Postpartum Must Haves « Back to Group Discussions

[veganyogamomma]

I just wanted to share a few things that I am loving in the days after birth!

Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray- this stuff is AWESOME for soreness after birth. A friend sent me some a couple weeks ago and I would say it was the best gift I got!

belly binder- I started wearing this the day after birth, and I love it! I'm wearing it when I'm up out of bed, so maybe half the day right now. It's great to support that "floppy insides" feeling, and I'm also getting smaller already.

Anyone else have any favorite things to add??

[maydaymom10]

I'm all about the postpartum frozen pads. It's on my "to do" list today to make a bunch of them. They were so relieving after Ds's birth -- the cooling nature of them. Especially since I was healing from a nasty tear (which hopefully won't be the case this time). 

Also pajama bottoms and yoga pants. Nursing tanks as well. Both made my life much easier & comfortable in the beginning. I'm sure I'll add more once this LO makes her appearance. 

[buko]

My MWs' thing is (unlubed) condoms filled with a combo of alcohol and water and frozen into a semi-solid for your undies.  I also picked up some Depends, because I'd heard that super-recommended.  We have a peri bottle, of course, and a belly binder.  The women in the Feb group are having great success with belly binders!

[eternalw]

Originally Posted by veganyogamomma 

I just wanted to share a few things that I am loving in the days after birth!

Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray- this stuff is AWESOME for soreness after birth. A friend sent me some a couple weeks ago and I would say it was the best gift I got!

belly binder- I started wearing this the day after birth, and I love it! I'm wearing it when I'm up out of bed, so maybe half the day right now. It's great to support that "floppy insides" feeling, and I'm also getting smaller already.

Anyone else have any favorite things to add??

That spray is on my list to pick up this week! Thanks for the good review!

What ae you using for the belly binder?

[scruffy too]

Originally Posted by maydaymom10 

I'm all about the postpartum frozen pads. It's on my "to do" list today to make a bunch of them. They were so relieving after Ds's birth -- the cooling nature of them. Especially since I was healing from a nasty tear (which hopefully won't be the case this time). 

MayDayMom - can you share how you make these please?  I've heard so much about them and would like to prepare some, too.

[maydaymom10]

Originally Posted by scruffy too 

MayDayMom - can you share how you make these please?  I've heard so much about them and would like to prepare some, too.

Postpartum Care Pads

Witch hazel is your best friend for the postpartum healing period. Witch hazel can be used on swollen body parts (birth gives your body quite the beating), varicose veins and makes a wonderful treatment for two obnoxious new mama problems – a sore perineum and hemorrhoids. These soothing pads do wonders for soreness and swelling after vaginal birth. Prepare 18-24 ahead of time.

Overnight/Jumbo maxi pads
1/4 cup Witch hazel
2-3 drops Lavender oil
1 Tbsp Pure Aloe Vera gel
Aluminum foil

Combine witch hazel, lavender essential oil, and aloe vera gel in a small bowl and mix till thoroughly combined. Transfer to a small spray bottle. Unfold each pad, and spray each pad with the healing mixture till the pad is damp, but not soaked. Wrap each pad in foil and store them in the freezer. Witch hazel and lavender are natural astringents, so they’ll help reduce swelling, and the aloe and the cold are very soothing.

**last time I just poured things directly onto the pad instead of using a spray bottle

From this site: http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2013/01/homemade-natural-postpartum-care-kit.html. They have some other great ideas on this site too!

[jodieanneanton]

I made a bunch of frozen pads and haven't used but one!  However, I didn't tear this time.  Last times, the tears NEEDED that cooling relief!  

This is how I made mine:

1 cup of witch hazel

10 (or so)  drops of lavendar essential oil

Thick overnight pads

A large bowl to shape pads into "Ideal" curved shape needed for intended use!

foil or plastic wrap

Mix mix mix the witch hazel and essential oil.  Open pad and pour 2 - 4 Tablespoons of liquid on pad.  Place pad in bowl. Loosely place foil or plastic wrap over pad.  Continue to pour liquid in pads, place in bowl, cover.  Until you have as many as you need.  Freeze.  Once frozen, place in ziplock bag until needed!

Edited to add:  
I was going to do the Aloe vera, too... but, as you know, the early arrival of our little one was surprising so I had to make them with what I had on hand during labor (!) and Aloe vera wasn't one of those things!  

[cocoanib]

On my frozen pads, I just used some of my postpartum sitz tea, cut the pads in half and froze.

I used them last time around and have some in the freezer for this time as well.

The sitz tea is comfrey, chamomile, plantain leaf, witch hazel leaf, yarrow, lavender, shepherds purse and uva ursi.

[sunshinelove]

I learned last time how important chux pads are to have postpartum, both for myself and the baby. They were great in case i leaked blood and for the baby's first poop. I didnt want to get a cloth diaper all gunked up with meconium so the chux pad was awesome for that. They're also cheap and very absorbent.

I bought afterease although i didnt really need it last time. I might need it this time so i saved it.

I'm going to buy some incontinence pads soon because i found that overnight pads werent enough for me the first few days.

I plan on spraying Motherlove Sitz Bath Spray directly on the incontinence pads http://www.motherlove.com/product/1911-Sitz-Bath-Spray.html. I wish i had done that last time, i'm sure it would have helped alleviate soreness.

[veganyogamomma]

eternalw I have the Gabrialla one. I think I spent maybe $20 for it on ebay!

buko The February thread was what convinced me to try the belly binder!

[GranolaMama09]

I want a new water bottle for PP.  I love my klean kanteen but they make a whistling sound when you drink from the sport top - I'm afraid it'll wake baby!  I want a big 22 oz Lifefactory one.  The operation is silent and easy to do one handed without using my teeth.  My mother bought me some EMAB nipple butter which I'm sure will be very helpful.  I just picked up overnight pads - I honestly don't remember a lot about the bleeding I had last time so I hope they're enough for me!  Books to read are another must have for me.  Since I'm having a section I'll be pretty much on my butt for a minute and between that and nursing baby followed by napping baby I figure I'll be stuck in one spot for a bit.  Nursing pads are a huge must for me since I'm a heavy leaker.  I'm starting to wonder if I should invest in some EMAB bottom spray or balm.  I didn't have it on my list since I'm having a section but they're also going to cut my vaginal septum while I'm already numb so I'm wondering if that might help any possible residual soreness from that...

[maydaymom10]

Here's a silly question, but I thought I'd ask here instead of starting a new thread. For those of you planning homebirths, are you putting together a diaper bag before the baby is here?? I know it's silly, but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have something ready for the just in case, and even just to get something put together before my lack-of-sleep/newborn brain comes on. It's not really a postpartum essential, but you never know.

[LightForest]

Originally Posted by maydaymom10 

Here's a silly question, but I thought I'd ask here instead of starting a new thread. For those of you planning homebirths, are you putting together a diaper bag before the baby is here?? I know it's silly, but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have something ready for the just in case, and even just to get something put together before my lack-of-sleep/newborn brain comes on. It's not really a postpartum essential, but you never know.

I'm not planning to pack anything for "going out" with the baby. In all reality, we will not be going on any outings that require a diaper bag for a while - the first diaper bag-worthy outing will probably be the first doctor's visit at around 7 days? At that point, only the most basic of items need to be in the bag. A couple of changes of clothes, a sweater, blanket, or hat for cool weather, some diapers and wipes. More important at this early stage is whatever special items YOU will need during your first outing(s) - postpartum pads, water, and snacks! Maybe also nursing pads.

In the unlikely event that baby needs to transfer to hospital after birth, I'll have more important things to occupy myself with! The hospital will provide necessities (like diapers) and it will by definition be an emergency situation, so other special items like clothes and blankets won't really be relevant at that point, if that makes sense. (DD transferred to the hospital after birth, so my experience with this "what if" situation leaves me very certain that a diaper bag will not be worth concerning myself in the event of emergency. Some postpartum pads, water, and food for myself, however, should not be forgotten!)

[LightForest]

Also, ibuprofen (or whatever pain reliever you prefer) should be in your bag for those first outings after giving birth!

[scruffy too]

Originally Posted by LightForest 

Also, ibuprofen (or whatever pain reliever you prefer) should be in your bag for those first outings after giving birth!

This is why I love this group - so much wisdom.  I never would have thought of that and it makes perfect sense!!!  I have a sample of Motrin (I have samples of tons of crap) that I can toss in.  Thanks, LightForest!!!

[LightForest]

always happy to be of assistance

[LightForest]

I'm totally feeling the belly binding love after looking over the thread in the Feb DDC. Thanks for the tip, buko! I remember wanting to do it after my first pregnancy, then I ended up spending my first postpartum week with baby in the NICU (but I was not myself a hospital patient), so all my postpartum dreams kinda flew out the window.

sunshinelove, thanks so much for the tip on the motherlove spray. sounds awesome! i've seen lots of "bottom balms" but honestly, the idea of rubbing a salve directly on those tender areas after birth does not appeal to me in the slightest. i love the idea of spraying something on, though! i see that their products are carried by whole foods stores so i'm going to make a point to stop by to see if i can find the spray soon!

ooh, and on the topic of witch hazel pads, please allow me to share my embarrassing newbie mom escapade from last time: i made up a batch of pads for the freezer, but i for some reason thought it would be best to dilute the witch hazel with water, then completely SOAK some pad inserts (imagine 2 layers of cotton fleece, like an absorbent liner for luna pads), stack them all up together and freeze them. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?? the pads froze into a solid block. it was almost impossible to separate them without defrosting the entire block. then, once one pad was chiseled off the block and applied, there was so much moisture from the melting ice that it made me feel really gross and wet. believe me, i will be following the wise directions outlined in posts above this time around!

[wildmansmom]

I have witch hazel frozen pads and a "girdle" (My grandmother, an awesome mom of 8 said the only way to maintain your figure was to use a girdle from the first day you are able to get it on!)  Plus I have lots of comfy pants and nursing tanks and some basic wrap dresses so that I don't have to wear pj's all the time.

I'm putting the bottom spray on my wish list - I had such a bad tear with DS that I ran out of the spray they gave me at the hospital. Plus, I'd like to use something more natural this time around.

[cabbitdancer]

Hmm. I'm going to have to put some of that bottom spray on my list. And maybe a belly binder. I didn't use one last time. It might've helped with the feeling that everything was going to fall out of my incision site, though. :P

[velveeta]

Cabbitdancer, I didn't use a binder until I had a c section. It felt great! I think my baby turned, so we are looking pretty good for our home birth. I am planning on the www.bellefit.com belly binder. I used a belly bandit last time, and I liked it but my waist is much smaller than my hips and so the binder always rode up. With the bellefit, it goes on like panties rather than just as a tube, IYKWIM.

I love all the tips! I am definitely going to do everything that y'all are.