Let's all just become AW's for just a bit...

NorthernGal248

So it's all about baby baby baby - and it's been great - but can we all just talk about what we need for ourselves post baby?  I am talking about nursing tanks, compression belts, pads, shampoo, anything! What's the plan for taking care of yourself after your baby makes his/her grand arrival??

andoll8

i'm really glad you've raised this topic. as an FTM, i hadn't given much consideration to self-care after delivery until my SIL sat me down for a lecture. here's the list she gave me:

sitz bath and motherlove sitz bath salts

perineal irrigation bottle

tucks medicated pads

inflatable ring cushion (AKA: a donut for my butt)

belly compression belt

witch hazel

lots of HUMONGOUS pads (soaked in witch hazel and frozen - this becomes a "crotchcicle")

10-12 paids of black undies (granny style or boy shorts)

nursing tanks/bras

bathrobe for easy nursing access

MOM!

15-20 minutes scheduled each day (she lol'd at this) for me to take a private bath/shower)

looking forward to seeing more lists and suggestions.

haylo33

hhegyesi said:

i'm really glad you've raised this topic. as an FTM, i hadn't given much consideration to self-care after delivery until my SIL sat me down for a lecture. here's the list she gave me:

sitz bath and motherlove sitz bath salts

perineal irrigation bottle

tucks medicated pads

inflatable ring cushion (AKA: a donut for my butt)

belly compression belt

witch hazel

lots of HUMONGOUS pads (soaked in witch hazel and frozen - this becomes a "crotchcicle")

10-12 paids of black undies (granny style or boy shorts)

nursing tanks/bras

bathrobe for easy nursing access

MOM!

15-20 minutes scheduled each day (she lol'd at this) for me to take a private bath/shower)

looking forward to seeing more lists and suggestions.

Tell me more about these crotchcicles. Isn't that too cold down there? Does the witch hazel burn?

awc1986

I ran most of these things past SIL and she said you don't really need most of it. You can improvise. You don't need to buy a sitz bath, just sit in a shallow bath. You don't need a special perineal care bottle, just any old clean bottle will do. She pretty much said just breast pads, maternity pads and disposable undies. The rest you can play by ear and might not even need.

ns1

Ditto to the above.  Plus lansinoh or some nipple cream if bf'ing.  I also found bags of frozen peas helpful during engorgement.  And some of that dermoplast numbing spray (provided at the hospital for me).  Yoga pants.  A good book that can be read one handed (one hand holding baby to boob, the other holding the book).  Netflix.  

And a word on the donut pillow thing...I suggest just using a regular pillow.  A donut pillow kind of spreads everything apart and puts more pressure on the hemmies and whatever else might be going on down there.  Not really pleasant!

andoll8

kitchencolors said:

@haylo33, the nurses in the hospital gave me diapers that had been frozen and they were really nice.  I didn't hurt a lot, but they helped me from getting too swollen.

@haylo33

it's basically the same idea as what @kitchencolors is referencing. witch hazel is soothing and healing, and the cold is numbing for your sore lady bits.

all the sitz stuff is a nice way to cleans and heal using warm water and gentle salt on your swollen and tender parts. 

SIL swore by these methods, so i'm trusing her on this.

obviously these won't be necessary if you delivery by CS, but if you're planning a vaginal birth it's not a bad idea to acquire some of these things. most of it is fairly inexpensive and nice to have in your medicine arsenal anyway, so it wouldn't hurt just to have these things on hand.

Mimaloo

I just bought two Medela nursing tanks at Babies R Us. They're buy 1 get one 40% off. I had a $5 reward and another coupon for $10 off a clothing purchase which the sales girl put through. So I basically got one for free. I'm holding off on bras until I see how much bigger the girls get. 

Bought a big pack of Hanes granny panties and two boxes of nursing pads when I hit a great sale at CVS. 

That's about all I'm buying for now. DH is taking a couple of weeks off from work so if I'll send him out if/as I need other things. 

NorthernGal248

Does anybody have experience with compression nursing tanks like the ones Glamour Mom offers?

https://www.glamourmom.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=463

Kageer

The crotchsicles were magical for me. I only ended up using them in the hospital though and they will provide them. Hospital will give you perineal bottle and dermablast. I used those for another week or so. Gel nursing pads are also nice.

jjtyler

For me it was all about the Tucks, that peri-bottle filled with warm water if you have a vaginal birth, TIGHT bras if you are not BF-ing, comfy pants, and if you can guilt the hubby enough...taking a nap or two in that first week whenever you feel like it without feeling guilty.

Definitely take as many of the LOOONG pads as you can.

AugustGlass

Ok stupid question - How are the "crotchcicles" not a mess once they start to melt? Do you just switch them out pretty often?

Divine0chaos

PADSICLES and a belly bandit are my top two. With my first I didn't know about the postpartum belly wraps, totally wish I did. I left the hospital feeling so gross and loose . Comfortable "bigger" underwear, nursing bras, nursing pads and cream. As well as some wine!!

cnbean

For me the best mommy care was just some time away from the house without the baby! 

ksyknelvr73

I had a vaginal birth with DS and this is what I needed and plan to use again assuming I have another vaginal delivery:
Peri bottle (hospital provides)
Ice packed diapers (hospital)
Dermablast (hospital provides)
Tucks pads
Lanolin (chapstick for nipples)
Hydrogel pads (these were lifesavers for BFing for me)
Nursing bras
Nursing tanks/tops
Couple pairs of granny panties that I don't mind ruining
Belly bandit (used one with DS and it really worked for me)
Huge water bottle with a straw, you get sooo thirsty when getting rid of all the fluid from pregnancy and also from BFing

AnnieA75

NorthernGal248 said:

Does anybody have experience with compression nursing tanks like the ones Glamour Mom offers?

https://www.glamourmom.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=463

NorthernGal248, I haven't tried these before and they do look awesome, but I actually made my own and saved a ton of money.

I bought a few tummy control tanks from Target (https://www.target.com/p/suddenly-skinny-with-self-expressions-women-s-firm-control-tummy-toning-cami-assorted-colors/-/A-12912020), for about $20 each. Then I ordered the clips online to turn any regular tank top into a nursing top (https://www.nappyshoppe.com/). I cut the tank straps, sewed these on, and voila! I didn't go anywhere for months without wearing one of these under my shirts. I was jiggly and these made a world of difference and I felt so much more comfortable.

dakota01

I used the peri bottle (from hospital) Never used a sitz bath, but I didn't tear... I made my own pad concotction with a large pad (taken from hospital) then you lay witch hazel pads on it, then top it with that foam spray stuff they give you in the little aresol bottle...(not dermaplast) can't remember but it was cool and looked like shaving cream. Those suckers were awesome for the soreness and hemmeroids. (sp) Showers and naps are important. Especially when you begin leaking out milk, your boobs will just feel gross sitting in those pads all day.

NorthernGal248

AnnieA75 said:

NorthernGal248 said:

Does anybody have experience with compression nursing tanks like the ones Glamour Mom offers?

https://www.glamourmom.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=463

NorthernGal248, I haven't tried these before and they do look awesome, but I actually made my own and saved a ton of money.

I bought a few tummy control tanks from Target (https://www.target.com/p/suddenly-skinny-with-self-expressions-women-s-firm-control-tummy-toning-cami-assorted-colors/-/A-12912020), for about $20 each. Then I ordered the clips online to turn any regular tank top into a nursing top (https://www.nappyshoppe.com/). I cut the tank straps, sewed these on, and voila! I didn't go anywhere for months without wearing one of these under my shirts. I was jiggly and these made a world of difference and I felt so much more comfortable.

That's such a great idea! Thanks!