Every time I check in with new mamas the thing I hear the most is “We spend all this time preparing to give birth but no one prepares you for what comes after. “ It’s so true, the topic of recovery is pretty much an afterthought.
I’ve put together a list of the things I couldn’t live without during my first few months as a new mom. The things I actually didn’t know about and figured out on my own or with the help of my fellow mom friends. We’ll write a separate and more detailed post on postpartum recovery but for now, here are a few tips -
Dry Shampoo will be your best friend, so invest in a good one.
Don’t forget to take your stool softener meds.
Take as much as you can before you leave the hospital. They will be more than happy to give you more. So snag all the extra-long maxi pads, the ice pads, and the mesh undies.
Compression / Biker Shorts The first few weeks after giving birth, it will be a mess down there. There will be a lot going on from ice packs to the thickest pads you can imagine. The mesh undies are GREAT but I wanted something that was really going to hold it all together especially when I would I would leave the house.
Bed / Back Rest Pillow This came in clutch for those nighttime feedings. I got tired of getting up every time to sit in a rocking chair so this allowed me to stay in bed and be comfortable for those middle of the night / early morning feedings.
This was an absolute lifesaver for me. This is what I would use instead of my large pump (Medela Symphony Breast Pump) if I would leave the house for a quick errand.
CONFESSION - I took this with me to Vegas for a girls’ trip and pumped (& dumped) in the club. Don’t judge, you know you would too.
These are so convenient because you pump directly into the bag. You can immediately store it in the freezer and not use up all your bottles.
CONFESSION PART 2 - I could not fit a bottle into my tiny clutch in Vegas. These were perfect, I pumped into the bags and just threw the whole bag away. Can you imagine someone washing out a bottle in the sink at the club?! Ok Ok, now you can judge me.
Tucks Cooling Pads - When I was pregnant the first time, I would see all these posts about “DIY PADSICLES”. It’s essentially a frozen pad with aloe vera and witch hazel, which really helps with swelling and bruising that goes on down there. You can opt to make your own before you give birth (Obvi, who would want to do a DIY project after you give birth?!). Or you can stock up on the items from the hospital and buy these cooling pads instead. This will give you the same relief! Every time you change your pad you’ll stick these right on top, so easy.
Nursing Sleep Bra - A nursing bra is a must for breastfeeding mamas. But this is one of my favorites because of how soft it is. Breastfeeding will be hard the first month and leave your nipples chaffed, sore and sensitive. So nursing bras with this particular fabric is the thing you never know you needed!
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