There is this idea out there that after you give birth you will need all these items. Retail stores and marketing representatives everywhere love to show you images of all these things that you think that you will need. Their whole goal is to make you consider that you absolutely cannot live without these items. I used to work in the
advertising/marketing world, I remember once my eyes were open to the world of selling products, I realized that I really did not need half the things that I have.
While items that work for you may differ than another mother, there are some essentials that you will most likely need postpartum that are universal. That is the list that I wanted to bring to you in hopes that you will get some clarity on what you might need besides pads and stool softeners.
BRAS
These are essential. Invest in a good one. There are some out there that are poorly made that make your skin irritated and do not last long. I lived in my nursing bra while I was pregnant starting in the 3rd trimester and then well into the breastfeeding period. Some of my friends have invested in some great nursing bras and have worn them even while they
were not pregnant or breastfeeding. Some prices out there for nursing bras are a little over the top. You will have to see what feels good to your own body. Some straps on some nursing bras are made different with the way they click, so look at it and ask yourself if it will realistically be comfortable while you attempt to adjust to a breastfeeding life. Buy nursing bras is basic colors so you can use them with different outfits. If you are planning on breastfeeding, you will most likely need to get breastfeeding nursing pads. There are reusable ones and there are disposable ones. Which one you prefer depends on you. There are many brands that are reusable now which are organic and soft. If you are using disposable ones, make sure you buy enough to get you through a week at least.
CREAM
What lotions/creams to get that you actually need? Well after you give birth you will most likely be swollen. If you had a tear then you will be way more sensitive down in your vaginal area. One item that is really helpful is Witch Hazel. You can use it on your pads spraying some on that will have a cooling effect. You can also put the pad with the Witch Hazel in the freezer for a few minutes adding to the cool effect that will help with swelling once you put it on. Your nurse/midwife should give you some pointers on how to use Witch Hazel and show you as well.
Another item that is an essential is Lanolil. This is a nipple cream that will help with sore nipples. If you are breastfeeding, at some point your nipples might become sore. You can apply this cream in between feedings and it is 100% natural and has no side effect for the baby. You can find this cream in any drug store. If you are at the hospital and are having sore nipples while you are breastfeeding you can ask the nurses to get you some Lanolil cream, they usually have some on hand for you to use.
HEALTHY SNACKS
Once you have a baby, mothers tend to forget to eat. A lot of times this can be avoided if you prepare beforehand. With my first child I am guilty of not eating. Honestly, I forgot or maybe I tried to be supermom and just thought I could go without food. Add breastfeeding on top of that and you have a recipe for a dehydrated/malnourished mother
that is starting to not feel good. I personally almost fainted one time and had to call for
help thinking I was about to go to the hospital. So please stack up on some healthy snack beforehand.
A great snack you can have laying around is nuts. There are lots of mixed nut bags you can find in your local store. Choose one that you enjoy and have some around when you breastfeed so you can snack on them. Another great snack is granola bars. You can make some of your own before the birth, if you are feeling up to it, and just have some nearby to pick up as an easy snack in between meals.
Food is an interesting topic postpartum because everyone’s situation postpartum is
different. Some have loads of help while others do not. Look at your situation and try to brainstorm about what will make food an easier situation postpartum.
• Are you going to have a meal train afterwards?
• Are you able to make freezer meals for a week?
• Are you able to cut up food and put them in containers to have in the fridge?
Those are some questions to get you started.
COMFY CLOTHES
Once you give birth your body will need some time to adjust to life. It needs time. You will need time. Some mothers tend to think that their body will always be the way that it is postpartum. In terms of clothing this is a weird adjustment. When you pick out your clothing think about what you would wear in the 2nd trimester. Your stomach will still be swollen within the first 6 weeks, at least, therefore the clothing that you were wearing in the 2nd trimester should be comfortable and loose enough.
Something to consider is breastfeeding. You will most likely be pulling your shirt up or
down in order to expose your breast to the baby. I found an undershirt that is stretchy that you do not mind stretching down from the top and cheap really help cover up the
stomach. You can find really cheap spaghetti style strap shirts at Walmart for example that are really affordable. These are not a necessity though so do not think that you absolutely cannot live without them.
A note on waist bands:
You might want to have one but you also might not like it. If you have had a C-Section then a waist band is recommended in order for your stomach to heal properly and preventing any sort of tearing. Some hospitals will even provide you with one after a C-Section. Why you might not like it is because it is hard to wear one while you are in bed or are breastfeeding. There is a theory out there regarding waist bands and how they help pull your stomach muscles in but some people are against this idea. I believe that it is (as all of this info) is up to you to feel out. I had my abs split with my 3rd and found the waist band helpful to me personally for my abs. For my C-Section I wore one until the end of my 6th week. With my 1st child I did not really wear one and felt fine. So the choice is yours ladies!
I consider these items really to be essential for the postpartum period. There are other
items that other moms have found useful and if you have items that you really could not live without during your own postpartum time, please share them below so others can take it into consideration.
I hope some of these are useful to you and feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions regarding any of these.
Much love,
Krystina
