As others have mentioned elsewhere this board is a bit quiet, so I've combined the next 2 product spotlights into one. We've already covered some of this in
previous spotlights .
Share any and all "essentials" that you needed in the postpartum from recovery to daily living what were the things you needed for YOU. clothing, nursing, production, making it through the day and night.
What were some things that were staples? what was recommended and not really a necessity?
TTC#1 10/2016
TTC/IF:included medicated cycles, IUIs and 2 rounds of IVF with 1 embryo each.
BFP finally in 12/2018
TTC#2 06/2021
planning FET
"Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks,
some doors are open, some roads are blocked"
Re: Product Spotlight: Postpartum Mom Essentials
Also:
-Stool softener for the first PP poop
-Peri bottle for rinsing (I think the hospital gave me one)
-Big thick pads for the bleeding
-If you are a thong person like me, get a pack of big granny panties
-Nursing pads for leaky boobs
-Nipple cream for chapped nips
-Fenugreek for breast milk production
-As many freezer meals as you can make ahead of time (so you don’t need to cook)
Peri bottle, Tucks pads, and Dermoplast are all lifesavers and most hospitals will send you home with some— don’t be shy to ask for extra!
Baby wipes or cleansing wipes for yourself on the back of your toilet so you don’t have to scrub those tender parts too much
Nursing pillow(s) if you’re breastfeeding
I made myself a little “mama basket” that I put next to my couch because that was where I nursed and pumped most of the time (it will consume your life until you get a good schedule down). It had a little jar of coconut oil, snacks, breast pads, burp cloths, travel-sized deodorant, a nail file, and baby wipes in it.
- a plan for self care. Have a plan- a night nurse, mom, friend- someone that you have no urge to entertain that can come over that first week and give you 30-60 minutes to just…be. Sleep or shower or eat in peace or something. Having a small bit of just you time in that first week or two is amazing.
The rest, yeah, peri bottle, giant pads, tucks, dermaplast? Is that what it's called? Or dermablast? I don't know. The like menthol numbing spray lol.
I would also recommend getting a little portable thermostat thing if you don't have one in every room. I was so incredibly unbelievably hot postpartum that I nearly froze DD3 because I was convinced it was a sauna. DH got a little portable thermostat thing and It was like 57 in the house. So just lol don't trust yourself about temperature.
Easy non crumby snacks, lol.
@bluecampanula My water bottle is an insulated screw top but it's so heavy...good idea to get one with a straw that doesn't leak!
I have been pregnant 4 times but this gap between my last and this one is big enough that I'm having trouble remembering what I loved!
BFP1 04/24/2015 EDD Dec 2015 MMC 10W5d;
BFP 2 09/25/2015 EDD June 2016 MMC 9wks;
BFP 3 03/22/2016 EDD Dec 6th 2016
@SmashJam totally agree about those soothing nipple things. I forgot about that! My hospital gave me some and they really helped with the latching pain.
If you're planning on nursing, make an appointment with a lactation consultant soon after PP. That was so helpful and covered by insurance.
Also, like @aloha_mama said - coconut oil is amazing for sore nipples
Keep a phone cord plugged in by any spot that you might nurse (couch, arm chair, bed, nursery, etc.) so that you are never faced with a dying phone battery in the middle of the night
dermoplast and the tucks pads, YES! Also the hemeroid cream or whatever it is, maybe therocane or something like that. I can’t quite remember the name. It’s amazingly soothing on pads for tears & stitches. The hospital will offer it to you. Get as much of that as possible! Take an extra empty bag to the hospital with you and clean out the supply closet in your room each night. A good nurse will suggest it or at least look the other way. Take all the mesh panties, massive pads, ice packs, etc that you can! Ask for more if it doesn’t seem like enough to get you through 5-7 days after your hospital stay. Also take the diapers and, mom’s of circumcised boys, take all of the petroleum jelly they’ll give you for the wee little willy that will be healing. It always helps to have extra petroleum jelly IN THE TUBE, this is very important, on hand with circumcised boys in general. Also take any formula samples the hospital will give you. Even if you plan to BF or EP, it’s always good to have it on hand at home in case you can’t keep up with demand or it doesn’t work out the way you planned. You do not want to be without with empty breasts and a hungry baby in the middle of the night. There’s no shame in FF or supplementing.