Postpartum Care

When a child is born, the newest mother has two big important jobs now. Take care of that little new baby and take care of herself. Every baby is different and so is every mother. Every mother’s recovery looks different based on how they delivered, how they are as a person, and many different factors.

Despite all the different things that could happen to the newest mom, they all generally have the same care to help fix the trauma that your body just went through.

I have only had vaginal deliveries so if you have been through a c-section, give a comment down below on what helped you!

A Space in your Bathroom

Having a space in your bathroom is essential because you have a lot of items for care in the first few weeks. Having a little spot for all your items makes it easier to find what you need and where to look in the middle of the night when you can't see. This helped me immensely when I had all my babies.

Tucks

Super cold to put on, but man so they helped with swelling and hemorrhoids (if you have them). Like on the box, they help with a few different things. I found these to be the most productive. I got the spray my third time around thinking it would save me time, it did, but it barely did anything! So the pads are the way to go!

Pads (Larger than usual)

I am not a heavy bleeder during my usual periods, but during the aftermath of birth, I appreciated the larger pads. You generally bleed more than your usual period so it is nice to have them for that reason, but they are nice in that there is security in you are covered everywhere in case you have an accident or can't get to the bathroom in time when you need to change up.

Ice Packs

Honestly, these are so nice when you have a lot of swelling. I just sat on these for the first days and they were a game changer. They are so dang cold, but offer so much relief.

Prescribed Medication

Whatever medicine your doctor prescribes you, take it! Take it on schedule so you don't have to feel that pain downstairs! Hopefully your doctors give you the good stuff. I only got high mg Ibuprofen and Tylenol. I just birthed a human, give me the stuff I want! Ya know?

Separate Underwear

You will want larger underwear than normal and you will want to throw them away after. They have diaper-like mesh underwear at the hospital, but you only want to wear that for so long. You can get adult diapers, I've heard those work well, or you can get larger underwear that fit those large pads and it'll all be fine!

Everything from the hospital

And ask for extras, always! They have a ton of stuff for you to take home, but ask for more! Usually they will give it to you! You are paying that hospital crazy amounts of money, you can take a few extras to help the recovery at home!

Nursing bras/Robe/nursing shirt

Get ones that are comfortable and easy to wear! My first bras for my first children were the worst! The new ones that I bought for my third are amazing and I don't want to take them off. I hate wearing bras. So find yourself good ones and spend then money because you will be wearing these for however long you choose to breastfeed!

Baby Wipes

Get a pack of your own cause you will want it more than toilet paper! Toilet paper is scratchy and will leaves residue. With wipes (even though they can't go in the toilet and are cold) they do the job and don't hurt as much!

Things that are nice but not really necessary:

Extra Peri bottle- They provide one in the hospital but get a fancy one if you want!

Hemorrhoid cream- You might experience these and they will give you cream in the hospital, but I highly recommend the blue A&D cream! You can get it at any local drugstore.

Healing foam- I don’t think this product has existed for very long, but I got it cause I thought why not? I liked it but it isn’t necessary because it’s pretty much tucks and tucks were way better!

Extra baby clothes- bring a going home outfit, hospital outfit for pictures if you want, but the hospital has everything you need for your baby!

So many things happen in the hospital some are good and sometimes not so good. Advocate for yourself and your baby and make sure you are getting the best care! There are good nurses and bad nurses (I’ve had both), but focus on pushing out that baby and healing!

You got this mama!

**these images aren’t mine and this is not medical advice it’s just what worked for me so I thought I would share my opinion!