I was shocked at how hard recovery after birth was- and I had a relatively easy birth – medication free, intervention free (except for a vacuum to help get Posey out at the every end), and only a 2nd degree tear. The day after Posey was born I felt like I had been in a car accident. It was hard to walk, and every muscle in my body was sore! Luckily it only lasted for a couple of days, and by 4 weeks I felt pretty much back to normal. Here are some things that I would recommend having for postpartum!
NATURAL MINDED
When Posey’s tummy was upset, I would roll the belly roller around her belly button and massage in a clockwise motion to help with gas. It definitely saved us a few times. I used 1-2 drops of DiGize, and filled the rest with carrier oil- but any digestive support blend works!
My mama roller recipe is my perfume and I wear it everyday to support my emotions and to smell good! It’s so important to try and take care of ourselves during this crazy time and smelling some of your favorite essential oils can help!
Mama roller recipe:
- 10 drops Stress Away (Young Living blend of: Copaiba, Lime, Cedarwood, Vanilla, Ocotea and Lavender)
- 5 drops neroli
- 3 drops rose
Honest Company Diapers
I couldn’t convince my husband to get on board with cloth diapering, so we compromised since I didn’t want to use diapers with chemicals and fragrances. I know all babies are different and it may take some trial and error to find a diaper that works, but so far we love honest company! Plus they have a monthly subscription for their diapers and wipes that get delivered to you so you don’t even have to think about it.
We bought two of these and have one in our room and one in the nursery. They are the perfect night light for late night feedings, diaper changes, or just general not sleeping-ness. I miss them so much when we travel that I’m thinking I need to buy a portable one to bring with us!
GENERAL LIFE HELP
Freezer Meals
My husband and I spent one weekend about a month before I was due, stocking our freezer with meals. We are SO glad we did this. The meals are large enough that we would make them for dinner and be able to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day. These are the two websites we got most of our recipes from.
I made a huge grocery list for all of the recipes we chose, and we went shopping on Saturday, then prepped all day Sunday. It was a full weekend project to make almost 40 meals, but you could definitely do less in a shorter time. Even having just 10 on hand will be so helpful!
When Posey was about 4 weeks old, I realized my phone’s camera roll would never look the same. SO. MANY. PICTURES. And I hate that pictures never leave your phone, but am way too lazy to make photo books on my own. Chat books saves! You can upload pictures automatically from Instagram or Facebook and once you fill up a book it automatically sends you a book of them. You can also make your own books rather than having them sent automatically.
If you have an older kid, Kiwi Crate is amazing for keeping them entertained while you hold your new little one. You just choose your child’s age and they send a box that focuses on science, technology, engineering, math, and/or art. My 7 year old stepson has loved the two he’s received so far, and it makes him feel special when we work on something together or when he can show me what he made.
DOWN UNDER 😉
For the first week or two you will be wearing diaper like pads, or possibly just diapers? Some women prefer disposable depends over pads. Once you graduate from those, the Thinx underwear are a lifesaver! It might seem weird at first, but I promise it doesn’t feel gross and makes life a little easier without having to change out pads every bathroom visit.
Speaking of going to the bathroom, this spray was a life saver for helping to heal down there. I would spray it down there every bathroom trip and went through an entire bottle in doing so. I also sprayed it the couple weeks before she was due, which is said to help prepare the area so that you are less likely to tear, I don’t know if it helped, but figured it wouldn’t hurt! If you aren’t a Young Living member, or want to DIY your own version, here are the ingredients: Coconut Oil, Myrrh Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, Frankincense Oil, Roman Chamomile Oil, and Helichrysum Oil
BREASTFEEDING
Breastfeeding is HARD! It’s exhausting, messy, and it hurts in the beginning. These pads are amazing and are so needed when your nipples are hurting and you can’t stand the thought of them touching anything ie: a shirt or bra. They are reusable and I used one set continuously for about 5 days. I ended up using these more than a nipple cream.
Motherhood Maternity Bras
Speaking of breastfeeding, say goodbye to all of your non nursing bras. I found 2 bras that I really love and wear daily, though they don’t provide great support- they are perfect for wearing around the house and sleeping. This one is my go to for everyday, it’s super comfortable and not too tight around the band which I found so many were. And this one for sleeping and occasional daytime use. Again, it’s comfortable because the band isn’t too tight.
If you aren’t breastfeeding or if you don’t leak, you may not need these. I bought them in advance just in case, and I’m happy with them. I mostly wear them when I’m not at home just in case I leak, which doesn’t happen often. I’m not sure how well they would do if you leaked heavily or often, but for occasional leaks I like them!
Once I felt fully like myself again, around 6 weeks postpartum, I realized that I would need some new, nursing friendly, clothes. But shopping with a newborn is not very fun, so Stitch Fix rescued me! You fill out a questionnaire about your size and style, then tell them things that you are looking for, and they send you 5 items in a box! You don’t have to keep any if them if you don’t like them. Each box has a $20 styling fee that is refunded if you do decide to keep anything- the link above waives your first styling fee though if you want to try it out.
Please share any other questions or tips you have in the comments!
Just FYI some of these links will give me a referral bonus (yay! more of the things I love! Thank you!), and some are just things that you really need to know about, and I get no referral credit 🙂
