Post partum Must have list?

[liawbh]

What were you sooo grateful you had? Couldn't have lived without? Really would have liked to have?

On my list: witch hazel
Peri bottle

[hubris]

My mommy. :LOL

Seriously, though, I think the absolute best thing for me was to have a woman around whom I trusted, who had given birth and breastfed and could help me to adjust to new motherhood. She took care of the daily household tasks so that DH and I could focus on Griffin and I could rest, and she set our minds at ease about a million little worries.

For physical stuff that you can make or buy...
- ibuprofen
- prune juice coctail ingredients (prune juice, apple juice, orange juice)
- a sling
- lots of pillows

[mahogny]

I agree that after my first baby was born, I was very grateful to have a friend there who could help me with my breastfeeding concerns as well as general "how the heck do I take care of this baby?!?" anxieties. When my second baby was born, I already knew how to breastfeed and how to take care of a baby, so having my friend wasn't as vitally important.

But for physical items that I found useful both times:

*hemorrhoid/witch hazel pads (I never tore, but oh my, the hemorroids I had were horrid!)
*ibuprofen
*raisin bran and other high fiber poop-inducing foods
*really soft toilet paper (I brought a roll of Charmin with me to the hospital both times, and it was wonderful not to have to use the industrial hospital tp on my sore whatnots.)
*meals frozen in the freezer (my DD is 1 month old, and we're still eating the meals I had frozen before she was born!)
*sling
*really good breastfeeding pillow
*nipple cream
*breast pads
*something my friend recommended to me after her doula recommended it to her was to take some of the pads you'll be use postpartum, put about a teaspoon of water in them, and then freeze them. My friend said they felt like HEAVEN! I did that, but never used them - I didn't need them. But I thought that was a wonderful idea.
*jammies to wear that I didn't care if they got bloody or not. I wore an old set of my sister's maternity pj's in the hospital b/c I didn't care if they got ruined.
*underwear that I didn't care if they got ruined or not - I wore really old undies for the first few days and just threw them away instead of washing them if they got bloody.

[Full Heart]

Someone to take care of my other kids! seriously that is the biggest hurdle for us.

For immediatly pp - a medical glove with ice in it for my perineum. It sits nicely, I can just lay back and lean it against me. My midwife uses them and I love it.

Frozen meals for sure. OR someone to order pizza

Water. Water. Water. And more water. Hey, its hard work!

Michelle

[~*max*~]

I couldn't have lived w/out dh! He took about 1 1/2 weeks off, so he was home during the time I was most sore, tired, recovering emotionally & physically. He took care of everything - the kids, housework, meals, me. I just my dh!!

[ObsessiveAndrea]

For me it would be good nutritious food in ample supply and someone to bring it to me

[stafl]

pre-prepared meals, frozen and ready to microwave in individual size servings.

peri bottle and/or bidet (mini-shower)

boppy

chux pads, instead of maxi pads when I didn't have to get up out of bed those first few days I just laid one wherever I was sitting or laying and went without underwear or pants

premie prefolds for me and baby (after those first few days and I needed better protection from lochia leaks)

a huge water bottle and DH on hand to make sure it never became empty, and to also fix meals, clean, run errands, and take care of DD1



edited to add: The very best thing, though, was my midwife's advice to me and DH, that I was not to do anything but lay around for the first week, and for him to do all the cooking and cleaning for the first two weeks after baby was born!

[bunsmom]

Originally Posted by stafl

The very best thing, though, was my midwife's advice to me and DH, that I was not to do anything but lay around for the first week, and for him to do all the cooking and cleaning for the first two weeks after baby was born!

I second that. I thanked her many times for that. She told DH TWO WEEKS. Yeah!

Underwear: I didn't have any that fit, DH had to go and buy me new ones. I should have thought about that before!

A Massage: I would have paid GOOD money for someone to come to the house and give me several massages. Next time for sure!

[eminer]

I was so glad I had lots and lots of cloth. 40 flat diapers (which I also used as pads for the first day), 14 cloth menstrual pads, lots of baby blankets, cloth wipes and washcloths. And paper plates and cups.

Really would have liked to have: For this one occasion, a washer and dryer in my apartment. And disposable forks and spoons! Or at least more forks and spoons. Or better yet, a dishwasher... :LOL

[BlueStateMama]

colace : (if someone has a natural version they can recommend, I'd be grateful for any suggestions)

[liawbh]

What is it?

[Patchfire]

Starting two months ahead of time, I stockpiled food - cereal and snacks for dd, snacks for me, juice - and paper products. Plates, bowls, plasticware, cups... and I am SO glad that I did. It's made things so very much easier. We've had lots of help and even when we've actually cooked (and hence made dishes), the ability to throw things away and not have to spend so much time in the kitchen (either ourselves or our help) is a huge huge thing.

[BlueStateMama]

Colace is a stool softener (not a laxative or stimulant)...it just makes everything a bit easier after a vaginal delivery...

Colace is a generic name (I think) for it, you can buy it in any drugstore...my list of "must haves" is short, but that is one of the things I already bought and have in my medicine cabinet for this time through....

I always feel badly, though, recommending something not natural here.....

[Full Heart]

Originally Posted by BlueStateMama

colace : (if someone has a natural version they can recommend, I'd be grateful for any suggestions)

Yellowdock. Its very gentle and has worked everytime for me.

Michelle

[Boobs]

HELP!!

Seriously. Someone to do household chores for the first few weeks other than dp. Don't just assume someone in your family will come help. I naively assumed my mil, being that she DOES live next door, would be over here helping us out. Boy was I ever wrong. Hire somebody if you have to!

Depends disposable underwear
Colace
Rescue Remedy (haven't had it yet, but definitely wish I had)
cabbage leaves for engorgement

someone to entertain other children

[hubris]

Originally Posted by ~*max*~

I couldn't have lived w/out dh! He took about 1 1/2 weeks off, so he was home during the time I was most sore, tired, recovering emotionally & physically. He took care of everything - the kids, housework, meals, me. I just my dh!!

Shame on me for not saying that first!!! My DH was lucky enough to manage a month off - he had some holiday leave (Griff was born on Christmas) and a week's worth of paternity leave (they gave him a little trouble over that, I don't think anybody in his residency program had ever actually used paternity leave), and two weeks of vacation time. This time he can only take 2 weeks off but I know that it will be soooo valuable! He was there for me, he was able to bond a lot with Griffin and get comfortable with new-dad stuff. I think it set the stage for the last two years of fathering.

I also second the advice for the new mama not to do anything for a couple of weeks, let others do it for you. My mom gave me this advice: she said that a week or two after birth, I would have a day where I felt GREAT and wanted to do all the things I could do before Griff's birth...and that I should stop and NOT do them. She said that the reason I would feel that good is because I had been taking care of myself, and the way to stay feeling that good was to take care of myself a little longer!

[mysonshine]

Haven't read all the other posts.....
Loved the peri bottle
My Dad had to go get me some senna
Wish I would have known about cloth mama pads for pp
Also wish my mom would have stayed - DS came 3 weeks early. We had plans that my mom would come out the week before due date and stay til for a while. ended up that everyone came the day he was born and left the day after we came home. Would have really liked the help - had no one else here (family is 4 hours away)
So glad DH was off work - he got 6 weeks. he helped but not like a woman could have kwim?

[UmmBnB]

My mom - She was present for both my births and took a very active roll both during my labor and after. She did everything around the house for the weeks that she was here so that we just sit and gaze at the baby.


Alkalol - for the peri-bottle. Feels great on those torn or swollen, or both, tissues!

Depends - forget double padding it. I'm all about depends for those heavy flow days post partum!

[rainy32]

as pps have said: witch hazel, peri bottle, colace, water, breast pads, DH

and: apple juice (I drank GALLONS) dried fruit, baby wipes for ME, and two comfortable nursing/sleeping bras, The Baby Book

I had a vaginal cyst from birth trauma, and found GREAT comfort (and a home cure) in mustard baths, spruce essential oil baths, and a homemade herbal bolus with mallow, dandelion, and goldenseal. I couldn't have lived without that (couldn't comfortably sit to breast feed till the cyst shrunk).

I wish I had had: like a pp said: a massage. I still haven't had one and ds is 4 mos. I am getting one soon, darn it. :LOL

[darsmama]

depends disposable undies
Lots of Gatorade or Recharge
Thermos full of hot water next to the bed for tea and what not
Magazines for light reading
Good dvd's or tapes to watch on tv
Baby blankets
peri bottle
a few nightgowns or tee shirts
nursing bras