If you’re anything like me you like me you wait until the very last minute to prepare for things but I definitely don’t recommend doing that for your 4th trimester (postpartum). Make life so much easier on yourself and get all of this ready before baby arrives so when you get home all you have to worry about is snuggling on that sweet new baby.
I’ve put together my top 5 favorite essentials from nursing to taking care of yourself that helped me the most so mamas grab a pen and make your to-do list!
Padsicles – a great way to heal and soothe your lady bits after delivery!
After giving birth, many women are surprised to find that they are sore in places they never realized were possible. Fortunately, there is a simple solution that can help to soothe these sore muscles: padsicles. Padsicles are simply sanitary pads that have been soaked in witch hazel and aloe vera gel, then frozen. The witch hazel helps to reduce inflammation, while the aloe vera gel provides relief from pain and itching. To use, simply remove one from the freezer and apply it to the area for 10-15 minutes. Padsicles can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, making them a great way to prepare for postpartum recovery.
Postpartum underwear – get something that will support your healing post-birth!
Your cute underwear from Victoria’s Secret will need to wait a few months 🙂
You’ll want to make sure that the underwear is comfortable! You’ll likely be dealing with some pain and discomfort, so you’ll want to choose something that won’t make things worse. My favorite were the disposable adult diapers, they even come in cute colors! Now is the time to ditch the low rise underwear and bring on the granny panties (especially if you had a c-section)!
The biggest pads you can find and mattress protector
One thing I wasn’t fully prepared for after giving birth was essentially being on my period for 6 weeks.
For this reason, definitely stock up on big, overnight pads so you (hopefully) don’t bleed through your underwear! Or I’m telling you, adult diapers is where its at.
Also, now might be the time to invest in a mattress cover because those first few days postpartum you’ll be spending a lot of time in bed recovering.
Breast pads
After the baby is born, your body will start to produce breast milk so it is important (whether or not you choose to breastfeed) for mothers to wear breast pads.
Breast pads help to absorb any excess milk that leaks from the breast. They also protect your boobies from chafing and help to keep clothing clean and dry! Check out places like Etsy for cute washable ones if you don’t want to buy disposable single use pads.
Premade meals or Door Dash Gift Cards
One of my favorite gifts a friend brought us during our first week home was premade meals from Costco. We could just pop them in the oven and no one had to worry about cooking, it was so fantastic. You could also spend a day before baby arrives putting together frozen meals that are oven or crockpot. There are tons of meal plans for that on Pinterest.
Another great gift we received from friends and family that couldn’t deliver meals is Door Dash gift cards. We used them to order breakfast, lunch, and dinner some days.
Postpartum is not the time to try and prepare gourmet meals for your family, keep it simple and easy.
Congrats again on your new little one and I hope that you found these postpartum essentials helpful!!
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