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Childbirth is no joke so you definitely want to make sure you have everything you need ready for all the visits to the bathroom in the following weeks. The healing process is so much smoother when you have the right items for caring for yourself after your baby is born. This post will give you a clear picture of everything you’ll want stocked in your postpartum recovery kit so you’ll be ready with all the essentials when you need them!
Whether you’re having a vaginal delivery or a c-section, it takes a huge toll on your body. For the first four to six weeks after your baby is born, you’ll have quite a bit of vaginal bleeding called lochia. It’s a combination of blood, tissue and mucus that needs to be cleared out and unfortunately it’s just a standard part of having a baby. So regardless of which kind of delivery you have, you’ll have a lot of bleeding in the first few weeks because your body is clearing out everything that was needed to grow your baby. That might be the prettiest way to say it!
The bleeding starts off strong for a while and then begins to lighten up after a week or two but at times it may continue to come back strong again so it’s best to be prepared and have everything you need to handle this stage in the most comfortable way possible.
Check with your hospital to see which items they will give you and make a mental note to make sure you definitely get all of those items to take home before you leave the hospital with your baby.
As for the other items I’m about to mention, I’d recommend snagging these earlier on because you never know when your baby might decide to show up!
Aside from ibuprofen and some good prescription pain meds, here are the items you’ll want on hand to take care of yourself.
What You Need
Caddy
You’ll need something to keep all of your healing items in one place in your bathroom. You don’t need anything huge but something that can fit on top of your toilet or hang from the back of the bathroom door would be ideal. Something with dividers will also help you to find things more easily. This is the one I used and I’ve loved using it as a diaper caddy as well and later as a travel caddy for the car! It’s one of those items that will forever get used around our house.
Peri Bottle
This is a nifty little squirt bottle that you won’t go to the bathroom without- trust me! Before you go, fill this up with warm water and take it in with you for the “clean up” part of your bathroom visit. It helps soothe the vaginal area so much with all the tender areas and saves you a ton of wiping- which you will not want to do. After you’ve sprayed yourself, gently pat dry with soft napkins that should be provided by the hospital. You’ll want to avoid using TP in sensitive areas for a while. This type of peri bottle is meant to easily spray upside down which is super convenient for the angle that you’ll need it for.
Soft Napkins
Again, along with the peri bottle, you’ll definitely want to use the soft napkins provided to you by the hospital to pat the area dry. These aren’t the same as kitchen napkins at all! They are thicker and don’t break off into little pieces or stick. Use them to gently blot the area to dry.
Pads
You’ll get a LOT of pads sent home with you from the hospital but it won’t be enough! The standard postpartum pad from the hospital is mighty thick and a mile long but you have to change them so often and sometimes use multiple so you’ll want to make sure you have extras at home as well. You’ll have to determine if you prefer the kind with wings or not but I’d recommend finding the longest and most absorbent pads you can get your hands on. The convenient thing about pads with wings is that it keeps the pad firmly in place but some types have such a strong sticky backing that I’ve had pieces stick to my underwear and refuse to come off, like forever. It can also be a bit of a challenge to remove the pad when you need to change it. You be the judge of what you like best!
And just in case you haven’t been told- do NOT use tampons. Not that you’d want to right now….
Witch Hazel Pads
(For a vaginal delivery)
Oh my gosh. Witch hazel pads feel aaaaaamazing on your sore lady parts. There’s no denying it. After you’ve cleaned up in the bathroom, use one of these pre-moistened pads for the most incredible relief ever.
Earth Mama Herbal Perineal Spray
(For a vaginal delivery)
This spray is so soothing to use after you’ve gone to the bathroom. It has a nice light clean smell and gives a really great cooling feeling where you need it most. I’ve heard other mamas say that the Earth Mama Perineal Balm is great to use with it but I can only speak from experience on the spray and I loved it.
Mesh Underwear
I’m sure you’ve heard about this supremely un-sexy undergarment you’ll be sent home with from the hospital from a friend or family member or anywhere that discusses postpartum aftercare, but you are in for a treat. This underwear is basically half see-through mesh brief-style underwear that you throw away after use. Most people, myself included, love them. They are very comfortable, breathable and non-restricting and it’s just nice to not have to worry about potentially ruining any of your own underwear for as long as you’d like to wear the infamous postpartum mesh underwear.
Diapers
An alternative to the mesh underwear when you don’t quite want to go back to regular underwear just yet for fear of potential staining. I also liked using diapers overnight sometimes in the first few weeks to feel a bit more secure while I slept and didn’t want to deal with all the pads. It’s absolutely a preference. The mesh underwear also doesn’t stay up as well as you lose more and more of your pregnancy weight in the coming weeks. Make sure to check the recommended sizing so that you’ll be as comfortable as possible if you choose to go this route.
Extra Underwear
This is for when you start transitioning back to normal underwear but are still having some bleeding. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, a little mess might happen and you’ll want to have some extra underwear available so that you don’t have to do an awkward walk out to grab some from your room.
Some Extras
Sitz Bath
(For a vaginal delivery)
Some people swear by using a sitz bath in the days following a vaginal delivery. For this you’ll need a sitz bath which is a basin that fits on your toilet seat so that you can soak your tender areas in a seated position. You can do this with just warm water or you can also grab some sitz bath salts to add in but just make sure they are safe to use postpartum.
Dermoplast
(For a vaginal delivery)
I didn’t get sent home with this after my vaginal delivery and I did just fine but some people absolutely swear by it. I’ve been told it provides a great longer lasting relief from the pain after use.
With these items you’ll be able to manage the bleeding and tenderness with ease and you’ll be on the other side in no time!