The Great Post Partum Care Thread

ladystout08 · September 2018

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/X8p19JRt6cNWg/source.gif

This thread is to talk about all things post partum care. Your favorite products, things to have on hand before you deliver, PPD/PPA, baby blues, things STM+ wish you had known, FTMs ask your questions here!

ladystout08 · September 2018

I mentioned this in the random threads but I typically put together a post partum care kit for friends shower gifts, I'll likely make one for myself this go around.

-water bottle
-snacks (usually granola bars, protein bites, etc.)
-dermoplast (alcohol free kind!)
-tuck pads
-stool softener
-coconut oil
-nursing pads
-overnight pads
-wine/booze of choice
-infant tylenol
-gas drops
-a nose frieda
-cloth diaper inserts (they make awesome burp cloths)

kns1988 · September 2018

I need to get on this for myself. DS was 5 weeks early, so I was definitely not prepared. These are the things that I want:
- Pump station set up in the guest room with snacks and sterilized bottles.
- Two weeks worth of meals ready to pull out of the freezer.
- Witch hazel pads (they are life for the first few weeks)
- Dermoplast spray
- Ibuprofen
- Pads
- Chocolate

I've posted before about my experience with PPA/PPD and getting medicated when DS was 3 months old. I'm still on the meds, so I'm hoping to avoid the struggle this time around. Don't lie to your doctors! They gave me a PPD questionnaire in the hospital when endorphins were still running high, so I wouldn't have qualified then. The next one they gave me was at a check up for DS - I blew through it answering like everything was fine instead of being truthful.

ladystout08 · September 2018

Oh, @kns1988 reminded me, a diaper changing station. We have a two story house so having a separate changing set up downstairs is key so I don't have to go upstairs.

Last time I got a little basket and put
-diapers
-wipes
-diaper rash cream
- a few onesies
-cloth diaper inserts/burp cloths

kianarain · September 2018

@kns1988 ooooh yes to everything, but especially the meals for 2 weeks thing sounds so smart! Not trying to put energy into cooking or do anything to make dishes/mess to clean up while also adjusting. Also, do you freeze witch hazel pads?

tosh24 · September 2018

So far, I have the following on my list:

- Earth Mama Organic Perineal Balm
- Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter
- Earth Mama Booby Tubes
- Nursing pads
- Peri bottle
- Tucks pads (keep these in fridge!)
- Epsom salts for the poor vajayjay (and a sitz bath if you don't have one)
- Finger cots to make skinny ice packs for the undercarriage
- Advil (you're gonna want an anti- inflammatory)
- disposible underwear (like Depends for PP bleeding)
- Preparation H for the ol' hemmies
- Colace
- Non-slip slippers (preferably the fitted kind like a shoe so you don't trip while holding baby, doing stairs, etc.)

I made padsicles with DD and DS but they were too hard and ended up just bending in the middle and pushing against the swollen lady bits. In the hospital with DS, they gave me frozen finger cots that were filled with water like a water balloon and wrapped in cold Tucks pads. SO GREAT!!! Just slip those between your butt cheeks or in your undwear for instant relief (you can't insert anything in your vag, just FYI). You could also make frozen witch hazel tampons to lay in your underwear too. Or you can buy pads and witch hazel and make padsicles if you want to try them.

+1 For the freezer meals. I made sure to stock the freezer before I had DS and it was great to not have to worry about feeding people or myself for that matter. Here's what I plan to make ahead this time:
- A few lasagnas
- Tray or two of cooked sausages
- Chili
- Beef stew
- Chicken broth
- Tomato sauce and meatballs
- Daal (high in iron - good for PP)
- big batch of cooked ground beef to make into other things (tacos, throw is spaghetti sauce, etc.)
- granola
- pancakes

I also plan to have some easy frozen things on hand for those times when DH and I are both zombies....chicken fingers, battered fish, perogies, frozen veggies, etc.

tosh24 · September 2018

Oh, and I agree with setting up a second changing station if you have a house that is more than one level. I kept the pack n play in our family room and it had the changing station and bassinet attachments which I used for changing and naps so I didn't have to walk up the stairs (stairs are not your friend, PP).

On that note, if you have a really high bed, you're going to want to get a stool from the dollar store so you can climb in and out of it. You have no idea how many ab and groin muscles you use to do daily tasks until you can't use them!

kns1988 · September 2018

@kianarain, I just kept the witch hazel pads under the bathroom sink. They always felt cold and refreshing in the container that they come in.

sweetyjenj · September 2018

Thanks @ladystout08 for starting this!! I didn't get online to start it until just now

This will be helpful

KLS123 · September 2018

*fills amazon cart while manically cleaning out the freezer*

sweetyjenj · September 2018

This is what I did last time, and what I'll do again:

-easy snacks (protein bars, fiber one bars, RXBAR's)

-few water bottles, though don't bother taking one to the hospital bc they'll have one for you (usually)

-Earth Mama Angel spray (I think that's what it's called..it's a witch hazel spray)

-tucks pads (I got a pack while in the hospital, though, so I didn't have to buy in advance. I only had a minor tear, so I had to ask for them, they didn't offer)

-at least 10 freezer meals ready to go (already cooked) and several frozen breakfast sandwiches (I did just english muffins/egg/cheese). I also want a few precooked taco meat and sloppy joe meat to just microwave and use.

-diaper changing station on each level. I had the main one in her room, then little boxes with diapers, wipes, a roll of Arm & Hammer diaper bags (these block odor!!), and a cover pad (not the mattress, but a white cover). We have a 4-level split, so I made 3 extra changing stations and they were very useful

-heavy overnight size pads. The ones I took home from the hospital are GIANT and are great for the first few days when you're still bleeding more, then I switched to the regular overnight ones when it was more like a normal period.

Things I had last time that weren't as useful:
-Nursing station with granola bars and water bottles: I used this the first week or two, because I did a lot more skin to skin nursing and it was easier to do in the glider, but mostly i nursed wherever I was and didn't go up to the nursing station.

-nipple balm: TBH, the lanolin sample containers they gave me at the hospital was more than enough to last me until my nipples healed from the initial cracking/irritation. I never even opened the nipple balm I bought. I'd recommend waiting to buy some until after the hospital if you need it, or just don't open yours until you know you need it so you can return it

-frozen "meals" to toss into the crockpot. Instead, I'll acutally COOK the meals, then freeze. Crockpot still takes mental preparation to get started in advance, and often I didn't think about dinner until like 8 or 9pm lol in the first weeks when you're up every 1-3 hours you lose track of when you "should" be eating each meal.

-frozen witch hazel pads. I didn't need anything frozen by the time I got home from the hospital

Note: my best PP bathroom routine: spray with peri bottle (from hospital), dab with TP, spray who vag area with Earth Mama spray, change pad, put one tucks pad onto the clean pad, then pull up pants.

tosh24 · September 2018

Just one FYI about nipple cream: If you are sensitive to wool, you can't use lanolin since it's the oil that comes from the skin of sheep! I learned this the hard way - I thought wool made me itchy just because it was inherently scratchy, but nope! This is why I recommend you get a non-lanolin based nipple cream. You can still keep the receipt and not open the package so you can return it if you don't use it, but I feel like it's a good thing to have on hand just in case. I used my nipple cream multiple times a day for at least the first 4-6 weeks.

ladystout08 · September 2018

@tosh24 I always used coconut oil personally b/c I wasn't worried about DS ingesting a little of it and I used it for lotion/diaper rashes anyway so I had a bunch of it.

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · September 2018

I'm sure there will be another thread on freezer meals, but I just found this out-- if you have a Hy-Vee grocery store in your area they do freezer meal prep classes. You sign up for a class, go and make like 6 meals and pay for them; they do all the shopping and clean-up. Worth looking into if you have a Hy-Vee near you or I'm sure they even do this at other grocery stores.

emmaaa · September 2018

Witch hazel, a peri bottle, sitz bath, and huge pads were the best combo for me. Freezer pads would have been just a waste in my case the first time since I was fortunate that I only had a second degree tear and like 3 stitches. I used the ice packs in the hospital but was fine without by the time I went home.

I agree with others and highly recommend have a diaper change area on both levels of the house (or if you have one story, maybe have a diaper area in two separate parts). DD's pack n play had a changing table that we used for the first 3 months or more of her life. I don't think we used the changing table upstairs before then.

I didn't have a "feeding" station prepared or anything but did always grab a bottle of water and a snack before I sat down to nurse or feed her, that way it was there. I always have water by my bedside in the MOTN so I could sip on that if needed.

If you need to use formula, I've heard several moms suggest having the formula in the bottles ready for the MOTN (or the whole day) before hand and have the water pre measured and ready to add right by you so you don't have to get up and make a whole bottle

skilouise · September 2018

I have a formula question, since several people have mentioned having formula and water pre measured: can you not just pre-mix the formula in the evening so it's ready throughout the night? If so, why not? Is formula only good for a limited time once water is added?

emmaaa · September 2018

@AshVa I don't have personal experience best I never used it but from what I've read, once mixed at room temp it is good for one hour. If you pre mix and store in the fridge I think it's good for 24 hours.

kmos816 · September 2018

@AshVA you can pre-mix water and formula and it's good in the fridge. I actually made a pitcher of it and used that- they sell pitchers just for mixing formula. I would then heat up the bottle in a bottle warmer.

molosmiles · September 2018

@AshVA Yup, what @emmaaa said. It's good for 1 he at room temp and 24 hrs in the fridge. They also sell premixed formula but it's a lot more expensive, and again, has a limited shelf life once opened. I never found making a formula bottle a hassle. Actually quite easier than breast milk, since I never warmed up the formula. I always used room temp water.

Breast milk is good for 4 hrs, I think, when pumped fresh, so I might pump a bottle at bed time for the SO to do a mid night feeding, but I'm definitely not opposed to using formula, so really whatever he prefers for feeding is what we'll do.

Jackiemxoxo · September 2018

These lists are great. I would also add a robe because if you breastfeed then your boobs are out all the time and its better than a shirt. Boppy/nursing pillow for the hospital.

MrsDho11 · September 2018

Current list

peri bottle (specifically this one, which will be going to the hospital with me and I will be using it this time instead of the one they provided. It's life-changingly better. https://a.co/d/ekpWxIq )
Tucks pads (allllll the tucks pads)
Depends (used them for at least the first couple days)
pads
lanolin
Lansinoh soothies gel pads
wrap/ring sling to baby wear from the beginning.
camis and sweat pants and clean blankets (I'm pretty sure I just pulled my tank top down for skin-to-skin time whenever we didn't have people around for the first couple weeks at least and then threw a blanket over us though this will be more difficult with a toddler around...)

I also agree freezer crockpot meals (I use these a lot anyway now, so I'm hoping that it'll be habit enough to not be difficult to remember to do

) and one-handed snacks are great to have around.

Last time I made padsicles and hated them, so I don't plan to bother this time.

MrsDho11 · September 2018

Oh oh oh! have we talked about nursing pillows anywhere? I have a large chest and at the LC's recommendation tried a my brest friend instead of the boppy I had, and it was much better.

jgil85 · September 2018

@MrsDho11 I have a boppy that is soft on one side and firm on the other and I love it! I borrowed a brest friend pillow from sil and I didn't like it as much. But the brest friend was still far better than a regular boppy.

jgil85 · September 2018

Okay so I see everyone has Tucks pads on their lists, are they just for hemorrhoids?

I never had hemorrhoids with ds so I didn't think to use them but would they help with just discomfort down there?

galactickates · September 2018

You guys have single handedly helped me spend all the $$$ on Amazon lol. Jk but i have added everything to a secret list so I can buy everything after my baby shower.

mrsmang · September 2018

@galactickates that’s exactly what I’m doing! A separate amazon list for things I wouldn’t want other people buying/seeing.

ladystout08 · September 2018

@jgil85 they're just medicated wipes so they help with everything. For me they took the sting away after I peed.

tosh24 · September 2018

@jgil85 Yes, Tucks will help with just general discomfort, swelling, and itching. I don't think studies have really demonstrated its effectiveness, but it's pretty widely used/recommended for after childbirth. I found it helpful if only for the nice cooling sensation!

MrsDho11 · September 2018

jgil85 said:

@MrsDho11 I have a boppy that is soft on one side and firm on the other and I love it! I borrowed a brest friend pillow from sil and I didn't like it as much. But the brest friend was still far better than a regular boppy.

Interesting. My issue was more needing the bigger shelf, if you will, so DD could rest on it further away from me. Because boobs.

jgil85 · September 2018

MrsDho11 said:

jgil85 said:

@MrsDho11 I have a boppy that is soft on one side and firm on the other and I love it! I borrowed a brest friend pillow from sil and I didn't like it as much. But the brest friend was still far better than a regular boppy.

Interesting. My issue was more needing the bigger shelf, if you will, so DD could rest on it further away from me. Because boobs.

#teamtinytits over here. But I will say I would still use the boppy when ds was 9 months old and hold him on the pillow while he napped.

MrsDho11 · September 2018

jgil85 said:

MrsDho11 said:

jgil85 said:

@MrsDho11 I have a boppy that is soft on one side and firm on the other and I love it! I borrowed a brest friend pillow from sil and I didn't like it as much. But the brest friend was still far better than a regular boppy.

Interesting. My issue was more needing the bigger shelf, if you will, so DD could rest on it further away from me. Because boobs.

#teamtinytits over here. But I will say I would still use the boppy when ds was 9 months old and hold him on the pillow while he napped.

I sent the boppy home with my parents and used it when I visited them so that I didn’t have to remember to bring a nursing pillow with me. It was definitely better than nothing. But i was just mentioning it to #teambigtits as a possibly better choice, since I never considered anything other than the boppy before DD!

jgil85 · September 2018

I do know that my sil who is very well endowed loved the brest friend pillow because it gave her a ledge that fit her breasts and the baby.

ChasingTheDog · September 2018

MrsDho11 said:

Oh oh oh! have we talked about nursing pillows anywhere? I have a large chest and at the LC's recommendation tried a my brest friend instead of the boppy I had, and it was much better.

Team giant boobies here: my Breast friend (such a stupid name) was way better. Because most of us large boobied ladies have to use both hands when bfing in the beginning, you really need a firm surface to basically set the baby on it.

rooonilwaazlib · December 2018

Bumping with a laugh

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MrsDho11 · December 2018

@rooonilwaazlib accurate

oaklandava · December 2018

I did not make freezer meals before DS came, which I slightly regret but so many people brought food because we were near family that it wasn't a huge issue. Now that we're not, we probably should stock up on some things. I had really bad PPD last time, and am already on meds this time around so it is hopefully not an issue. We have a 2 level house now, so I definitely planned on having diapers/wipes/etc. downstairs and upstairs so I don't have to walk up the stairs during the day if avoidable.

frauliv · December 2018

Are the Depends because it’s just so much blood a pad can’t handle it?

libertymomrn · December 2018

frauliv said:

Are the Depends because it’s just so much blood a pad can’t handle it?

(Got stuck in the quote box; sorry!) That, and. because pads didn’t stay in place as well with my daily changing postpartum body, and a pad put more pressure on my perinuem more than an adult diaper did. I felt like an adult diaper provided plenty of protection, including preventing overnight leaks, and I was able to position it so the elastic sides sealed off around my legs, but have the actual pad part not touching my sore bits, but still absorbing and catching the blood and tissue coming out.

frauliv · December 2018

That never even occurred to me. Thanks!

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