Advice on "stuff" « Back to Group Discussions

[AlaskAnne]

Experienced mamas - now that I'm getting closer I'm starting to think about rounding up the essentials and things I'll need in the first few months.  I'm pretty much set, except for a few things.  If you have any opinions about any of these items I'd be grateful!

Bottles - I plan on going back to work after about 2 months (part time for a month, then transition back to full time).  From what I've read Born Free and Dr. Browns are both breastfeeding compatible.  I want to get glass, but how many do I need?  If I'm just transferring milk from storage bags to the bottles it doesn't seem like I'd need more than 2 or 3.  Is that right?  Also, what size do I need?  Are the little 3 oz ones big enough?

Post-partum stuff - what do I need for after I come home from the birth center?  I keep reading about "tucks" pads and sitz baths.  Should I have that stuff on hard or is it a wait and see if I need it sort of thing?  I do have some 7th gen pads, comfy sleep type bras for nursing, and I'm making some nursing pads.  I was also planning on ordering some natural, homemade nipple cream from the gal who is teaching my birthing from within class.  Anything I'm missing?

Mattress protectors - cosleeping mamas, what do you use to protect your mattress?  We have a new king size natural latex mattress and I don't want it to get damaged by wetness!  These are two I was looking at to put under the sheets where baby and I are sleeping.  I figured I'd get one of each so I can rotate.  http://www.babynatura.com/crib-bedding/puddle and http://www.naturepedic.com/products/baby/organic_protector_pads.php.

Wet bags - I was thinking a large one for the pail and then a couple of the smaller zippered ones for on the go.  Does anyone have any preferences from those that are available on GMD? http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/other.htm

Baby towels - can I just use regular adult towels?  what's so special about hooded baby towels? 

NoseFrida - has anyone used and liked (better than a bulb syringe)?

[mamaharrison]

I don't know anything about bottles so I will let the other mamas answer that ; ) but I have heard the same things about those two brands. I think that usually you just have to take this as it comes--every babe is different.

You will need to have pads for PP--you will bleed {lochia} and it will be kinda like a period for 2-6 weeks. Sitz baths are really nice to have on hand--you don't have to have them, but it's something that is really nice and beneficial and you won't have the time or energy to make them once babe is here--so, mix some herbs up or by a premade mix and have enough for a bath a day for 6 days, IMO, or skip it altogether--your choice. I didn't do them at all last time and I had a second degree tear and was fine, but this time I am going to do them because it just seems like a very nice way to help healing ; )

as far as protecting the mattress--we have normal, non water proof mattress pads because I can't stand anything synthetic. The ones you linked look great though. What i like to do though, especially in the early weeks/months of sweaty, bleedy, milky, drooly goodness is to put a fabric chux pad under babe and I where we will be nursing --typically baby fits completely on this pad and then it is under my torso area. i put this over our sheet because this way I can just change it out in the middle of the night as needed--sometimes you have to change it numerous times a night! Changing sheets in the middle fo the night is not ok, IMO! haha You can also use fleece blankets, but they are hot! Wool can be used, but that is expensive {for me}--but I do rec something you can easily change out in the night as needed otherwise you will be washing your sheet daily and sleeping in wetness half the night :(

wet bags are another thing that you figure out along the way. What works for us is that I have a standard dispoable diaper pail in the bedroom at the changing table/area and that is where the bulk of the diapers go into--no liner--it is covered. Then we also do family cloth, so, we have a large hanging wet bag on the back of the bathroom door for those and I imagine that some of the babes diapers will end up in there, too. Then we have 2 medium sized wet bags for on the go. One of the bags has a dry side, too. So we can have like 3 clean diapers on that side and the wet bag side when they get used up.

nothing special about baby towels, IMO. We don't have one, but some babes are extra sensitive and get real cold after bathtime and cranky as a result--so, I can see hooded towels being a benefit there--I think you just want to be conscious of really keeping babe warm out of the bath.

I have never had a need for a nose suction device. We use XClear saline spray if babe is stuffy and it keeps them running clear ; ) no need for suctioning, IME/O.

Getting close!!

[annaka]

Great questions for new moms! I'm due Dec 28th for our third in three years. DD is 2yo, DS is 1yo. And here's my advice for you:

As far as mattress protection, I just put down a towel for the first week or so and change it if needed. Then for possible spit-up or leaky breasts, I put own a couple receiving blankets or even just a burp cloth. Easy to wash and I guess I figure why have something over the whole bed or spend the extra money... just use what I've got.

For baby towels- same thing. We have one or two we got as gifts, but I actually rather use a regular adult towel- it soaks up more water and seems to me to be warmer for the little one. Might be a bit more rough- but to me that's fine, it's not like they're wearing it or anything- just bathing and/or drying off. The only thing I use the baby towls for is covering them in the actual tub to keep them warm and wet, but a hand towel works fine for that, too.

Bottle sizes: by the time my babes were two months old they'd drink 4 oz or more at a feeding. (I also went back to work at about that time and pumped for the feeding or two I missed.) So three ounce bottles would be way too small. We just took out the bigger ones and didn't bother using small by the time we had our second baby. We haven't used glass, so I don't know anything about kinds. But having 3-4 bottles was enough for us.

Oh one more thing I have an opinion/advice on- the nipple cream you can try if you want, but what works best for me is just self expressing a bit more and massaging it in a bit after baby is done eating and not closing up my bra until I'm dry- or even just a couple minutes.

 Hope my tidbits help! Good luck!

[sweetestday]

For co-sleeping with a newborn I use a crib sized flat water proof mattress pad, then lay a thin cotton blanket like a receiving blanket over it. I keep a laundry bag hanging next to my bed, and diapering/changing stuff right there so I don't need to get up. That way I can clean up and toss the soiled things right in the bag and have fresh things to replace it with fairly quickly, all in good time for falling back to sleep. 

I like the herbal blends for sitz baths after birth. I'm a shower person, so it's really the only time I make myself take baths. It is soothing.

I hardly ever bathe my babies. I use a damp rag for cleaning them up, and I love using natural oils for massaging them and moisturizing them. My babies don't really get that scaly, peely, dry look that I see in so many little babies. I think it's the regular use of good oils on their skin that keeps them looking smooth and glowing. I don't like to give them baths until they can sit up and enjoy them. :) As for towels, I got a lot of hooded ones as gifts, so that's what I use... otherwise I'd be using our regular adult sized ones.

For cracked nipples, could you just use coconut oil??? I've never had cracked nipples, but if I did, that's what I'd try first.

[mamaharrison]

I second the coconut oil for nipples--it works for everything! 
We also don't bathe our babes until they are bigger/older. We do lots of skin to skin and oiling up with coconut oils and other blends and DD never had any rashes or skin issues. When we do feel the need to clean babe we use African Black Soap, which is really wonderful. ALthough I did like to bathe PP and found that nursing in the bath was a great time with DD when she was an infant--DH worked nights and so I was solo during the fussy nighttime period and getting in a warm bath and leaning back and nursing her with her little body against mine floating in water was really wonderful for us both--we just added a few drops of oil to the bath and skipped soap then  ;) sweet memories.....of my big, little girl <3

[AlaskAnne]

thanks for all the wisdom ladies! 

mama harrison - what are chux pads?  I keep seeing them mentioned but I have no idea what they are.  From what you all are saying I'm thinking something absorbent on top of the sheet makes more sense.  I definitely like the idea of not washing the sheets every day if there is a mess.... So maybe the nice waterproof pads are just an insurance policy.

annaka - thanks for the bottle advice!  good to know that I should go with the bigger size.  I think the Born Free 9 oz three pack is what I'll go with.  PS. we're due on the same day!  I really hope I have a full-moon baby but fully preparing myself for going late.

So is a sitz bath basically a general term for a combination of herbs, etc to put in the water when you take a bath?  There's no special recipe?  I'm not normally a bath person either, but I think it would probably feel good...

[tropicana74]

AlaskAnne, instead of (or in addition to) a sitz bath I would REALLY recommend a squirt bottle (aka peri bottle) of water and a spray of some sort (purchased or homemade) of something soothing like a witch hazel or lavender in it. I really never felt like I had the energy/want/need/time to take a bath postpartum. The squirt bottle of warm water was priceless for spraying on during and after peeing (because it will burn)! 

I can't remember if you are birthing at home or the hospital. With my first they sent me home with a can of spray that contained lidocaine. I felt it helped greatly and would spray in on after using my squirt bottle and it kind of numbed things up and kept me comfy. However, with baby #2 I had a second degree tear and the lidocaine burned. I quickly stopped using it and used a witch hazel spray instead. I can't remember what it was but will be trying something like this this time:
http://www.diapers.com/p/bella-b-bee-relieved-healing-spray-4oz-22047?site=CA&utm_source=cse&utm_medium=cpc_D&utm_term=LC-193&utm_campaign=Google&CAWELAID=1338744813&utm_content=pla&cagpspn=pla&ci_kw={keyword}

As far as Chux pads, just google it! You will find lots of options. You can order online or usually pick up a package at any drug store. I ordered mine through inhishands.com so that I could order different sizes and didn't need to get a whole package of each size.

[mamaharrison]

I don't rec. disposable chux pads--they are full of yucky chemicals and probably not comfy to sleep on top of + expensive. I use fabric backed ones like this--http://www.northshorecare.com/underpadswash1.html?gclid=CNPt69GK27MCFQf0nAoddXQAXA--whenever I have a friend birth in the hopsital, I ask if they will bring me a few--haha!

Second the peri bottle--you can fill that with herbs, too. I am not a big fan of any meds or such, so have no experience there, but the herbs are wonderful. A sitz bath it a shallow bath the just covers your bottom. They sell the tub itself at CVS or walmart for under $20 and it sits on top of the toilet and you fill it with warm water and herbs {yes, there are specific herbs used for PP and healing and not just a random mix--google it and you can find lots of recipes to suit your needs from general to herbs to help with a tear}. SO, it makes it much easier than taking a full body bath because it just soaks your bottom. Of course, you can add the same herbs to a tub and just fill it low, but no need for a full bath.

[Mamabeakley]

No advice to share about bottles.

I have a sit-on-the-toilet sitz bath and I love it, because I don't like taking actual baths.  I made up an herbal mix last time and want to this time except my local source doesn't have two of the herbs I need (grump).  If I have time I will order some.  But plain salt-water or salt-water with a couple drops of essential oil (lavendar) could work, too.  I think a peri bottle is essential, too - and I'm sure you can get one easily at any drug store.

Because we co-sleep for a long time, it's worth it to me to have a good quality waterproof mattress pad that covers our whole bed.  IKEA makes some that I really like - and I noticed you can order them on-line now.  They are not thick or cushy at all, just a thin layer of cotton terry over the waterproof layer, but soft and not crinkly.  King size is only about $40, so very reasonable comparted other brands (smaller sizes are less).  Also, the 'skirt' that goes around the edges of the bed is cotton and therefore washable and dryable, unlike a lot of other brands.  Then I also use a towel or something over the sheet that I can change out in the night as necessary (this is my trick when I have pukey big kids, too - I do HATE having to change the sheets in the night.)

I'm also in the baths = meh for little babies camp.  And anyway, a towel is a towel is a towel.  Pure lanolin is my go-to for nipples in the early days, but it can't hurt to have something nice from your teacher!  Never have done much if any nose suction, but I know it's a big help for some people.

[Lilac11]

We put a PUL (polyurethane) waterproof mattress cover on our bed.  PUL is synthetic, but it is what lines pocket diapers and other diaper covers.  It is what coats the cover your "dry sleep" link.  For actual nursing, I would put a towel or prefold under baby/breast at first because my other breast leaked a lot and there was always a lot of milk everywhere!

I think little hooded towels are quite practical, and my preschooler still even uses them (bigger ones!) after bath/shower because it doesn't fall off and keeps his head warm while simultaneously drying it.

We never used pail liners (just threw the dipes in plastic diaper pail (from IKEA, sold as trash can)).  We have a small on-the-go drawstring wet bag that worked great.  If we were going out for more than a day trip we used disposables, so no need for it to be too big.

I believe pure lanolin is what is most often recommended in terms of nipple cream: http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplehealing/ I got some this time just in case because I had a week of sore nipples last time.  I would be wary of what is in other nipple creams because your baby will be ingesting it.

HTH and happy shopping!

[mamaharrison]

Just an FYI on lanolin--make sure you aren't sensitive to wool or lamb products first! If you are steer clear!! Test a patch on your inside arm skin before putting on your nipples ;)

[stegenrae]

mamabeakley--we have been looking for a couple more of those thin waterproof mattress protectors--the ikea ones are PERFECT and not $100 a pop for king size--THANK YOU! :) That is awesome that they ship them from their website, too. We're getting an IKEA here, but not for another 2 years-ish when they can finish the building! I hate other waterproof mattress pads; they make me sweat SO much...and you'll already be sweating out a zillion hormones and stuff in the postpartum period. I also add a towel on top of the sheets--and use fleece receiving blankets over those if the towel is too scratchy for me. (and ditto mamabeakley on *still* using that for pukey kiddos.)

Earth Mama Angel Baby makes both a "bottom balm" with soothing oils in it as well as a postpartum spray. I used the bottom balm with DS2 and it was awesome, but I think the spray will be a little gentler. (I used the bottom balm for myself and for babes when they had irritation/fissures/etc, like after diarrhea or something, so it was good to keep around.) It's great for hemorrhoids--something you may or may not be dealing with when you get home!

YES to a peri(neal) bottle. It's just a squirt bottle, but often hospitals will send home one that is easier to squeeze and works a bit better for postpartum gentleness than just any old squirt bottle you can get at a drug store. Birth supply sites should have the hospital-like ones, too. I have one of each, and prefer the one made for the job (but we have 2 bathrooms, so I keep one in each). I just refill from the sink when I go in so I can use warm water--but some prefer cool. 

I used the sitz bath only a little bit. It was kind of a pain to get the water temp in the bag just right and hang it in my shower (which is *right* next to my toilet, so it worked well for the gravity feed). I just did plain warm water, but I'm lazy. :P 

Hooded towels are a bit softer and they're cute...other than that, I don't really see much point in spending the money myself. But if you got some as gifts, then great, yk? 

I just use lanolin or my homemade emollient as nipple cream--but if you use lanolin, it's nice to have disposable pads since it's pretty sticky and it does stain. (and yes, if you're allergic to wool, you're allergic to lanolin, so keep your distance) I don't use it all the time, but it does help to soothe through the rough patches if you have them.

chux pads--they're just absorbent pads in various sizes, up to about receiving blanket size, designed for incontinence. I just picked up a package of them the other night in the incontinence section of my local Target for less than $10. They're great for messy birth cleanup, but unless you already have them on hand, I'd opt for a towel/receiving blanket over your sheet (which would be on top of a waterproof mattress cover).

wet bags--we have a traditional pail (well, a small trash can with a flip-top lid) and use a pail liner--they fold over the top of the pail, then you put the lid on the pail. We keep 2--you'll be spending a day or so doing a wash cycle, so will need another one in the pail during that time, and just rotate. Same for the travel wet bags--we have 2, plus one smaller waterproof bag to keep pre-moistened baby wipes (Mine happens to be a mama cloth bag). We have a front-loading machine, and I cant imagine trying to get the diapers in the freaking machine without using a pail liner...not to mention *not* having to clean out the pail. (see previous "I"m lazy" comment, lol) 

[Mamabeakley]

Stegenrae, glad to help ;-)  I love those.  

[jakesmama]

I really like st. john's wort oil for nipple care. I find lanolin to be too sticky and hurts to put on - I'm sensitive!

[mamadiamond]

jakesmama - i hate sticky lanolin nipples, and dd hated the taste and refused to nurse if i used it, and have been thinking i'll use coconut or rosehip seed oil this time. i've never heard of using st john's wort...is there no chance of it affecting the baby? i thought st john's wort affected serotonin levels and was usually used as a mood stabilizer. is there something about using the oil rather than powdered form that prevents it affecting baby's brain chemistry?...i'm assuming some would inevitably be ingested. i've never taken it, but remember lots of very stern warnings about it interacting with other herbs and medications i've taken in the past.

[Magiklife27]

Mamaharrison what herbs did you use? I loved my peri bottle, it would be nice to have something else in it. Also I find some many people using coconut oil but Im never sure what kind/brand to get. Any suggestions?

As for bottles- I wouldn't buy a bunch-we had 1 of a few different kinds and she wouldnt take 2 of the kinds at all and the other kind finally at 8weeks. DD also only took little amounts of BM at a time. Depending on what you read they aren't supposed to have more than 4oz BM at a time. But views on that vary.

We never bought any mattress covers-we used towels or receiving blankets. It became a game of how many blankets we'd find in the bed. And its sad to say but at one point it was like ok, we don't need to change the sheets-just put 2 receiving blankets on it. Not to be gross but exhaustion does that to you.

I did have some baby towels for her but we got them as gifts-the temp thing was big for her. If she was cold it was awful. We bathed very little for a long time. Actually she is about 19mos and I probably still under bathe her but she had eczema so I tried to not dry her skin out.

I very rarely found a need for nipple cream. The few times I did I used lanolin. I used so little I would still have my 3oz tube if my dog hadn't eaten it.

 Hope that helps :)

[mamaharrison]

Originally Posted by Magiklife27 

Mamaharrison what herbs did you use? I loved my peri bottle, it would be nice to have something else in it. Also I find some many people using coconut oil but Im never sure what kind/brand to get. Any suggestions?

I rotate between two peri bottles--one with urva ursi/lavender and another with calendula/lavender--both fight infection {urva ursi--specifically UTI/bladder issues} and help in healing and pain relief {lavender}. 

I use virgin unrefined coconut oil in a glass {preferable dark colored} jar ; ) 

[kel]

Here's a nice looking recipe for sitz baths, peris, etc:

http://www.stitched-together.com/2011/10/tutorial-postpatum-wellness-herbal-sitz.html

[jakesmama]

My mw with my last babe recommended the SJW oil. The literature says it's fine..I thnk it mostly soaks into the skin between feedings so there's not really anything left to ingest. It produces the most lovely instant relief when applied after a feeding :)

[mamadiamond]

good to know! i want to have lots of lanolin alternatives handy this time, and coconut oil has such a strong taste as well so i don't want to depend on it and then have baby not like it. will have to look into st johns wort oil as part of my arsenal.