Welcome to Motherhood! Your life as you know it has changed for the better and the beautiful. Now begins your journey into the 4th trimester. A new post-partum body and a new tiny human ( or two) to take care of! You have no doubt nested the bajeezes out of your house already. But now we need to get serious about making things easy, and accessible for your new sleep deprived self.
There are 2 big areas/ categories of things you will need the most care for when it comes to yourself through out the day. First, Post Partum Lady Bits. Yes, your vagina needs a lot of love after birthing littles. Second, beginning a successful nursing journey. Who knew “such a natural thing” would cause you to need so many things! But your first time around, being in new territory its best to be prepared for the things that a rise.
SO Lets start here…
Post Partum Basket: I picked up a small plastic basket with handles from my local dollar store so I could carry it easily with me from our bathroom to our downstairs bathroom depending on time of day or need. Then you fill it with:
- Large Pads/ Overnight Pads: I have mainly opted to go with Always Overnights (heavy) and Always Maxi unscented. Plus if you are having a hospital birth don’t forget to ask for extra before you leave!
- Perineal Bottle: This gem of a thing will take the place of actual wiping for a bit. I know “The Joys of Motherhood!” Again if you are having a hospital birth the hospital will provide you with one so take it with you! And if you want a little more luxury FridaBaby came out with an angled Peri Bottle they tought will have your Vagina thanking you. Believe them.
- Mother Love Sitz Bath Spray is truly heaven on your lady bits after for cooling, soothing sore muscles and hemorrhoidal tissue that may appear. Bonus you can spray it directly onto your pads as well before you put them on or spray them on a pad and pop it in the freezer for some extra relief.
- Tucks Medicated Cooling Pads are wonderful to have to ease and help keep your lady bits and perineal area clean, and prevent burning and itching as everything heals. You can also place them directly onto a clean pad for extra comfort.
- Dermoplast: Yeah that’s right you read that correct, the first aid spray. I was a bit shocked when my nurse handed me this after delivering my first born. However with a second degree tear, I quickly learned the benefit and need for this stuff! SO make sure you have it on hand. Its full of good stuff like Aloe, Lanolin, and menthol as well as Benzocaine to help numb the area
- Colace Stool Softener. The First poo after having baby can be really daunting and well just frightening to think about. This will help soften things up and make things a lot easier on lady bits that have just gone through a little trauma. Have some on hand so you can avoid sending your hubby for stool softeners like I had to do the first go around. Not that he minded, not that it matters. But its best to be prepared. You most likely wont need a full bottle so I have linked a smaller box instead.
- Last on the list? Those marvelous mesh underwear! Who needs to ruin their own? And why bother when these suckers are comfy, stretchy. and hold everything in and a pad in place while you are healing. Trust me you will get back into your cute panities soon enough, or even you postpartum panties you purchased but in the very beginning make it easy on yourself and go with these. You can through them away, or throw them in the wash once, depending. Keep a couple extra pair in your basket incase you need to change quickly. Make sure to ask the hospital for extra and if you are like me and just want to be prepared I feel like I scored big when I found them on Amazon. You can even order black!
Next Up, Your Nursing Basket: You are probably like “What, a whole basket for nursing?” But let me explain. Nursing sessions can last for a while, between cluster feeding and a sleepy mom and baby its best just to have your necessities close and easy to find. As well as accessible to you when you need them. I found that putting everything in a basket I could easily move from area to are worked the best.
Find your Basket. I went with another diaper organizer as it was the easiest to organize everything in and durable to hold bigger items. I love this Parker Baby CO one, its durable, holds a ton and the company is Momma owned so I feel good supporting her business. Then fill it with:
- Lanolin: The saving grace for your nipples, especially the first few weeks while you get through the peeling, and slight scabbing. Remember the pain, and skin should heal after you get through the initial first weeks. If you are still having trouble seek out your lactation consultant to make sure there is a proper latch to save yourself future agony.
- Extra Breast pads for when your other boob lets down milk while your little nurser is nursing the opposite side. You can go with disposable like these ones from Lansinoh, or there are some great alternative reusable ones out there made with soft bamboo cloth that feel amazing.
- Bella B’s Breast Wipes: I feel like I am going to wear out the word soothing this blog post. But you are going to want all the soothing Post Partum. These wipes are so soothing for breasts as you are getting the hang of nursing and milk let downs. As well as having using nipple creams, and having a little one attached to you.
- A Simple Hand Pump: I found this to be a helpful little addition to my basket. It works for calming down engorged breasts in the beginning to get a better latch, preparing the nipple for a good latch, and also saving any extra milk that may let down out of the opposite side while nursing.
- Non- Parishable Snacks. For Real. You will get hungry. Like so hungry. Especially when the cluster feeding kicks in. I recommend things with healthy fats, and proteins to keep your energy up! My go to snacks are nut butters, and coconut bites. They are small enough to keep in the basket and give you just enough so you can make it to your next meal. I love RX Nut butters! Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter is my favorite but there are a variety of flavors to choose from. My Favorite Coconut bites are Nutiva O’Coconut with hemp and chia seeds for added protein.
- A Water Bottle! You will be thirsty like so thirsty. Not to mention your body is trying to get rid of all the excess fluid it built up during pregnancy. Ironically you will need not drink fluid to make this happen! I love bottles with handles and straws so I can grab them easy with one hand while nursing. Ideally you should aim for a gallon a day. I love this motivational water bottle that has marks to let me know how much I should have drank already by time of day. It comes in a half gallon size or gallon size.
- A Good Book, or headphones for listening to Audible Books. With your first you should embrace those snuggles and becoming a mother. The Gift of A Happy Mother by Rebecca Eanes is a beautiful book for any mom and when you are nursing, nursing, nursing and baby is snoozing away its a good one to have on hand as you enter motherhood.
- A few other note-able items I have found myself throwing in my nursing basket have been baby nail files or clippers. I have found the best time to try that was while they were sleeping or nursing. Then just some little luxuries for your self: lip balm, hand creme, hand sanitizer an extra hair tie.
This is a going to be a time of healing, growth, and your transition into becoming a mother! Take it easy on yourself, your body, and give yourself grace as you navigate into this season of life. Now lets rock post partum healing, recovery, and nursing together!
You got this Momma!
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