What do you guys think of the post partum belly bands to help get your stomach back in shape? Worth it?
I had one with dd, it was a little uncomfortable with the Velcro, and I really don't know if it worked since there is nothing for me to compare it to (like would my stomach have reacted the same without it). Although it made me feel proactive so there's that. But I think mine was $50 ish, it may not have been the best investment but I do plan on using it again.
@mrskratt now that you say the name- that's what I had too (belly bandit)
I'll be making a stash of padsicles, yes that's a thing, pads with lavender oil witch hazel and aloe I think that u keep in the freezer. Google it
I'm also making batches.of.lactation cookie dough to to cook right before and while nursing.
I have a.list of stuff I've saved: sitz bath, squeeze bottles for after bathroom cleaning, pads, comfy undies, colace, dermoplast and lots of freezer meals. That's I all I can think of for now
STUCK IN THE BOX...SORRY.
The hospital provided the squeeze bottle, can of dermaplast and Colace during my stay. I plan to take some Epsom salt for sitz baths (best thing ever).
do the thicker pads work better than the ultra absorbent thins? I can't get down w the big pads normally so as a ftm just wondering if I could get away w the overnight super thins
STM. The StayFree Ultra Thin Overnights were fine for me the second day. Pretty much everyone is different. I also wore my own undies a size up and was fine.
@Sprinkels28 I thought mine was totally worth it. My belly got super huge, my ab muscles separated, and my insides felt like they were sloshing around after I gave birth. It helped my abs feel more stable and was so much more comfortable. It was a little hot, but I also had my first in July, so maybe October won't be as bad? I had the Belly Bandit.
@Julia70286 I love that you're already taking a stool softener, seriously made me lol when I read that!
I started stool softeners immediately after labor, and word to the wise...if you get nauseated/throw up during labor DO NOT take zofran if they offer it. I suffered through the puking during labor and wouldn't touch the stuff bc I was terrified to get constipated. I definitely pooped during labor, and the first #2 after giving birth was pretty easy. Totally worth a little misery during labor.
I definitely want a wrap or something this time ... it's like Christmas jello after every birth.. so squishy around my torso. I think I'm almost prepared ... I'm going to snap a photo of my hospital bag when it's complete !
First of all- Don't Be Proud! Keep you necessities in a little tub or basket right by the toilet. It suuuuucks digging under the sink for all the necessities when you're already so uncomfortable as it is. Keep it all conveniently at arms reach (and keep a few spare pair of undies in the basket too- JIC)
The super thick and poofy overnight style pads were uncomfortable on my stitches, so I splurged on the fancy thin foam pads. They worked really really well- I never went back. Always Infinity is the name of the ones I'm loading up on.
Also do yourself the favor of getting the Costco sized case of toilet paper ahead of time. The flushable wipes are nice too- just make sure they are a "sensitive" or unscented kind. Otherwise a spare case of sensitive baby wipes works, you just can't flush them
Belly binders - science says they don't do anything to "shrink your belly." But they can help improve pain and function, maybe. That said, there's (obviously) loads of anecdotal stuff from people saying they totally work, and people seem to like them. I like to stick with the science so I didn't get one after DS but I'm looking at body shaping stuff (leggings, compression nursing tops etc) because I HATED the poofy stomach feeling last time. Hated it.
@UponAStar16 - YMMV but with DS I made probably a dozen padsicles and didn't use them all. But I did swipe a bunch of icy pads from the hospital which were much better IMO.These are like the ones my hospital had: You can buy them for around $10 for a 2 pack. Kinda spendy but worth it because they stay cold for a while whereas padsicles warm up as soon as you put them on.
Stool softeners/colace: Have it on hand for PP (especially if you know you will have a C and/or will be taking narcotic pain meds) but DON'T start them before labor unless of course you are constipated and needing them.
STM and I still am weird about the pooping during labor thing. Though that's not why I advise against taking colace before labor- as with any medication, it's not a great idea to take it if you don't need it/in anticipation of needing it later.
For anyone who's stocking up right now: Earth Mama products are BOGO 50% off on the Babies R US website right now. I don't know when the sale ends, it deducted it when I added the New Mama Bottom Spray and Nipple Butter to my cart, so it's not showing me any details. That and free shipping give me a total of about $20 for both.
Ice packs Pad's Heating pad Bread pads Tucks New Jammies Granny panties I don't usually need help with my supply I'm an over supplier already leaking lol
For anyone who's stocking up right now: Earth Mama products are BOGO 50% off on the Babies R US website right now. I don't know when the sale ends, it deducted it when I added the New Mama Bottom Spray and Nipple Butter to my cart, so it's not showing me any details. That and free shipping give me a total of about $20 for both.
I think until the end of the weekend? All breast feeding supplies are BOGO 50% off! It's a good sale they run a lot! They run the same sale on bottles and feeding items too!
@bnsmith85 I go natural so I get a lot of cramping after so abdominal area breast feeding is like stage one labor every feeding and for about half an hour after for first few days to weeks. Ice packs are for my boobs mostly I over produce so my milk comes on fast and it comes on painfully
Just think if you had your worst period of your life everything you would need and multiply it for about 6 weeks. Tucks are awesome for all the crap that happens down below after. Helped my stitches with my son so much.
@bnsmith85 I go natural so I get a lot of cramping after so abdominal area breast feeding is like stage one labor every feeding and for about half an hour after for first few days to weeks.
This, although I pumped instead of BF'd. I had a decent amount of general abdominal soreness. The heating pad was nice while pumping.
I wonder if the hospital will ok one for after delivery... Those "massages" the nurses give you are no joke!
Nurses will do a fundal massage to help the uterus contract and shrink back down after delivery. It was not the kind of relaxing massage I would have liked after giving birth lol.
Nurses will do a fundal massage to help the uterus contract and shrink back down after delivery. It was not the kind of relaxing massage I would have liked after giving birth lol.
Nurses will do a fundal massage to help the uterus contract and shrink back down after delivery. It was not the kind of relaxing massage I would have liked after giving birth lol.
This. Sounds. Horrible.
They kinda suck.
I think that done on their own the massages aren't too too gawdawful, but after labor, delivering a baby, and then pushing out the placenta it was an unpleasant surprise that I hadn't been warned about. What was left of my poor abdomen just wanted to be left alone!
Those massages are even worse with a emergency c section under general anesthesia. I wanted to punch that bitch in the face. She could of warned me it was going to fucking hurt like none other. Also the contractions you get after breastfeeding shocked me with my first baby and the post delivery shakes were insane. Not everyone gets the shakes and feeding contractions but geesh I wish I would've known they could happen.
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Oh to add. My second baby I told the first nurse that came near me they better make it pleasant cause I doubted she even has kids and has no idea how painful it is. They were a pile kinder my second baby. I was probably called the dragon lady in room 8 but I couldn't of given a rats ass cause it's my pain not theirs.
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The fundal massage is a piece of cake compared to the digging around the OB does if your placenta doesn't detach completely. Been through that fun little ride twice now. #morereasonstogetanepidural
The fundal massage is a piece of cake compared to the digging around the OB does if your placenta doesn't detach completely. Been through that fun little ride twice now. #morereasonstogetanepidural
This. I keep thinking to myself, 'I don't remember it hurting' or other things like that when I've been reading the comments but I think it is totally because having the dr try to manually take out my placenta was like a 12 on that stupid pain scale so by comparison, everything else that happened right after wasn't a big deal.
Just think if you had your worst period of your life everything you would need and multiply it for about 6 weeks. Tucks are awesome for all the crap that happens down below after. Helped my stitches with my son so much.
OMG. This plus the fundal massage. My heart has officially been struck with dread.
Oh, dammit that massage. I completely forgot about that until now. Not fun.
Another thing ink you might want to think about getting for when you come home: a breathable, waterproof mattress protector. I don't know how many women this happened to, but the first 4ish week after DD was born, I would sweat uncontrollably while sleeping. I'm talking soaked. I would sleep on towels, then have to get new ones in the middle of the night.
The fundal massage is a piece of cake compared to the digging around the OB does if your placenta doesn't detach completely. Been through that fun little ride twice now. #morereasonstogetanepidural
This. I keep thinking to myself, 'I don't remember it hurting' or other things like that when I've been reading the comments but I think it is totally because having the dr try to manually take out my placenta was like a 12 on that stupid pain scale so by comparison, everything else that happened right after wasn't a big deal.
OOOUUUCH. This isn't the pain olympics, but you guys can have the gold.
I usually get out of hospital fast than you can say get away from me lol I think I was 12 hours after birth for my daughter and just under 24 for my son. Leave my poor uterus alone it's been through enough
Married 11-11-11 TTC only since Dec 2015. I had some weight to get off. Been working hard in the gym for over a year. BFP 02-15-16 with our first IT'S A BOY!!!
oh gosh.. why did i open this thread.. uterus massage?! ahh
It's done from the outside... just an abdominal massage basically, but they do have to press into the abdomen to get to the uterus. And yeah, it can be uncomfortable. I've given one, but never had the pleasure of receiving.
oh gosh.. why did i open this thread.. uterus massage?! ahh
It's done from the outside... just an abdominal massage basically, but they do have to press into the abdomen to get to the uterus. And yeah, it can be uncomfortable. I've given one, but never had the pleasure of receiving.
Your in for a treat lol its not that bad it dis cause minor contractions and it does feel like bad period cramps but it does also help a lot in the long run. Breast feeding is more painful but that is worth it too.
Re: Postpartum supply list
@mrskratt now that you say the name- that's what I had too (belly bandit)
@Julia70286 I love that you're already taking a stool softener, seriously made me lol when I read that!
I started stool softeners immediately after labor, and word to the wise...if you get nauseated/throw up during labor DO NOT take zofran if they offer it. I suffered through the puking during labor and wouldn't touch the stuff bc I was terrified to get constipated. I definitely pooped during labor, and the first #2 after giving birth was pretty easy. Totally worth a little misery during labor.
The super thick and poofy overnight style pads were uncomfortable on my stitches, so I splurged on the fancy thin foam pads. They worked really really well- I never went back. Always Infinity is the name of the ones I'm loading up on.
Also do yourself the favor of getting the Costco sized case of toilet paper ahead of time. The flushable wipes are nice too- just make sure they are a "sensitive" or unscented kind. Otherwise a spare case of sensitive baby wipes works, you just can't flush them
@UponAStar16 - YMMV but with DS I made probably a dozen padsicles and didn't use them all. But I did swipe a bunch of icy pads from the hospital which were much better IMO.These are like the ones my hospital had:
You can buy them for around $10 for a 2 pack. Kinda spendy but worth it because they stay cold for a while whereas padsicles warm up as soon as you put them on.
Stool softeners/colace: Have it on hand for PP (especially if you know you will have a C and/or will be taking narcotic pain meds) but DON'T start them before labor unless of course you are constipated and needing them.
STM and I still am weird about the pooping during labor thing. Though that's not why I advise against taking colace before labor- as with any medication, it's not a great idea to take it if you don't need it/in anticipation of needing it later.
Pad's
Heating pad
Bread pads
Tucks
New Jammies
Granny panties
I don't usually need help with my supply I'm an over supplier already leaking lol
Ditto @Mintz1982 on the heating pad! I forgot about that guy, I should probably track mine down.
ETA- or for people who speak normally, what will it be used for? Lol
I wonder if the hospital will ok one for after delivery... Those "massages" the nurses give you are no joke!
I think that done on their own the massages aren't too too gawdawful, but after labor, delivering a baby, and then pushing out the placenta it was an unpleasant surprise that I hadn't been warned about. What was left of my poor abdomen just wanted to be left alone!
Those massages are even worse with a emergency c section under general anesthesia. I wanted to punch that bitch in the face. She could of warned me it was going to fucking hurt like none other. Also the contractions you get after breastfeeding shocked me with my first baby and the post delivery shakes were insane. Not everyone gets the shakes and feeding contractions but geesh I wish I would've known they could happen.
OMG. This plus the fundal massage. My heart has officially been struck with dread.
DS#2 due 25 April 2019
Another thing ink you might want to think about getting for when you come home: a breathable, waterproof mattress protector. I don't know how many women this happened to, but the first 4ish week after DD was born, I would sweat uncontrollably while sleeping. I'm talking soaked. I would sleep on towels, then have to get new ones in the middle of the night.
Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013
Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014
TTC only since Dec 2015. I had some weight to get off. Been working hard in the gym for over a year.
BFP 02-15-16 with our first
IT'S A BOY!!!
Baby GIRL born 9/16/201
BFP! EDD 8/1/2019 CP 4w2d
DH: 34
Married: May 2011
TTC #1: May 2015
DS: 10/20/2016
TTC #2: June 2019
#2 EDD: 2/20/2020