. It will minimize the appearance of your scar and also add a layer of soft protection on your incision.
Arnica Pellets
Arnica is a homeopathic remedy for swelling, bruising and pain. It can be very helpful in your recovery. Of course, consult your doctor before taking any supplements post surgery.
03/ Breastfeeding Support
If you choose to breastfeed, you'll already have your pump, bottles and pillow from our Registry Recs. But in the early days, you may also need a few more care items as you (and your body) are getting used to it. The best advice to keep your supply up to is eat, eat, eat, especially healthy fats. This will make a world of a difference. An important reminder: if breastfeeding hurts during the first few weeks, this is normal. This cannot be emphasized enough. Do not be discouraged if the first days of breastfeeding are incredibly painful. It will improve immensely and quickly!
Nipple Balm
This will be really soothing in the first few weeks as your skin is getting used to breastfeeding. The Motherlove balm is our favorite; it is very soft and 100% organic, free of lanolin, parabens and petroleum. Hatch also has a soothing cream. Organic coconut oil also works well.
Nursing Pads
Especially in the first few months, you will leak milk, which can stain. Nursing pads are super useful, especially when you're out and about. Eco Nursing Pads are the best organic, reusable pads. If you're not into reusable pads, Bamboobies makes high-quality, non-toxic, bamboo disposable pads. I would recommend trying both.
Mother's Milk Tea + Oat Milk
If you're a tea person, drinking Mother's Milk is a great idea. It'll keep you hydrated, which is important for lactation, it tastes mild, and this one is high-quality and organic. You can mix it with oat milk, which is also known to support lactation. Malk and Elmhurst are the cleanest oat milk brands, free of glyphosate and other additives that are common in bigger brands like Oatly.