Postpartum questions

[belltree]

I am just starting into the 3rd trimester and might be a bit too early thinking about these things. But, I was wondering, what do I need to have on hand, to ease the afterpains and help healing for myself? We have baby things plentiful, but what do I need for myself besides nursing supplies?

We have some Epsom Salt at home, is that useful? I have heard about sitzbaths, do you have any recommendations? Are cold compresses good to have on hand? What about Witch Hazel, or will this just sting?

I found relatively little information in my books so far, it seems once birth is over most books just seem to jump to nursing and infant care.

[Astraia]

I honestly felt fine after DD so I never used anything (except a squirt bottle when I was peeing at first, but that stung so I stopped and just rinsed after I peed- but I tore a bit, so that's why I needed it).

You can have tylenol/ibuprophin on hand for after pains
Also something called "after ease"- a homeopathic for after pains
Arnica for bruising and swelling
Some things say cold pads and other say warm pads, so I'm confused on that one but EVERYONE says witch hazel is nice. (I think you're supposed to do warm pads soon after the birth, then cold pads for the swelling afterwards?? Not sure.)

But it's one of these things that's different for everyone. It could be awful or it could be really easy. I had it easy, but it never hurts to have stuff on hand.

[shakenbake]

i LOVED my sitzbath i used it everytime i went potty but i had a class 4 epis so i might be diffrent then most =-(

[Kedrosami]

My MW said to have ibuprofen and arnica gel on hand.

I'm also definitely going to have sitz bath herbs. You can find a mixture online (this one looks good: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/pr...ath-herbs.html or just Google "sitz bath herbs") or you can get the bulk herbs and make your own mixture.

You soak the herbs in a big bowl or tray of hot or cold water and soak your bum in it when you're healing after the birth, and it's supposed to be really soothing and speed healing. You can also pre-make an infusion of the sitz bath herbs, soak maternity pads in it, and freeze them so you'll have soothing ice pads for the swelling.

You'll also want a nightgown or pajamas that are easy to nurse in, and plenty of nourishing foods and drinks like hot soups and broths, things high in protein and iron, juices, and RRL tea is always good for helping your uterus get back to its normal size! You can also get mother's milk tea to help your milk production, but you may not need that.

[lifeguard]

Lots of pads. I hadn't used pads in years & thought I'd bought enough. I was rather caught off guard at just how heavy the bleeding was & had to go out a couple of times for more (I was trying to not have extra around afterwards 'cause I don't normally use them but after the 3rd trip to the store I bought them out of stock!).

[MandyB]

After three kids, these are the things I've found I either need after birth, or are the most healing....

- Pads (yep, you'll go through quite a few the first few days at least, so make sure it's a a brand that you like and they're comfortable)

- Breast Pads (The ones that worked the best for me were the disposable Lansinoh brand ones. I tried cloth ones, and about every other brand and these were the only ones that kept me from leaking onto my shirt - which can be really embarrassing if you're out and about)

-Comfrey Leaf Tea (I buy the herbs and my midwives usually make it for me during labor. They make a big 2 gallons of it and put it in the fridge for me to drink iced after the baby is born, until it's gone. It tastes really yummy too!

- LOT'S OF WATER (breastfeeding will make you SOOOOO thirsty)

- Arnica (for the bruising "down there" - I didn't use the gel, just the little pellets under my tongue)

- Squirter bottle for after going to the bathroom (if you're birthing at the hospital, they'll give you one of these for rinsing after you pee)

- Lots of Food and someone to fix it for you or bring it to you! (You'll be hungry from all that hard labor work and BFing)

- Comfy bedtime bra that is easy for nursing and will hold in nursing pads while your breasts adjust to all the milk coming in.

- Frozen Pads (you can either poor some perenial wash on these, or just water, then stick them in the freezer. They're great to put in your underwear after the baby is born to help ease the discomfort in "down there") I used them around the clock frozen for the first two days.

- Someone to pamper you and let you know what a great job you did, get things for you (like a nice glass of water when you're nursing), and tell you what a great job you are doing as a new mom!

That's all I can think of for now! Hopefully my list will help give you some ideas for what might help you in YOUR post partum period. Good luck!

[bajamergrrl]

I recommend some sort of postpartum belly support. I've been wearing one and it's making a big difference in helping my belly go back to normal.

Have some healthy food on hand or someone available to make meals. You'll likely be in no mood to cook or go anywhere for food.

[aramat]

If you have a tear or episiotomy or swelling, hot herbal sitz baths are AMAZING. I hated sitting on the thing for 20 minutes every day/every other day (boring!), but I would feel SO much better afterward!

[Norasmomma]

These are great-I suggest possibly making and freezing your own food before the baby. I did this with DD and OMG it made our lives sooooo much easier, I ended up having an emergency c/s so having that food was even more of a blessing. I currently am doing this myself, I already have about a weeks worth of easy meals that we can either thaw and microwave or bake in the oven. I cannot say how much this helps in those early days. I even do this as presents for moms to be because it is just so nice.

I personally like the Lansinoh cloth pads for in my bra, they seemed to work well for me, and I could wash them as needed. I got like 8 pairs, I need to go get those out myself. I also love Lansinoh breast cream-I get cracked nipples very easily and I used that stuff so much. Also on the nursing front, nursing tanks are great in the beginning, they are comfy and easy to nurse in.

I also have to say that I'd be careful with the RRL tea, I had HORRID afterpains with DD-they were almost worse than labor for me(I had a c/s, but had a 30 hour full on labor b4 that). I had some RRL tea thinking it was the smart thing to do and it wasn't for me, it was not good at all. It really did amplify them and made them awful.

Pads, and I'd say panty liners. for myself my lochia wasn't really heavy for very long, but having those panty liners was nice because there still was a little bit of lochia for awhile-though not enough to have a full on pad.

Helpful and supportive people that you want around you, no one stressful at all. My grandmother is basically banished from being around me for at least a few weeks, she is toxic and I cannot have her around me. My DH is very wonderful and he cleans and gets me water, throws our food in the oven and is just an amazing person-that's what you need.

[stephanie95]

I loved Tucks pads. I would put them on top of my pad. They felt so good.

I also appreciated having some Depends for the first couple of nights. I can sleep easier without having to worry about pads shifting and staining the sheets. I'd line those with Tucks pads as well.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond.

[belltree]

Those are some great tips. I will look into some of the things you mentioned.

My dh and I have been starting to make a list of easy foods to have on hand or to freeze for after birth. We don't have a microwave currently. Do you find a microwave made your lives easier pp? I could imagine it using it to warm wheat kernel pillows, wipes, or food, the oven takes always longer and to have warm water coming through our pipes takes about 2-3min, especially in a cold winter.

[momof4peppers]

This might be too much information, but no one warned me with my first (vaginal delivery of twins, epi, pit, but one was breech). Peri-colace (or maybe it's just colace). And lots of it. Water didn't do it for me (I was drinking about 3 gallons a day as twins were in NICU and I was pumping every 2 hours) and metamucel. The first BM post delivery was WAY WAY worse than any other pain I've ever had (and I've since had a natural childbirth).

[reducereuserecycle]

maybe some pure aloe for any stretching or tears...i shredded potatoes and stuck them in between my butt cheeks to ease my hemroids (it was a natural remedy i read about)

i have a handheld shower sprayer and i found it was less painful to just get in the shower and spray myself while i peed so it didn't sting.

frozen meals would have really helped me last time. i regretted not having some frozen meals because i hadn't really prepared anything ahead of time.

some loose comfortable cotton underwear and reusable mama pads were great to have

[reducereuserecycle]

Do you find a microwave made your lives easier pp?

we don't have one...i think they are dangerous...there are thread all over MDC about them....it is personal opinion/choice of course but i manage fine without one.

[reducereuserecycle]

oh...i froze mama pads to put under my unfrozen pads and wow did they feel good...it was some relief!