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post #1 of 42
7/8/12 at 6:11pm
Thread Starter 

What type of postpartum items are you going to have on hand? I'm talking mainly about herbs, sitz bath tea mixtures, etc. I didn't really do anything last time (although my midwife did soak some pads and put them in the freezer for me) but would be interested in picking up some stuff this time. I've looked on etsy and they have a bunch and of course, there are lots of recipes out there but right now I'm feeling too "fat and lazy" to put anything together myself. Thoughts or suggestions?

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post #2 of 42
7/8/12 at 7:04pm
When I lived in Albuquerque, The Herb Store there had an AMAZING blend of sitz bath herbs. My midwife will provide her blend, so I can only hope that it is as good as the one I've used in the past. My (newly) local herb store has a blend, too, but I'll just rely on what my midwife can provide.

For 'prep' last time, I got a bulk order of menstrual pads from amazon, since I have to wear them for a good 5 weeks. This time, since I'm allergic to adhesives, I used that money to bulk up my stash of Lunapads, which I LOVE. I started using them while I had my heavy IUD periods, and they worked great, so I have high expectations for them during post-partum bleeding.
post #3 of 42
7/8/12 at 11:26pm

I didn't use any sort of sitz bath last time, or special concoction of any sort. I guess I got lucky in that department, and even though I had a couple stitches nothing really bothered me down below. Our midwives recommended freezing pads with witch hazel. There were a couple other recommendations too. I'll dig out my list tomorrow as I can't seem to remember right now.

 

I did hbleed for almost 12 weeks last time, which was a giant pain. I hate disposable pads, and usually use a Diva Cup but obviously wasn't going there postpartum! Help, it's great to hear good things about the luna pads for  heavy bleeding. That's been my only concern about mama cloth. I've never used it for anything heavy and I wasn't sure how well they would hold up!

post #4 of 42
7/9/12 at 6:03am

Last time I used depends for the immediate postpartum bleeding (basically till I ran out of the box), then I switched to home made mama cloth.  As much as I hate the idea of glues and dyes and all that up against my delicate mama parts, it was so SO super easy and such a blessing not to have to worry about another thing to wash.  So I'll probably stock up on depends.

 

Motherwort tincture helped immensely with after-pains and bleeding.  I plan on more of that and After Ease tincture.

 

Never got into the sitz bath, but it sounds divine.  Probably mix up an herbal blend just in case.

 

I've been stocking up on witch hazel every time I go to the store.  

 

Making plans to encapsulate the placenta.  

 

Looking for extra help postpartum.

post #5 of 42
7/9/12 at 9:04am

Last time I used mama cloth.  It worked fine.  I just washed it with the diapers (and I had two in cloth then), so they weren't really any extra hassle.  I have a good sized stash, including some larger pads for postpartum.  I plan to use them again this time.  I hate the feel of disposable pads.  Sadly, I wore disposable nursing pads for about 10 months with both of my girls, and I expect I'll do the same this go round irked.gif  I tried wool, cotton, etc, and would try again after a few weeks/months over and over again.  The dampness really irritates my nipples, they soak through quickly, and they show badly. 

 

I'll freeze a few pads with the sitz bath herbal blend again.  I also really liked Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray.  And the After Ease really helped me too.  The uterine contractions were worse after DD2, and I expect them to be even worse this time.

 

I need to get back into the postpartum prep mindset.  I want to set up encapsulating the placenta and some help, and I still need to figure out a support person for my kids during the birth...

post #6 of 42
7/9/12 at 12:50pm
I haven't done anything yet (ack! Slacker!)... but I really must echo what Flower of Bliss said about loving the EMAB New Mama Bottom Spray! I'd even venture to call it an essential on my list.

I've never used cloth immediately post partum, but do plan to this time. I make my own normal mama cloth (and have a pretty heavy flow normally, so most of my pads aren't for lighter times anyway)... I did get a pattern specifically for the postpartum period and I think I'll make some of those and then a few beefier pads somewhat altered from my normal style (longer, more coverage front/back) and see how things play out. I've never frozen or put anything on any pads before... but maybe I should try it?

I'm thinking of trying to make some wool nursing pads on my own too. I LOVED the merino wool ones last time with dd4 (worth their weight in gold I think), but can only find one pair. I have some lovely, soft wool interlock that might work...).

I also am really interested in belly-binding afterwards. It's not even so much for returning back to a normal shape sooner, but more for holding everything in where it's supposed to be. Anybody else doing it? Anybody done it before?
post #7 of 42
7/9/12 at 4:36pm

All that sticks in my mind is how absolutely essential the perineum squirty water bottle was. For you first time mamas, GET THE BOTTLE. Available at the dollar store. And thank you for the EMAB New Mama Bottom suggestion! I am ordering it this second. 

 

Other than that, I will just buy the super duper overnight pads and pray PP bleeding only lasts 2-3 weeks. I hate pads so much. Ugh.

 

As for help, I will have my daughters who are 7 and 10. And my DH is taking 2 weeks off work when the baby is born. This time, I am going to sleep when the baby sleeps, whenever that may be. 

post #8 of 42
7/9/12 at 5:10pm
Thanks for the spray suggestion. I am thinking I want to try a it's bath too this time around.

I used depends a bit last time too. And then I went to regular pads. I did not like the frozen witch hazel ones. They didn't do it for me.

What I'm going to need is food. DH did a lot of cooking last time, but won't be around this time. So need to do some cooking and save some money for a TJ's run
post #9 of 42
7/9/12 at 7:35pm
Thread Starter 

Wow, I'm getting some good ideas. I'm normally a diva cup girl but I did sew some mama cloth for last time but ended up with so many pads from my birth kit that by the time I was done (~4 weeks I think?) with those, I was done needing them. But I'll order less this time since I really don't like the itchiness they give me (I have very sensitive skin in general). 

 

I tore last time - silly baby came out with her hand up by her face, hoping to avoid that this time, but either way, I was not really prepared for the post-baby pains and twinges last time but I won't be as surprised by them this time. The frozen pads felt good the first day or two then they just felt cold so I stopped...and when we moved a few months later I found several stuck to the bottom of my freezer :-) I'll definitely be looking into the Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray and those tinctures now though. Afterpains were pretty bad last time but I'm not sure what to expect this time since I'll probably be tandem nursing - more intense but hopefully shorter duration? 

post #10 of 42
7/9/12 at 8:39pm
Ugh... I have no idea what to do about afterpains, but I think I'm more terrified of them than actually giving birth :/
post #11 of 42
7/10/12 at 7:49am

 The afterpains after my second birth were quite horrendous! The only thing that worked for me was ibuprofen. I don't take OTC medicines very often at all, but I could not nurse my newborn daughter otherwise because the afternpains were that bad. I will most definitely have ibuprofen handy for after the birth. 

post #12 of 42
7/10/12 at 8:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Worldshakerz View Post

 The afterpains after my second birth were quite horrendous! The only thing that worked for me was ibuprofen. I don't take OTC medicines very often at all, but I could not nurse my newborn daughter otherwise because the afternpains were that bad. I will most definitely have ibuprofen handy for after the birth. 

That's my plan too. I don't take OTC stuff much either, but I believe this is an absolutely necessary situation.
post #13 of 42
7/10/12 at 10:50am

Ugh, I have been dreading thinking about this. I'm so much more concerned about dealing with post-partum recovery and a newborn than I am about actually giving birth. For those of you who have used/are planning to use depends-- what kind do you get? If I buy the smallest pack possible will that be enough to get me to a level of bleeding I can use some sort of ultra thin pad with? I'm simply not willing to invest in the PP cloth pads, as much as I like the idea of them.

post #14 of 42
7/10/12 at 1:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by judybean View Post

Ugh... I have no idea what to do about afterpains, but I think I'm more terrified of them than actually giving birth :/

Don't remind me!!!! *hides*. Mine keep getting worse and worse with each baby. :(

post #15 of 42
7/10/12 at 1:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArtificialRed View Post

Ugh, I have been dreading thinking about this. I'm so much more concerned about dealing with post-partum recovery and a newborn than I am about actually giving birth. For those of you who have used/are planning to use depends-- what kind do you get? If I buy the smallest pack possible will that be enough to get me to a level of bleeding I can use some sort of ultra thin pad with? I'm simply not willing to invest in the PP cloth pads, as much as I like the idea of them.

I know that everyone is different. Here is what happens to me:

I usually bleed super heavy for about the first week and I don't mean like a heavy period, it's about double a heavy period with clots. It tends to gush while nursing the baby and my uterus cramps.

It usually slows down to heavy period consistency by the 2nd week pp but if I over exert myself, it will pick back up at times. Weeks 3-4 are medium flow. Weeks 5-6 slowly taper down to nothing. I can't get away with a thin pad until 5-6 weeks pp.

I would plan on enough Depends to last a week at least.

post #16 of 42
7/10/12 at 2:40pm
I'll ditto what Lauren82 said.... except for whatever reason I won't get Depends (oh, vanity! Oh, pride!). I just go through monster pads like they're going out of style. (And I am hoping to go the cloth route... so I need to work that out... deciding fabrics, layers, etc)
post #17 of 42
7/10/12 at 6:07pm
They make a three pack of depends now. Sihillouette variety? They are expensive per count. I think I used maybe 5? For me, it was just nice not to worry about overspill or leakage or ruining undies. I didn't pee in them. from there I got some ultra thin always heavy flow pads. I remember going to get them post partum and saying I didn't care how much they were, I was not using the ginormous ones any more. I do have to say for fellow pad haters, they have gotten a LOT thinner since I even used them last like 8 yrs ago and the stay dry top part is really nice.

Eta, one thing I thought of was last time, I wish we had closed the bathroom I was using to guests. I had my spray bottle and trash in there, and couldn't always clean it, and sometimes it was in nt great condition. I'm seriously putting a sign on the door that says new mama only. Anyone else can go downstairs.eyesroll.gif

What is the deal with these after pains? I am scared now!
Edited by Carson - 7/10/12 at 8:07pm
post #18 of 42
7/11/12 at 8:32am

I think I'm going to do a few freezer meals... didn't do it with the last two, but boy I wish I had...

 

I have tons and tons and tons of huge disposable Maxi pads that I bought after I had my last miscarriage, so I'll be using those up...

 

I'm probably going to get a witch hazel sitz bath since I tore with DD1 (though she basically flew out..) and don't know how this one will be.  

post #19 of 42
7/11/12 at 8:58am

My afterpains were awful with my second, completely unnoticeable with my third (but I thought they'd be even WORSE!). So now I have no idea what to expect.

post #20 of 42
7/11/12 at 9:09am

Oh, and I do have a few depends as well... I feel like I'll use them mostly for overnights with a pad tucked inside of it, just to prevent leaks... nights with a newborn are busy, I don't want to have to worry about changing sheets!  leaked milk can wait until morning.. lochia?  not so much!

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