Post-partum prep

JustBored10

@OmSweetOm no they are amazing.  Either that or an ice pad.  Trust me if you have a vaginal delivery they are a must for me!

MyNamesTaken

@OmSweetOm They are such a relief! It sounds weird, but if you have a vaginal delivery you will love them right after. I put Tucks pads (witch hazel) on top of mine and it helped a lot for the first couple days at home

OmSweetOm

I had a vaginal delivery with my son and I tore up down and all around. I couldnt even pee the first few days unless I was sitting in warm water. Not exactly the highlight of my birthing expierence... so, maybe I will give it a chance since so many swear by it. But it totally gives me the same feeling that thinking about biting teeth first into ice cream does. 

Breath_Easy92

About a week and a half until I get induced and we have everything ready but I just keep feeling like I need to do more I'm so restless... I'm not allowed to clean or the house would be spotless too. I need busy work!

Mozzafiato2016

I'm a FTM but have done a lot of prepping. From the beginning of the second trimester we have stocked up on household items (toiletries, pet food, extra hay and shavings for our horses, etc). Last week I put together around 12 freezer meals that my husband and I eat regularly and enjoy. They are all one pot/one pan/or crockpot meals. We also always have a very healthy supply of food in our pantry. I bought Tendher ice pads but have also made padsicles! I am an over preparer and our storeroom looks like doomsday is coming lol. My other prep was I prepaid small bills for the next several months in advance. 

tfrangul

Ok ladies I said I would update after my freezer meal fun day with my MIL! We bought everything last night but she surprised us with all her own groceries and recipes as well!! It took us 5 hrs but we got 10 dinners and 16 breakfast sandwiches done. All the dinners should allow for leftovers too! It was great because she knew what she was doing, was excited to help and spend time with the kids. I seriously would have been completely lost without her. She was so happy to help and thought it was a great idea. 

MyNamesTaken

@Mozzafiato2016 Wow that is being prepared! I feel like I'm never that organized, pregnant or not!  

JNR6510

One of my coworkers suggested buying puppy pads to lay on the bed over your sheets to protect them from and blood leakage for after you come home from the hospital. For the STM(+) ladies did you or would you use anything like this? Or any FTMs doing anything similar? I know many of our group will be using the adult diapers for their added leak protection. I'm just curious if you think the puppy pads on the bed are overkill or if they would be helpful to avoid ruining sheets / mattress protectors & covers post partum.

tfrangul

@JNR6510 I don't know if I'm not in the norm or what but I have never bled that bad...I also never needed padcicles nor wanted them. Idk maybe I'm out of the norm here and who know maybe baby 3 will give me a harder recovery than the others. But no the puppy pads seems a little excessive for me at least.

Mozzafiato2016

@MyNamesTaken I've always been overprepared for everything!!! My husband thinks I'm nuts lol. 

jessieR358

JNR6510 said:

One of my coworkers suggested buying puppy pads to lay on the bed over your sheets to protect them from and blood leakage for after you come home from the hospital. For the STM(+) ladies did you or would you use anything like this? Or any FTMs doing anything similar? I know many of our group will be using the adult diapers for their added leak protection. I'm just curious if you think the puppy pads on the bed are overkill or if they would be helpful to avoid ruining sheets / mattress protectors & covers post partum.

I would put it under your sheet. That is going to get all wrinkly and would drive me nuts when you sleep...not to mention one side is plastic so the noise. I haven't looked but you may want to google "chuck pads" without plastic and see if you can find those. That's what we use in the hospital.
But no, I didn't do anything post partum. You won't be sleeping through the night anyways so you will be changing pads at regular intervals. I never had any bleedthroughs. 

Eta: if your worried about blood then under the sheets won't work lol. However, pouring hydrogen peroxide on blood will get it out of most items. 

OmSweetOm

I bled like crazy the first few days- I couldn't even use the restroom without it looking like a murdwr scene. I was in no way prepared for that. If you are concerned about bleeding at home in bed I would just take a stack of "chucks" home from the hospital. They will prob have a cabinet full in your room... save the money on buying puppy pads and just stash some away or ask for a few to take home. I brought some home with me the first time around but didn't wind up using them because of what someone else mentioned about them sliding around and getting bunched up- it was driving me nuts so, I just decided to roll the dice. Most of the super crazy bleeding (if you have it like that) will prob be while your still in the hospital anyway. 

Carebella

I didn't really need the chuks/puppy pads for me, but we bedshared and they came in really handy for diaper leaks. If it's not going to break the bank, it doesn't hurt to have a small pack on hand. 

BecauseLove

JNR6510 I bought some puppy pads for the way to the delivery hospital..as it is a 2 hour plus drive the nurses at our local hospital suggested that they were a good choice for putting on the car seat.  

wannabeamongoose

@JNR6510 I was advised to pee every 2 hours (because your uterus and bladder are still getting back into shape and position it's not healthy to hold it in too long) for the first few weeks. Between that and feeding baby every 2-3 hours, you will be up enough to regularly change your pad/diaper/whatever you're using. I don't think chuck pads are necessary. But then I wasn't an extreme bleeder. It was more like a very heavy period.

jlf1019

It's actually one of the most magical feelings ever lol. I wore one constantly during the day the first couple days home. I had hemorrhoids and tearing, so the padsicles felt amazing. 

hatrats

Like others mentioned, I did take a few pads home from the hospital, but only needed them for a few days. When I had DD in bed with us for feeding or snuggling I eventually learned to put a towel down under her to keep from washing our sheets on the daily. Seems like that's be more comfy for everybody than puppy pads. If your LO is super leaky though, you could maybe put a puppy pad under a towel? Haha

PKFMommie

cchenal07 said:

I am a STM and will be having a repeat c-section so a little different for me. But my advice is make sure you stock up on everyday items like toliet paper, shampoo, bath soap, lots of cleaning items, pads, toothpaste, pet food etc. Nothing is worse than coming home and realize you need to send your husband shopping or running out the first week you are home with no help. I also plan on making a couple little baskets of changing items for the baby including extra outfit. I usually also add in a couple items for me like a hair tie. We have a split level and I do not want to run to the babies room for every change. Freezer meals and plenty of snacks for you. You will feel like you dont have time to eat those first weeks and it is easy if you have healthy options you can just grab at 2 a.m. Last if you are able to before make sure your laundry is done and house clean. One less big worry. Hope this helps!

@cchenal07 - This exactly.  I'm a STM but had a C/S with the first, planning for VBAC for this one.... it's hard for me to plan for both deliveries as far as recovery supplies, I just have a list for hubby to grab before I leave the hospital... but I HAVE spent a ton of time getting house projects done, organizing closets and laundry so I have clothes for myself, DS1, etc... to make it easier to come home.  I also paid my September bills and got all that household maintenance stuff done so that I won't have to worry about it for the first month or so, and can just enjoy the baby!

BecauseLove

PKFMommie I love the suggestion of prepaying bills!

ailynk

Last pregnancy I made a HUGE pot of healthy veggie and lentil soup and filled a dozen tupperware containers for the freezer. I lived off soup, bagels, yogurt and salad kits for a few weeks. 

I haven't done any prep yet - I'll need to get onto it as I'm living in the middle of nowhere with a toddler, no car and my husband away for work

I'll probably do the same as before with some extra things for my son. I agree Amazon Prime is very handy! I have actually ordered 3 new toys for my son to help keep him occupied when I first get home. Some building blocks, a musical learning book and a flashlight projector.

Never heard of using padsicles etc? I didn't use anything last time? I didn't have any tearing or grazes though so guess I was lucky... just wore pads for 3 weeks. And coconut oil for my nipples.

Actually as a first time Mum I was really grateful for downloading a free breastfeeding and sleeping app to record how often and how long baby was feeding/sleeping.  I used it for 2-3 weeks.  I breastfed in bed as I was affraid of falling asleep and dropping bubs. I only dozed off for a few minutes twice, and bubs remained in my arms and still latched on, thank goodness!

CSL522

STM here, I did not prepare whatsoever for my first delivery. Did not make padsicles, nor did I want them. The peri bottle filled with very warm water was what I preferred. I also did not use any type of puppy pad or chucks underneath and do not recall that much bleeding to necessitate that. I do recommend nursing pads at all times if you're breastfeeding or you may leak all over. I didn't meal prep with my first and have 3 weeks left and haven't yet either, but my husband cooks in our house and is great at coming up with quick meals so hopefully that will work this time around, although we may do some prepping or get easy to make meals.

jillie127

Make a few weeks worth of freezer meals.  I didn't do that with my first and realized after giving birth that I should have.  Thank goodness for my MIL who supplied us with about 2 weeks worth of food.

Take the pads home with you from the hospital and stock up on more before giving birth.  They should give you dermoplast, a peri bottle, and mesh underwear.  Ask for more mesh underwear and continue to wear at home (wash in a lingerie bag)  I wore my mesh underwear for weeks.  I was given baby diapers with ice in them in the hospital, so that is a thought for at home instead of freezing pads.

Sugargirl1019

Nobody tells you about the lack of bladder control that is apparently more common than not. I'm wearing depends because sometimes I just cannot hold it anymore and it starts to come. 

I love the dermoplast spray! My favorite bathroom item!

JustBored10

@Sugargirl1019 I remember getting home and for at least the first week every time I peed I couldn't stop it because my muscles were so weak. I cried almost every time I left the bathroom to my husband because I was scared my control over my bladder wouldn't return!  It did but it has never been the same. 

jessieR358

JustBored10 said:

@Sugargirl1019 I remember getting home and for at least the first week every time I peed I couldn't stop it because my muscles were so weak. I cried almost every time I left the bathroom to my husband because I was scared my control over my bladder wouldn't return!  It did but it has never been the same. 

Mine did go back to normal and I'm hoping it does this time as well. You could ask your OB about a referral to a women's health PT. That may help after this delivery. 

Rhubarb7216

@Sugargirl1019 I had issues right after birth as well, but I was back to normal in less than a week. I second the suggestion for women's health PT if it doesn't resolve itself.

jessieR358

@rhubarb123 mine took longer than a week. I'd say more like 3 months--more so with intense workouts. 

Sugargirl1019

How soon after delivery can i start using an elliptical and doing weight machines? Normal vaginal delivery without complications.

JustBored10

@Sugargirl1019 usually 6 weeks. I would not start exercising till you have had your follow up appointment with your doctor and ask her then. 

jessieR358

Sugargirl1019 said:

How soon after delivery can i start using an elliptical and doing weight machines? Normal vaginal delivery without complications.

My OB said whenever I want. No restrictions. 

Carebella

Definitely consult your OB/doctor and listen very carefully to your body. 

My midwifery center last round said first week take it SUPER easy. Second week, walking down the block and back. And then slowly building up from there. And then more typical exercise not until after six weeks. That was for a normal vaginal delivery without complications. 

Some women might be okay doing more sooner. But generally, most of our bodies need more time to physically recover from 9 months of changes and starting back too much too soon can slow recovery or cause damage. 

Eta @Sugargirl1019

jessieR358

Carebella said:

Definitely consult your OB/doctor and listen very carefully to your body. 

My midwifery center last round said first week take it SUPER easy. Second week, walking down the block and back. And then slowly building up from there. And then more typical exercise not until after six weeks. That was for a normal vaginal delivery without complications. 

Some women might be okay doing more sooner. But generally, most of our bodies need more time to physically recover from 9 months of changes and starting back too much too soon can slow recovery or cause damage. 

Eta @Sugargirl1019

Agree. Was I doing hard workouts one week out? Heck no. I could barely walk around the block, but I just went at my own pace since my OB didn't believe in waiting 6 weeks with an easy vaginal delivery. I did lots of yoga, Pilates, ab videos, and walking and worked up to pre baby. 

JNR6510

@Sugargirl1019 my doctor said no lifting anything over 10 lbs or workouts (other than the kegels and pelvic floor exercises) until after 6 weeks. 

lilpoots

Probably depends greatly on your labor experience and if your perineum is intact. Best to take it easy the first two weeks.

lilpoots

We were able to put away 20 crockpot freezer meals and I feel great about it. Cooking was such a stressor for me last time.

coastalmomma2

@lilpoots, that is amazing! I wish my freezer could accommodate that many. 

lilpoots

@coastalmomma-2 we left all of the liquids out of the bags and will put them in when we go to make them. Saves so much space.

Rhubarb7216

I'll be 5 weeks post partum tomorrow. I stopped having any red bleeding at least a week ago (probably longer, but it's hard to keep track of time these days!) and then all of a sudden I have red bleeding again today. Could this be more post partum bleeding or is it possible my period came back already?? I am breastfeeding, so definitely didn't expect it to come back this soon!

Carebella

@Rhubarb7216 any chance you overexhurted yourself? It does seem too early to be your period but bodies also do weird things sometimes. 

JNR6510

@Rhubarb7216 it is possible this is your period. It can arrive in as little as 4 weeks PP. Everyone's bodies are different. You can always ask your doctor at the 6 week PP check up if you are concerned.