PP Stuff you might need to know

[lisarussell]

If you put a little blob of Vaseline or Neosporin on your post-partum sanitary pads, it will coat your little rips and tears and stitches and protect them from the fierce burning of pee.

Leaning forward helps keep the pee from coming into contact with the rest of your VJ, too.

Swaddling baby in receiving blankets keeps them from smacking at your nipples, kicking your tender crotch and sticking their hand in their mouth when you're trying to nurse.

Babies cry like that because otherwise we'd never want to put them to our sore breasts again and they'd starve to death.

Engorged breasts are great for blocking your view of that belly that's still there. Not like you'd really think it would be gone after 4 days, but really, you can imagine.

Coating baby's bum in vaseline will keep the meconium (glue poop) from sticking to their bum, makes changing so much faster.

get the hand pump, electric pump, any pump.


please add to this list, I am sure I am forgetting something. I wish I remembered things better.

[Diva Mama]

Instead of vaseline, I use olive oil.

Great thread idea!

[3for3hb]

Originally Posted by lisarussell

Engorged breasts are great for blocking your view of that belly that's still there. Not like you'd really think it would be gone after 4 days, but really, you can imagine.

not it your ddc but I had to respond:

[crsta33]

The birth ball is wonderful for soothing a fussy baby.

Support your perineum with folded tp for that first poop after baby.

Grated potato works wonders for painful blocked ducts.

Christa

[DucetteMama21842]

Olive oil works great in your diapering station if you put it in another peri bottle and just squirt in on the bum as needed.

[bluesymama]

: :

[transformed]

you could probably use lansinoh on babys bum and on your pad too. If you arent into petrolium.

[ivymae]

As soon as baby latches on, you will suddenly DIE OF THIRST. Have water bottles strategically hidden all over the house, or rent a toddler (want mine?) and train them to "Please please go find mommy some water. Do not drink the cup she brings from the bathroom though - she can not reach the sink.

Also, labor is hard work! I was surprised last time to be so sore in the days after - the muscles in my arms, legs and back felt like I had run a marathon. I think my quads hurt worse than my puffy vagina.

[clintonhillmama]

Originally Posted by ivymae

puffy vagina.

"puffy vagina" makes me laugh!

(yes, i'm that immature)

[kittywitty]

Yes-the water bottles! I am always so very thirsty after birth. And bags of frozen peas for engorged breasts. Ahhhhh

[transformed]

postpartum smells NASTY. for those first timers. for about 3 days its a good idea to get adult diapers. they are so wonderful to catch all that...uhhh...stuff.

Pads just dont cut it for me the first days postpartum. LOVE ADULT DIAPERS. THEY ARE A DREAM COME TRUE!

[weliveintheforest]

I didn't believe I would need adult diapers, but I was wishing I had them. I used disposable toddler diapers as pads because I ran out of the mega pads I bought and regular pads just weren't cutting it.

And even when I thought my perineum was fine those frozen pads I made still felt so good.

[Lizzardbits]

I was given some super-cheapie sposies and we bought some newborn namebrands (we had a coupon for a diaper bag worth approx $30 for free with purchase of $7 sposies) I am planning on using them as the first days pp pads. An MDC lady that is an L&D nurse said that they cut a small slit in the sposie liner and put crushed ice in it so that new moms can have a cold pack on their perineums, there is material for the melted ice and lochia flow to get soaked up in.

So for something I was going to throw out anyway, I might as well get some use out of it--right?

[Quindin]

Originally Posted by Lizzardbits

An MDC lady that is an L&D nurse said that they cut a small slit in the sposie liner and put crushed ice in it so that new moms can have a cold pack on their perineums, there is material for the melted ice and lochia flow to get soaked up in.

GREAT idea!!

Thanks!!

[guest9921]

Great idea Lisa.
I remember being totally sideswiped by everything postpartum - it was a "what the cluck? I thought the hard part was over!" kind of feeling.

I'm getting SPANX for my PP abdomen. Not to look slim, I could care less about my huge swollen abdomen - but to keep my organs from falling out.
I remember walking around hunched over like a little old lady, because I genuinely felt like my organs were spilling out. I really needed extra support.


A rice sock or heating pad for afterpains!

A DP to help you in and out of the shower still, if need be - my equilibrium was thrown off for a week or so.

[Pastrydemon]

Originally Posted by ivymae

Do not drink the cup she brings from the bathroom though - she can not reach the sink.

.

laughup


This made me laugh so hard I think I just peed myself!

[Diva Mama]

Originally Posted by transformed

postpartum smells NASTY.

We'll have to start the "It's STILL stinky" thread when we move


Yaknow, DH in his ever helpful wisdom suggested I wear depends at night so I don't have to get up to pee. I didn't have the energy to explain to him all the reasons why I find that so very wrong. I just looked at him like this: :

[AngelaB]

Jumping over from the January DDC, great thread! Arnica massage oil or even the tablets help with the sore and achy muscles pp. I think they have a gel too that you can rub in. I had some of the oil rubbed into my lower back and the smell I think is heavenly and it relieved the ache right away.

You can put witch hazel in the sposie dipes to freeze and the witch hazel is very soothing! Or you can make crushed witch hazel ice to put in the dipes but not freeze the whole thing the dipe will still catch the flow.
Angela

[Belleweather]

You might end up needing a spare set of hands when first breastfeeding -- one hand to hold the baby, one hand to hold the boob, and another hand to hold the baby's flailing hands away from their screaming mouth so they can calm down and actually EAT.

Don't panic! Eventually, they do stop doing that.

[Undercover Hippie]

Just when you think you are done with the pain of labor and can sit back and admire your newborn, they will make you do more work and push the placenta out. It will seem horribly unfair.

Homeopathic arnica is great for the swelling those first few days.

Homeopathic hypericum is like a miracle for the raw/sore/tender feeling that persists for a while. I take it until sex doesn't hurt and trust me, when I run out, I can tell a difference even just wiping myself!

If you've had more than one child, be prepared for the afterpains. Especially when nursing. You may have to breathe through them just like ctx. Even a natural birthing mama may find herself reaching for ibuprofen or wishing for something stronger!

Don't pump too much when you are engorged or you'll just keep encouraging those boobs to make too much and prolong your misery.

Your newborn really can latch onto a boob that is bigger than his or her head. They do not even seem intimidated by it!

No matter how much smaller and slimmer you feel than when you were pregnant, or how much you think you gained weight only in your belly, your butt and thighs will not fit into your old jeans for a long while. Don't even try. Stick with the yoga pants and no one gets hurt!