Post-partum products? « Back to Group Discussions

[Mama Chickadee]

I just started thinking about what I want to have on hand for post-partum products. Here's what I am thinking:

Witch hazel for freezing in pads

Heavy pads

Preparation H in case of hemmorhoids (hasn't happened before, but one never knows)

Tucks pads for wiping

Mesh post partum panties (I think I have a stash from the last birth, gotta go find them)

Motrin & tylenol - had HORRIFIC afterpains last time from second birth, and want to be prepared this time around.

Dermoplast spray - numbs down there :)

 

Anything else people are planning to use after the birth?

[LilyTiger]

I bought the Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple cream and "down there" spray (or whatever they call it).  I also got a giant pack of pads (might try the witch hazel trick) and disposable nipple pads.  I'm going to steal some of the giant mesh underpants from the hospital.  :)

Other than that, I don't have much.  I'm hoping what I have is sufficient.  I may have to send DH out for a run the first day or two.  I didn't want to load up on stuff I wouldn't use.

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

Earth mama bottom balm

Witch Hazel

Pads

Tucks

Avennoc (for the wretched hemorrhoids that I will be stuck with forever apparently)

Some numbing stuff I have from last birth

A peri bottle (OMG this thing was the one thing I NEVER could have lived without)

Flushable wipes

Disposable and reusable breast pads

lanolin

advil

Anything beyond that can easily be purchased at the 24 hour pharmacy, but I feel better having all of that stuff on hand. 

[iixivboots]

Ugh, stupid h-roids.

I love the Earth Mama Bottom Balm, I've used like half a jar during third trimester for the roids and just feels good on the swollen bits (VERY minty so you must be into that)

I also got a sitz bath for the same problem, can see using that.

I got the biggest Always pads I could find, I heard not to get the super thin ones although they're super absorbant (infinity) because padded is better.

I read on another thread here and I totally want to try: Freezing half vodka and half water in a condom to make a slushy ice pack, not as wet as the "padsicles"

Can you buy dermaplast at the drug store?

I know I shouldn't but I use target up and up unscented sensitive baby wipes and flush them, they're pretty thin and I've not yet had a problem but I hope that i am not cursing myself!

[poppylove]

My dh and I are making pp pads (hehehe, dh would be mortified if he knew i shared that)

It felt fantastic last time. 

Aloe, lavender, witch hazel squirted on a maxi and frozen (individually wrapped for easy grabbin)

I have nursing bras, nursing pads, and a nursing cover. Last time I had none of these, and had to run to the store to get some leak pads. I just had no idea. We also have a ton of young men (age 14-25) in our fam, and call me crazy, but I just want a nursing cover this time around. 

Some leggings, that I have stashed away for postpartum. Mostly because I want something I can wear immediately that is not maternity. 

Mama's Milk tea, or whatever it is called.

Definitely witch hazel. Love witch hazel. Soothing on the hems. Damn I hate those. 

Noted: flushable wipes and Earth M A B Rhoid balm. Must get those both 

[iixivboots]

Hey I read something that was like  "Get alcohol free witch hazel" but I can't find any anywhere and I'm wondering if it really exists? What do you ladies think?

[eleuthia]

It does exist! I have some. The brand is Thayer's. Mine is lavender scented (so I won't be using it for postpartum stuff) but they make unscented as well. I got mine at whole foods but it looks like amazon has it as well (& there is another brand, homestead, that is available w/ amazon prime if you have that).

[ithappened]

the one thing I didnt have at the hospital I REALLY wish I had brought was Flushable wipes.. !!!! The toilet paper there is so rough and its the last thing you want to use.

I also on a fluke brought ear plugs and a sport-like water bottle (the kind you could use laying down and not need to sit upright to drink from).. I used both those things ALL the time.
 

[Lizbiz]

I make a really strong comfrey tea leaf on the stovetop and then use about 4 TB of that on a pad and freeze individually - it's supposed to have healing properties and so far I've had extremely smooth healings down there :).  It also feels like heaven post-birth!  

I also use a peri-bottle with warmish water and 3-4 drops of this essential oil mixture that also encourages healing.  With that and the frozen comfrey leaf pads - I stay pretty comfortable.  

[rootzdawta]

I've got overnight disposable pads (a chlorine-free brand) that I am going to soak with witch hazel but the comfrey tea sounds good too.  I've used the witch hazel two times before and that worked so I might just stick with it. I have the After-Ease tincture from WishGarden which really helped with the postpartum cramping.  I also purchased some Arnica 200C which I will start taking in early labor and continue to after to help with the cramping also.  I also have in my birth kit a peri bottle which I fill with warm water to wash after I use the bathroom.  In terms of clothes, I have some comfortable but snug fitting big shorts that help to keep pads  in place.  I was thinking about also making a batch of "lactation cookies" . . . I dunno, maybe.  

[Tizzy]

I almost forgot about one of my favourite things in my midwife's birth package, the herbal sitz bath!

It is just lovely stuff,  you make it up ahead of time in a concentrate then add it to a shallow bath, so nice for baby - especially the cord stump, and my bottom!

I had some left over last time, so when DD got the chicken pox around 6mo of age, I filled a stock pot with this bath and soaked her in it, it was very soothing and helped prevent a lot of scarring :)

[sarahdb]

I got the herbal sitz bath in my midwife's birth kit too. She also recommended using it to freeze some pads with. What do you think about that? Would that be comparable to using witch hazel?

[Tizzy]

I think that would work really well too!

The only thing I found with the frozen pads is that sometimes it was too cold, like sitting directly on an ice pack. Next time I'd use less liquid I think?

[andaluza]

Very informative thread!

Originally Posted by Tizzy 

I think that would work really well too!

The only thing I found with the frozen pads is that sometimes it was too cold, like sitting directly on an ice pack. Next time I'd use less liquid I think?

That's interesting and good to know. I was talking to my husband the other day about making the frozen pads and he was horrified, insisting that he thought it would harm my lady parts by being too cold. Using less liquid is what I suggested, but I thought he was being a little ridiculous because I've seen the frozen pad recommendation in so many places.

[Tizzy]

Now that I think of it, I ended up folding a paper towel up to use as a buffer (toilet paper breaks down too much). But we don't routinely have paper towels in the house so I think I'll just try less liquid this time :)

[Mama Chickadee]

I liked the idea of flushable wipes, so picked some up at CVS the other day. I found them in two different places - in the "female care" section, and in the toddler/diapers section. The "feminine wipes" were literally 4x the cost of the toddler wipes, and the toddler wipes had more in them, so I got the toddler wipes.

BUT.... I mentioned this to my neighbor, and she said her 3 year old DD told her the toddler wipes are "stingy" so I am going to have to do a trial run, and see if I want these things next to my sore lady bits. 

Just a warning! 

[iixivboots]

OMG, the hospital strength dermaplast spray, for sure.

Now I just need someone to invent a self warming peri bottle for those of us whose toliets are close enough to the sink to fill without lots of foresight.

[CCoello]

I am 4 days post-partum and I am loving padsicles, frozen with 2T witch hazel each. That and the dermaplast spray from the hospital are heavenly on my 2nd degree tear!

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by Mama Chickadee 

I liked the idea of flushable wipes, so picked some up at CVS the other day. I found them in two different places - in the "female care" section, and in the toddler/diapers section. The "feminine wipes" were literally 4x the cost of the toddler wipes, and the toddler wipes had more in them, so I got the toddler wipes.

BUT.... I mentioned this to my neighbor, and she said her 3 year old DD told her the toddler wipes are "stingy" so I am going to have to do a trial run, and see if I want these things next to my sore lady bits. 

Just a warning! 

Actually, get hemmroid wipes- the REALLY big ones  that are the size of baby wipes with that are soaked in witch hazel- those were HEAVEN last time for me. 

[Mama Chickadee]

I'm loving the Earth Mama Bottom Balm. Feels nice, and it smells lovely! The spray feels nice too, but I don't like being wet down there! I feel like I need to wipe it all off afterward, which would defeat the purpose of the spray!

I think I am going to go dig out a heating pad from the closet tomorrow. I have a rice sock that had been really nice on my sore back (probably the most sore part of me) but I am tired of taking it to the microwave to heat.

I've set an alarm on my phone to go off every 3 hours so that I can alternate Motrin and Tylenol, and I've been religiously taking it. The after pains are not nearly as bad as last time!