Brantley is eight and a half months now – climbing and moving everywhere, sweet, babbling, laughing, smiling, and cooing. I can still clearly remember those early days though and trying to navigate the first couple of weeks when postpartum recovery felt so difficult.
There were so many unknowns – I didn’t exactly know what to expect, what I would need, or how long it would last. I was trying to figure out how to take care of a new human while recovering and taking care of myself in a whole new way too.
The most intense parts of recovery ended up going by so much faster than I could have realized. At the time, it felt like it might last forever and like it was always going to take 15 minutes and a million steps to go to the bathroom. Then to my pleasant surprise, it got easier day-by day. It was super helpful to have all the things I needed ahead of time, so I could focus on my sweet new baby and my own healing.
I only created one postpartum basket in the bathroom in my room and just used that bathroom to keep things simple. I’m sharing my list of postpartum essentials with you in hopes that this makes your recovery just a little bit easier too.
This is TMI for most people but hopefully helpful to any pregnant mamas out there!
Postpartum Must Haves
Physical Recovery
| Peri Bottle | Warm water in this is the way to go – so necessary and soothing to rinse. Travis kept a large thermos full for me so I could quickly refill the bottle right in the bathroom |
| Regular Absorbency Pads | I used these on top of Thinx period underwear for the first week |
| Perineal Ice Pads | Layered these on to cool things down especially for the first week |
| Witch Hazel Liners | I’d layer these right on the pad and then add the foam for all the relief |
| Healing Foam | This made all the difference – I put it on the pad next for extra cooling |
| Perineal Spray | This is more natural than the Deromplast version – I would just spray it right on myself for extra healing |
| Tuck’s Pads | I found these helpful for dabbing |
| Stool Softener | The hospital will send you home with some of these, but I bought some more and took them for a month or so after too |
| Lavender Hand Wipes | These just smell so nice – I’d use them to wipe the bathroom down |
Breastfeeding
| Nipple Butter | This is like chapstick which is nice and soothing and necessary at first – and this one is organic and I didn’t have to worry about wiping it off before breastfeeding |
| Saline Spray | Super helpful to speed up the healing of any cracks that show up |
| Breast Ice Therapy Pack | These felt so nice to soothe right after nursing as you are getting used to it the first couple of weeks |
| Breastfeeding Probiotic | I ended up taking this because of Mastitis – recommended by my IBCLC – I would have taken it proactively had I known sooner |
| Breast Pads | Helpful as your supply regulates – helped reduce the amount of outfit changes. I went through a lot of these (I used ~12 a day for the first few weeks) |
| Breast Shells | Another helpful tool in the first couple of weeks as your supply regulates – I rested one in my bra to catch extra milk on one side while I nursed on the other |
| Healing Silver Covers | These were great to promote the healing process for any cracks |
Clothes
| Absorbent Underwear | These are super helpful the first few weeks – I’d layer a regular pad and ice pad and remove a layer each time I went to the bathroom to make things a bit easier and quicker – I used these instead of the disposable option |
| Postpartum Absorbent Sleep Shorts | These were great for sleeping in for the first few weeks while everything was healing |
| High-waisted Ice Pack Underwear | Appreciated these for the first couple of weeks for a little extra support and structure and they have a spot to stick an icepack in which is a nice alternative to the large ice pad especially during the day |
| High-waisted recovery Underwear | Helpful for the first week or so for comfort and additional support |
| Helpful to have at least five or so of these – all I wore for several months. | |
| Nursing Pajamas | These are comfy, cute, and all cotton – and so helpful for the middle of the night feedings. |
| Support Wrap | I brought this to the hospital with me and wore it the first week or so. It provides a lot of comfort and support. |
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