So much of preparing for the arrival of a baby involves buying baby things. You’ve probably picked the perfect car seat, stroller, going home outfit, and so forth. But have you thought about yourself?
We spend so much time and energy preparing for the baby that sometimes moms forget the post-pregnancy products that they will need as they care for themselves through their own healing.
Having experienced postpartum once before (and gearing up to go through it again in a few months), there are a few items that felt essential in my post-pregnancy healing journey. Here’s what you need if you’re about to have a baby, or what you could gift to an expectant mom in your life.
1. Electrolytes
The #1 thing I tell expectant mothers to invest in is electrolytes. During postpartum, you’re losing a lot of fluids in the form of blood, sweat, and probably tears. You also just lost a ton of fluids giving birth, so there’s a lot to replenish if you want to heal efficiently.
Electrolytes are particularly important if you plan to breastfeed. I am a firm believer that my dedication to chugging electrolytes in the first few weeks postpartum helped me establish a solid milk supply (that’s still going strong at over a year postpartum).
My favorite electrolytes are Ultima Blue Raspberry and Lemonade. I like these because they taste good, they are effective, and there’s no added sugar. They are sweetened with stevia, but even as a stevia hater, I cannot taste it.
2. A Water Bottle with a Straw
In the spirit of hydration, a water bottle with a straw is useful as well. I have several Owalas of different sizes that I rotate through.
Of course, a cup with a straw like a Yeti or Stanley also comes in handy, but what’s nice about a water bottle with a straw AND a fully closable lid is that you can bring it everywhere without worrying about it getting knocked over. You’re already going through enough linens in the early postpartum days, so needing to change sheets because your bed is soaked from spilling your own drink (oops) is a pain.
3. Diapers (for You)
You’re probably stocked up on baby diapers, but diapers for yourself are a must. I spent a lot of time comparing options on Amazon, and I ultimately chose the Rael disposable underwear.
What I liked about Rael’s diapers is that the pad is built in. It was very absorbent and probably about as comfortable as a diaper could be. It also offered a little compression around the belly, which my midwife said was a good thing.
I honestly used these for overnight any time my bleeding picked up over the first month or two, because it was so much more comfortable to wear a diaper than a bulky pad that shifts in your underwear. Amazon says I bought four 12-packs, which is funny to me because I thought one pack would be plenty.
4. Period Panties
Once the bleeding slows down a bit and your stitches heal (if you had any tearing), period panties come in handy. They are much softer than the diapers and obviously more sustainable.
My favorite period panties (that have gotten me through years of heavy periods, postpartum, and a miscarriage) are the underwear from Bambody. I think I had four pairs in rotation once my stitches healed, and that was plenty. These are super comfortable, and you can throw them in the washer and dryer, which is extremely convenient.
5. Upside Down Peri Bottle
A peri bottle is another postpartum must-have, and I got the Frida Mom upside-down peri bottle. Of course, I gave birth at home, so I was responsible for my peri bottle. However, we had a trip to the hospital later that week, so I ended up needing a hospital-issued peri bottle. And let me tell you: it did not compare.
Add an upside-down peri bottle to your registry or spring for the $10 to get one yourself. It’s so much more convenient and effective.
6. Cute and Comfortable Pajamas
It’s hard to feel cute when wearing a diaper, but people are going to want to come see the baby. We were pretty strict with who we allowed in our home during the first couple of weeks, but I still liked to look at least somewhat put together
I got a super comfortable two-piece button-down pajama set that I wore anytime it wasn’t in the wash for the first few weeks. I opted for a black set because I figured that would hide the diaper a little better than a lighter color. I also specifically looked for a button-down for nursing, but honestly, I never actually unbuttoned it because I found it easier to just pull my shirt up.
Although I didn’t have it for postpartum last time, I did end up getting one of the pajama sets from the Amazon Essentials x Sofia Grainge collection last summer that is super cute and would also work well. This line features mostly lighter colors, but it is a Mommy & Me collection, so I think it could create some cute photo ops if you wanted to match with your baby.
7. Nursing Pads
Nursing pads were another thing that I used a lot of postpartum. I planned to use reusable nursing pads exclusively, but my supply was wild, so I could not keep up with the laundry required to keep fresh pads in the early days. Reusable pads were all I needed after about six months, but disposables came in handy in the early days.
When it comes to disposables, the Lansinoh nursing pads were my favorite. I tried the Walmart brand and a couple of others, but none of them worked as well for me. (Life hack: if you have a grandparent with tons of OTC money to blow, ask them to order you some nursing pads because they are on CVS’s OTC shopping list.)
8. Nursing Bras
Nursing bras are another super important post-pregnancy product. I tried quite a few, but the Old Navy nursing “brami” was my favorite. They are soft, stretchy, and breathable. Plus, my massive boobs didn’t fall out of them, which was a win. I wore these until my boobs went back to their normal size and my old bras fit.
I also tried the Caramel Cantina nursing bras, and they were super comfortable…until I laid down or made any sudden movements. If your boobies aren’t massive, then this brand might work better than it did for me.
Although most moms aren’t advised to pump in the early postpartum period (since it can cause an oversupply while you’re still regulating), it’s good to have a nursing bra with pump openings. I didn’t pump a ton, so I got a cheap pumping bra from Momcozy.
9. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
If you didn’t invest in red raspberry leaf tea during your labor-prep, now is the time to add it to your cart. Your uterus just spent nine months stretching, and now it’s about to spend quite a while shrinking back to its original size. As a “uterine tonic,” red raspberry leaf tea is a great tool for aiding in this recovery.
I aimed for a cup of red raspberry leaf tea per day during the early postpartum days. So many people find this tea hard to get down, so they mix it with pineapple and/or cranberry juice to make a little mocktail. Personally, my issue with red raspberry leaf tea is that I love it so much and have a hard time limiting my intake.
10. Snacks
Snacks are another must-have for postpartum, especially if you’re breastfeeding. You need energy and nutrients to support your healing, and you need even more to produce milk. Obviously, what snacks you choose are up to your preference, but nutritious foods that you can eat while breastfeeding (read: with one hand) or keep at your bedside are a plus. I personally liked having a mix of fresh and packaged snacks in my early postpartum days.
My number one postpartum snack was watermelon. Producing enough milk to feed my fat baby required lots of hydration, so I downed watermelon like it was going out of style. Granola bars and PB oat cookies were something I reached for regularly, too. A lot of people say oats are good for milk production, so I leaned into it. I also ate a lot of ice cream because that’s what struck my fancy.
11. TV Dinner Table
A TV dinner table also came in handy because it was convenient for keeping things accessible while nap trapped or nursing. It was useful for everything from eating dinner to holding the baby essentials.
We had two basic TV tray tables in the bedroom and a fancier option in the living room. We actually used one of the basic ones in the bedroom to hold diapering and baby toiletries for well over a year, and the fancier one has found a home in the man cave.
Final Thoughts
Although this list of postpartum must-haves is basic, these items elevated the experience for me in more ways than one. Whether it was helping me feel better physically or just letting me feel like I was slightly more put together (while I had milk leaking everywhere and baby puke caked in my hair), they all served a purpose.
If you or someone in your life is about to have a baby, these things may help them feel just a bit more comfortable as they go through the most massive (and rapid) physical, spiritual, and emotional shift of their lives.
Tea Addicts Anonymous 