18 Best Postpartum Must Haves For Your Postpartum Care Kit

The Best Postpartum Must Haves For Healing And Recovery

A lot of preparation is being done in anticipation of your baby’s arrival. You are getting the nursery ready, making sure your baby has all the essential items they will need to thrive once they arrive, and your hospital bag is all ready to go. But are you remembering to prepare your postpartum care kit? This important post-delivery care kit will contain all the necessities to help you heal. These items will be so significant to your recovery that they will be considered your postpartum must haves.

Postpartum is a time to slow down and focus on nurturing your newborn all while you are recovering from the happenings of childbirth. No matter how you gave birth, vaginally or via cesarean section, there are certain items that you must have at home to help you bounce back physically. Bouncing back mentally on the hand is a little bit more complicated.

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18 Postpartum Must Haves For Your Postpartum Care Kit

1) Maternity/Maxi pads: Maternal or maxi pads are the number postpartum must have. Bleeding is normal after giving birth to your baby. Although, you’ll experience the heaviest bleeding in the first few days post-delivery, you can bleed up to six weeks. Using an oversized pad will help absorb the bleeding that is usually heavier than your regular period. The hospital will provide you with oversized pads to go home with, but you should also have extras in your postpartum care kit for when you run out. These pads are thicker and provide more protection from leaking.

2) Peri bottle: Also known as perineum bottle is a squirt bottle that smoothly directs warm water to your perineum and adjacent parts after you pee. Using a peri bottle helps with the soreness and stinging that occurs after giving birth. The hospital provides you with one, but you can also purchase a more efficient one like the Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle for your postpartum care kit.

Get the Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle.

3) Dermoplast spray: Most women experience tearing during delivery, dermoplast is a numbing spray that will help numb and relieve the pain from the tears. You’ll most likely be using this during the first couple of weeks post-childbirth.

4) Stool softeners: Difficulty pooping is a common problem after giving birth. And because everything is tender down there it can make you really nervous about moving your bowels. Taking a stool softener gives you more confidence and makes moving your bowels much easier.

5) Mesh underwear: Wearing mesh underwear is helpful after giving birth because it takes the headache out of using and ruining your own underwear. Mesh underwears are lightweight, breathable, and disposable, and support the oversized pad you’ll be wearing for a while.

6) Tucks pads: Tucks are medicated cooling pads that are useful for treating soreness and itchiness by giving a cooling feeling to the vaginal area especially if you have a tear or episiotomy. You’ll need a couple of these on top of your maternity or large maxi pad.

Get Tucks Pads.

7) Padsicles: If you’re a DIY type of person then homemade padsicles might be your thing. They are soaked pads that are frozen and then used after vaginal birth to ease soreness and reduce swelling, and discomfort in the vaginal area. You can use padsicles even if you don’t tear during delivery. You can also buy them if you don’t have the energy to make your own.

8) Nipple cream: If it has been a few years since you nursed a baby or if you’re nursing for the very first time, you’ll most likely have to deal with sore, dry, and cracked nipples in the first few months of breastfeeding when your baby is practically attached to your breast. Using a nipple cream helps to keep your nipples moist, soothe the soreness, and heal your cracked nipples.

Get Nipple Cream.

9) Nursing bra: If your breasts are on the bigger side, a nursing bra provides good support and makes breastfeeding much more convenient as a nursing bra readily uncovers your nipples to nurse your infant.

10) Nursing pads: Also known as breast pads, protects your tender and sore nipples from rubbing against your nursing bra and absorbs leaking breast milk.

11) Belly wrap: Belly binding can be an important part of your recovery after childbirth as there are many benefits to this practice. It helps to relieve pain, supports your loose muscles which were necessary for birthing your baby, pulls your separated abdominal muscles back together, and helps to support your pelvic floor muscles as your body recovers.

12) Sitz bath: Whether you had a tear or episiotomy, your perineal and neighboring areas will be sore, swollen, and sting when you pee. Soaking in a sitz bath, (a basin that sits over the toilet) will help provide relief and alleviate some of the swelling and discomfort.

13) Comfortable clothing: You are going to be bleeding and sore from giving birth and exhausted from breastfeeding your newborn, wearing comfortable clothing makes getting through those experiences a little more comfortable.

14) Ice pack: Use ice packs as needed to help bring the swelling down.

15) Pain Reliever: You will be in pain post-delivery. But don’t worry, your medical providers will start a light pain reliever regimen while you’re in the hospital and will advise you to continue at home as needed.

16) Water bottle: Always have your water within reach as you’ll be drinking lots of water.

17) Freezer meals: Freezer meals will be your go-to in the first few weeks after childbirth. Be sure to stock up your fridge before going into labor.

18) Snacks: I am sure you find the freezer meals that you stocked up in your freezer very useful! But you’ll need healthy snacks on hand to replenish your energy especially if you’re feeling hungry while nursing your precious newborn baby.

Childbirth is without a doubt painful, but recovery can be straightforward with the right tools including these postpartum must haves.