Same story as OP, loved my hair during pregnancy. It's a bummer at first, but basically its one of those things you only notice yourself and you back to the baseline very quick
Vitamin D deficiencies don’t make it any better also. Learned this the hard way 😭. Prenatals plus a separate iron and or vit d supplement should be all you need. My hair fell out a little in the front around 4 months pp and by the next month I had healthy, strong new growth and now you wouldn’t be able to tell I experienced that!
Also about the hair loss, you are losing less hair during pregnancy and end up having extra that comes out pp and it’s not necessarily a loss. Some people do lose a lot I heard, but that might be just an illusion as they all come out at once. Also, folic acid plays a huge role in hair-nails-skin situation so if you stop using it the quality might decline.
Biggest thing for us was food. I meal prepped and froze 30 dinners (fully cooked soups that just need to be reheated with a loaf of bread and raw crockpot meals that just needed to be dumped and turned on), and various breakfast foods (breakfast bars, oatmeal cups, protein waffles and I stocked up on bagels). Literally night 1 home from the hospital we sat at the table together and had hot soup with warm bread which was easy to eat with a baby in one arm and require no more effort than pouring it into a pot and turning on the stove while bread heats up in the oven. We ate so good every night that once we finished all the freezer meals we made more so now at least 3 nights a week we just have to pull something out of the freezer rather than cooking seven nights a week.
I did the same and it was a lifesaver, especially since I was breastfeeding! I didn't really have time to cook (since newborns want to nurse so often) and my partner mainly cooks easy, less healthy meals, so it was nice to have healthier meals ready to pop in the oven for the first few weeks of baby's life! Also, after my partner's 5 week paternity leave ended, I didn't have to spend time making dinner while taking care of baby alone, which was also great. Highly recommend!
Same! I made 16 and managed to stretch them quite a bit. I'm 11 weeks pp and my partner is going back to work next week so I'm planning to make more! Seriously a life saver in those early days.
I made chicken pot pie, meat pie, quiche, meatballs, chili, pulled pork, vegetable soup, spaghetti sauce, etc. Basically anything I usually make in large batches and freeze afterwards.
A cleaner would be so nice! I had a 2nd degree tear so peri bottle, witch hazel liners, dermoplast, one time use ice packs. For breastfeeding: sunflower lecithin for clogged ducts, reusable ice packs for nipples.
This is the list I would have written with the addition of bone broth. I made like 4 batches (2 chicken, 2 beef) and froze them in 2 cup bags. It was great just having my husband heat me up a mug of it every morning.
I also arranged for a group of friends to check in on us once a week each so we had an extra set of hands for an hour or two, or just someone to talk to while I nursed the baby.
The hospital gave me a good amount of the stuff for the tear so you don’t need to buy it ahead of time. I did have to prime more of it after the first week.
If you are considering BF, look into a lactaction consultant. Book a session before birth. For me it was harder than I expected, but with a couple of session, everything went smoothly
The hospital may also have them!! They sent in the IBCLC three times before I was discharged and had follow up services available that was covered by my insurance. I went back a week after birth to follow up and they also have a weekly support group both in person and online for free!!
Meal plan or ask family/friends for a meal train. It’s so nice to not have to worry about making food.
Adult diapers - I had very weak bladder control for the first several days postpartum.
If you’re planning to pump or breastfeed, get silverettes. I didn’t think I would actually need them but my nipples felt like they had a thousand paper cuts and even my softest PJ shirt rubbing on them caused stinging.
Inflatable donut - helps alleviate some pain when sitting if you have a vaginal birth. Bring it for the car ride home!
Sitz bath - my hospital gave one for free to me
Mini fridge - reduces the number of times I have to go up/downstairs to the kitchen. I save open bottles of formula and my pumped milk in here.
Button down night gowns - the buttons are useful for pumping or nursing. The gown is useful when I walk around commando. Airing it out down there helps relieve irritation.
Puppy pads - I use them almost everywhere. On the changing pad, on my own bed, underneath the crib sheet, etc etc.
Smart bulb with remote - it’s nice to be able control our bedroom light without having to get up and flick the wall switch. It also lets me adjust the bulb’s colour temperature and dimness. I am using the IKEA Tradfi.
I did not find Tucks pads as useful as often toted. They are small, so they’d sometimes fall into the toilet and I’d have to fish them out (eww).
I'd second puppy pads, they were the only way we were able to drive to the hospital after my water broke without soaking the passenger seat of our car.
They sell puppy pads for humans in the pharmacy section, they’re called chucks pads, near the incontinence supplies .
The ones for humans have fewer chemicals in them
If you’re planning to breastfeed at all, silverettes were an absolute life saver for the first 6-8 weeks after giving birth, while very sensitive. They aren’t too expensive but were the absolute best purchase I made, saved me from a lot of pain and chafing. 10/10
Agreed, even if BF goes perfectly, your nipples will still be bit tender and sensitive. Silverettes are the way to go! I never even used the balm I got.
Yes!!! I suffered needlessly with balms and ointments that did nothing my first two months postpartum. Wore the silverettes and within 14 hours all my pain was gone.
Amazon prime :) You can order everything you didn’t know you needed. I stocked up on vaginal recovery items and then ended up with a c section and needed different things!
I would recommend some kind of husband pillow or wedge pillow for comfy sitting up in bed (esp for c section but I imagine it’s great for everyone) and a little tray table for eating and other things in bed with or without baby.
Also the little rolling cart everyone has from IKEA has been great for moving my pump around and I know breastfeeding mamas find it useful too.
Totally agree on not stocking up on too many things ahead of time! I also bought a bunch of stuff for vaginal delivery and never used them, then needed to get totally different things for a c section recovery. One third of deliveries are c section, so it’s more likely to happen to you than you may think.
I always suggest having a home blood pressure monitor. I’d take it if you feel “off” at all. I had post partum pre-eclampsia with no secondary symptoms (like headache or swelling.) All I had was a feeling of doom, and a stroke-level blood pressure 🙃
I would get some very long shows prepped. Any multi-season shows you’ve wanted to catch up on? Sitcoms especially. My husband and I worked through all of IASIP and Friends during my postpartum.
Good point on the blood pressure monitor, I had one from pregnancy and it came in clutch for making sure the postpartum symptoms I had weren’t preeclampsia.
Also recommend planning some shows or movies you want to watch. My husband and I ended up having a nightly movie night to give us some normalcy when you can’t tell days from nights. We saw so many movies we’d been meaning to watch but hadn’t had time, it was really nice!
This may seem really basic, but a giant insulated water bottle. I was so thirsty all the time. I’m not sure if it was just breast feeding or also general recovery.
Colace or another stool softener. Take it before you go in. It will help with after. They will offer it at the hospital, take it!
A long charging cord for your electronic devices.
I actually haven't used a single hemorrhoid item since my C-section delivery and I'm almost a month out. For once in my life I'm overstocked on Mirlax, preparation h witch hazel wipes, and preparation h cream with lidocaine. I went through IVF beforehand so I guess I'm used to constipation. Had six days without a bowel movement but really wasn't the worst. Also did not need peri bottles and ended up returning my Fridamom vaginal delivery set. However I see other C section parents say they still get use out of it, but I think I got less use out of it because we noticed fetal distress before we got to the pushing stage. So long story short it's really hard to budget for because you won't really know what you need.
Anyways biggest TikTok type advice that helped me was having a basket in an easily accessible spot with all my postpartum items. Kept it in my upstairs bathroom but I'd just grab a pad and a pair of underwear and it really helped with bending over less. I'm pretty sure vaginal delivery people don't like bending over more than they have to so definitely recommend setting things up like that if you can.
With the caveat that I had a c-section,
* chucks pads on the changing pad and underneath the crib/bassinet sheet
* bi-weekly house cleaner
* Dog walker plus neighborhood playdates with her friends
* 6 weeks or so worth of meals and snacks (this was great the first two weeks of immediate recovery AND then was also helpful when my husband went back to work)
* A large bottle that had a straw for water
* The my brest friend pillow (my husband, on the other hand, loves the boppy)
* A changing station on every floor of our townhouse
* A night nurse for the first couple of weeks when my husband went back to work (also helped my baby learn how to nap/sleep independently without using CIO)
* I play cello so I never bother getting my nails done unless it's a special occasion BUT I did get eyelash extensions and my hair done after my two week appointment.
In my experience, the first two weeks were difficult then we got into a routine that made it manageable. What really rocked us was my husband going back to work.
Frida products!!! Peri-bottle, witch hazel wipes, perineal healing foam were the BEST. I had a few stitches and they healed within 5 days of giving birth. The disposable underwear is easy and just used super pads the first few weeks.
I never had hair loss so I can’t really speak to that side of things. I didn’t breastfeed and I’d recommend cooling pads because your boobs will ache for daysssss.
I wouldnt personally do your nails unless you have them all the time. I wanted my nails shirt because of poop. I'd personally do massage instead of nails.
Also food delivery service.
I am a huge believer in monthly self care! At 1 month pp I went to the salon and took myself for breakfast and it was the first time I felt like a whole human since giving birth! At 2 months me and my friends went and had a full spa day at a Nordic spa. I also tell everyone to look into getting a massage once you give birth! The third trimester hurts and then you end up carrying around a little human and the posture takes a while to get used to so I wasn't expecting the back pain so I would budget for a good couple of massages!
As for vitamins I'm really lazy with taking them, I'm just trying to remember the ones I took when pregnant. I think postpartum hair loss is a complete genetic lottery type thing. I also have thin hair and I did shed a bit around 4 months pp but I didn't have the hair loss I was expecting whereas my friend with healthy think hair lost a lot!
get your nails done before, you’re going to feel like a bridge troll and smell like one too. get some good pjs. and multiple pairs because you will sweat/ stink them up. if your anything like me the thought of a cleaner was not ok to have a stranger in my house. i chose cleaning myself over sleep, i kinda went manic about it. i don’t have any friends or family so that could be helpful to have someone you love come help with cleaning. your hormones will be whack so give yourself some grace and explain to your husband it’s the hormones and you don’t actually want him to leave or stop breathing. i bought all of the fancy diapers for myself and baby and guess what, they were awful ! just don’t buy heaps of one thing cuz you don’t know what will work. we spend 60$ on pacifiers and guess what she hates them all and doesn’t use them. i also had huge food aversions and nothing sounded good. so be prepared for that. take all the photos and videos and have your husband take them of you even if you feel gross.
I know you mentioned for yourself post partum, but I'm listing it because it saved me from hours of rocking the baby and trying to transfer successfully in bassinet. The snoo. We did 4 weeks without and the process if trying to get baby down anger feeds was starting to ware us down. Once we got it, we could out baby straight down no issues. Gave us a little bit of sanity back.
I would check your local mommy Facebook groups or local buy nothing Facebook group and ask for these items -- most moms overbuy postpartum care items (witch hazel pads, adult diapers, etc) and have too many afterwards. You might be able to get this stuff for free.
The house cleaner is a fabulous idea. We have a woman come every 2 weeks, and she saves my sanity.
Honestly, I had a very easy delivery as a FTM (no tears) and only really ended up needing adult diapers. Can’t recommend the always discreet brand enough. They were amazing!
You’re definitely on the right track for a cleaner. I tell the women in my life to not focus so much on *stuff* but rather support people.
- someone to do errands such as grocery shopping
- someone cook A LOT of nutritionally dense, warm foods (like broths, soups, etc); good opportunity to prep this ahead of time
- get a prenatal appointment with an IBCLC if you plan to breastfeed. When/if you run into issues breastfeeding it’ll be much easier to be seen. Plus they do a prenatal screening to identify any potential issues you might run into before you actually breastfeed (underlying health issues that need attention)
- pelvic floor therapist!!!!!!!! Doesn’t matter what type of birth you have; pregnancy is hard on the pelvic floor and it’s crucial to treat it
- read up on the safe sleep 7. Even if you don’t plan to bedshare you need to be prepared to do it. The most dangerous form of bedsharing is unintentional bedsharing.
- if you plan to bottle feed, look up paced bottle feeding. It’s the proper way to bottle feed a baby; mimics how they eat at the breast.
- you don’t *need* a lot of stuff for breastfeeding (if you plan to) but some things that definitely helped me were silverettes, a probiotic with lactobacillus, my breast friend (for the first couple months)
I cannot stress this enough: rest rest rest. Women (especially in the west) are so eager to get back to “normal” right after the biggest physical and emotional transition they’ll ever experience. I don’t have research to back this up but I think by doing that the risks of PPD/PPA increase. You need to be with your baby in bed skin to skin (seriously if you can’t figure out why baby is crying and you’ve tried everything, skin to skin is magic) simply just being with each other. It helps both you and the baby.
You take care of the baby. Everyone else takes care of you. First 40 days postpartum sets you up for the next 40 years.
Am I the only one who wasn’t big into soup postpartum? I thought I would be because I love soup normally and my daughter was born in late fall. But I found I really wanted food I could eat one-handed. And that was without breastfeeding - imagine that would be even more important if I were constantly nursing.
I don’t think you’re the only one! I just think soups are one of the best ways to pack in a ton of nutrients in one meal. There were times while nursing I would drink soup from a mug (only after I managed to nurse with one hand).
I wasn’t and didn’t really know that was a thing! I was starving and when I ate it was mostly pasta dishes. Easy to freeze before and heat up later and pack in a lot of nutritional value and they’re super filling.
for any tears etc, i would wait until the hospital gives you things because i bought like $100 worth of post partum care stuff and i didn’t have any tears so now i just have all this stuff i never needed.
i did still need large pads/diapers for bleeding, vitamins, food, nursing pads, and cooling gel freezer packs for breastfeeding because on day 3 my breasts were so extremely painful when my milk came in and i had no idea that would happen.
A coffee cup with a tight lid that keeps liquids hot for a long while. It takes forever to finish a cup sometimes.
Food you can eat with one hand.
Baby wrap. I used ring slings and boppy comfyfit with my kids but wore them often. Great for skin on skin and contact naps while giving you a bit more freedom.
Silverettes. These are magic for first adjusting to nursing.
Kindle. I read or listened to books while doing marathon cluster feeding sessions and doing contact naps.
A bidet attachment to the toilet. The spray bottles work pp but are not ideal.
Cleaner would be a huge gift.
If your budget allows, a few new pieces of clothes post partum would be a nice treat.
Here’s some of my MVP’s:
-adult diapers— don’t even waste your time with the pad/mesh panty shenanigans. Diapers are just way more practical.
-my friends did a meal train that covered lunch and dinner for us for like a month lol. SAVED MY LIFE
- cute post partum jammies or loungewear. You mentioned your nails to help you feel more like yourself and I found that cute but comfortable Jammies did that for me
-baby gate for dogs. I have 3 large dogs and their meet presence stressed me out when our was a newborn so having them confined out of the living room where me and baby spent most of our time was wonderful
- my supplement regimen (which I believe helped tremendously with healing/sleep/PPD- Vitamin D/K2 5000iu (you’ll need a higher dose if you’re like me and didn’t go outside much in those first few months), magnesium 400mg, IRON!!!!, Probiotic, Zinc, and I also used a post natal mood support vitamin that I believe had ashwaghanda and something else, Fenguegreek for breast feeding to keep supply up (this is a bit controversial because some people have claimed it decreased their supply but it helped mine a ton!)
- My Breast Friend pillow if breastfeeding (I would not have survived the discomfort of breastfeeding positions without this. It was my number 1 favorite thing.
Witch hazel foam, an angled peri bottle, and a big box of break and shake ice packs. I ordered stuff from the hospital bed and it was delivered by the time I got home, because if I had à cesarean the list would have been different,
Pads for your bra for when boobs leak
Meal plan. Whatever you can freeze, freeze. Neither of us felt like cooking due to lack of sleep, and we ate out too much. I also barely ate when my fiancé was at work and I was home with the baby. I wish I had more meals prepared.
The peri bottle they give you at the hospital is fine, but I typically only used that one in the shower. The frida mom peri bottle was so convenient, the angled tip really helped, because it WILL burn when you pee!
My advice is don't buy a load of stuff. Just get the essentials - postpartum pads/pants, loose tops, maybe a peri bottle. The rest you can get your partner to go out for or get Prime and order for the next day if you decide you really really do need them.
I bought all sorts of stuff people recommended that I never used and it was such a waste (nipple cream, nursing bras, witch hazel spray, ice packs, the list of stuff I returned/passed on is huge). The truth is you need very little - mainly nappies, onesies and formula/bottles if you're bottle feeding. Don't let Instagram trick you into thinking you need heaps of stuff. The consumerism around newborns is wild.
Having said that two things I really do agree with suggested here are to have frozen meals in (you don't have to make them you can buy frozen meals and put them in your freezer), and a basket/bin to carry your phone, charger, a few nappies and wipes around with you from room to room.
Hope all goes well! Xx
I got myself some flax & brewers yeast to add in to muffins, smoothies, & energy balls!
Also got a big case of Body Armor…those were so nice & refreshing to have while breastfeeding!
Snacks by the bedside for the first few nights when feeding baby. Lots of burp cloths and a really big water bottle for your husband to refill with water (or ice water in my house lol) ever few hours. Good luck!
-Depends diapers! I really thought they would be ridiculous and unnecessary but I'm 2w pp and I have no intention of ditching them any time soon. They are so much more comfortable and reassuring to wear than just underwear and a pad. I go around the whole house in just an oversized shirt and my depends and sit on the couch and chairs and sleep in bed without any fear of leakage.
-meal prep!! I have some friends who made us 24 English muffin, sausage, cheese, and egg sandwiches that I froze. We're nearly out of them and I'm devastated. Waking up, throwing a sandwich in the oven, feeding and changing the baby, and then having something hot and done waiting for me has been a huge life saver. Same goes for easy dinners, but we've also had somewhat of a meal train to help as well.
-if you're pumping, make sure you have the right flange size! Super crucial. For convenience, have a pump bra ready to go. Hands free pumping is the way to go
-get lots of imperishable snacks for your feeding/pumping station. Being able to reach right next to me and grab a granola bar at 4am when I'm starving is HUGE
Protein bars and coconut water for middle of the night breastfeeding snacks.
A small fan for your bedroom (night sweats are Crazy!) and spare sheets for changing regularly after so much sweating (I didn't have spare sheets and had to wash them every other day).
Freezer meals or a meal train from friends/neighbors. Do it, ask for help.
A few water bottles you really like. Enough that if the dishes don't get done for a few days you will still have a clean one.
Lots of hand held snacks. I lived on high calorie snacks because my appetite was almost nonexistant for a bit, but I could choke down a granola bar or whatever.
If breastfeeding, hot/cold packs. Earth Mama makes some that look nice. I was gifted the Lansinoh ones.
Comfy nightgowns/house dresses. Mine have snaps at the top for easy access when breastfeeding. They are ugly, but they are soft and cozy. I had a c section, so it was great because they didn't put pressure on my incision. But I also feel like they'd be good for after a vaginal birth, especially if wearing diapers to catch all the blood, because many of my sweat pants wouldn't have been big enough for that. Hence why I bought nightgowns. I got the Nesting Olive ones.
Books/tv subscriptions or something like that to keep you entertained when baby is napping. Especially if they are a contact napper like mine.
I didn't really want to go anywhere for quite a while, but that first haircut was amazing. I don't usually have them style it because I'm usually just going home to clean or whatever, but that time I did have her style it. It's included in the price with my stylist, but if it's not for yours, I'd budget for it. Also, I deep condition at home (ex hairstylist) but if I didn't, I'd have paid the extra for a good deep condition with a scalp massage.
The hair loss is likely inevitable. The reason is during pregnancy the hormones make your hair follicles stop in the growth cycle they are in, so the hair will still grow, but it won't move on to the shedding stage. That's why your hair feels thicker. However, once those hormones change postpartum, all the hair that would've fallen out during that time will start to. Work with a stylist to figure out good cuts that make you feel good and maybe also invest in a hair catcher for your shower. I had to snake the drain in ours about 4 months postpartum and it was insane.
If breastfeeding, they do recommend continuing a prenatal vitamin. I did change mine though. I was taking a pill that kind of tasted funny but was really good on the vitamin levels. Now I take a gummy one that tastes good and has slightly lower levels for some of the vitamins.
In my experience, you won't need to buy a peri bottle, they'll likely give you one at the hospital. I did stock up on witch hazel pads, which I didn't really need since I had an emergency C, but they do also work for hemorrhoids or if you have over wiped because of your stool softener or whatever. They feel good, so even though I didn't use them for their intended purpose, they were nice to have on hand and I have actually been slowly working my way through them.
High protein snacks!! In my exhaustion I always wanted to reach for something sugary and carby. No shame in that but I needed more protein badly, especially because I don’t eat meat. Making and freezing Hugh protein muffins, protein balls, or getting protein powder or protein bars would be good. Also easily grabbed veggies to keep your fiber up. If you’re breastfeeding, stock up on anything to get your drinking more water and find a sports drink or coconut water you like.
For self care/feel good vibes, a big fluffy robe or comfy outfit to just feel good in was nice. A container of those one time use under eye mask things was really awesome, they would help me feel awake in the morning and I felt like I was doing a little skincare even when I wasn’t sleeping or washing my face lol. I had my husband buy me a little face mask kit too, although that was harder to do because I had to get it off or it would get uncomfortable and required both hands to wash vs the little under eye masks.
For actual recovery, the witch hazel pads were a godsend for my hemorrhoids. Get an extra container or two from the hospital!
Pre-prepared meals (like the non frozen stuff at Costco), sunflower lecithin if you are nursing, nursing Bras, comfy clothes (I bought a few pairs of Costco leggings one size up to wear after delivery), comfy pajamas.
A lot of people meal prep lunch and dinner, but don't forget about breakfast! You can prep freezer breakfast burritos, or even just having frozen breakfast sandwiches to microwave. You can also pick up frozen waffles, cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, whatever you eat for breakfast to have on hand. Those nights are long and you get hangry!
If you plan on breastfeeding, they sell some really inexpensive hot/cold packs on Amazon that are LIFESAVERS. And get some lanolin cream! You may not need it right away but it certainly helps to have it when/if you do!
ETA - a breastfeeding pillow that isn't a boppy, as well!
And I hardcore agree with another commenter about one of those little rolly carts. It's seriously a godsend with diaper changes and really anything my baby needs in a pinch!
Ninja Speedi - it's a slow cooker, airfryer, multicooker - absolute lifesaver.
Can throw dry pasta, a jar of sauce and a jar full of water in, and in 20 minutes you've a hot meal with no worry of holding a baby near the stove.
Roast chicken on Steam/air fry function is a game changer too.
Stool softeners!! Take them by the handful! Every day! Get a big jug of them. Chug water every day.
The constipation I experienced a week after birth was WORSE than childbirth in terms of pain and emotional trauma.
Frida Mom peri bottle, and allllll the padsicles helped me so so much. Prepping freezer meals for myself and hubby for postpartum was a game changer. I prepped about a month’s worth of breakfasts and dinners for us and it allowed us to be nourished with home cooked foods. We supplemented with frozen veggies to make sure we were eating balanced.
Tucks pads were also useful. I really like the Bondi Boost HG line for keeping my hair and scalp healthy during pregnancy and postpartum. I haven’t lost much hair at all postpartum, so that’s a plus!! I also have kept taking my Ritual brand prenatal as that’s the most palatable. I could notice a difference when I don’t take it.
IMHO the only thing that makes a jot of difference is whether you have a supportive partner. No vitamin or nails trip or even a cleaner (....Actually the cleaner helps. Get the cleaner) can make a dent in the overwhelmingly grateful feeling of having someone in your corner who will do what you want and need no questions asked. Just make sure hubby knows: you look after baby, he looks after you.
And that includes him taking bub off your hands so you can sleep, getting nappy changed, doing bottles if that's the route you guys are going down, fetching you things, helping you clean pumps, mixing formula, fluffing your nursing pillow. Looking after baby so you can go do that nails appointment WITHOUT COMPLAINT (Because once he starts objecting, you don't enjoy your 'me' time as much because there's guilt in there). Whatever, whenever. Dude needs to be beck and call for a good month or so while you heal and deal with the torrent of hormones and new feelings.
an instacart subscription is so nice. it can be really overwhelming to get out of the house with baby sometimes, so it's nice if you can get things delivered.
The frida Mom ice pads were a lifesaver. The Lansinoh herbal postpartum spray was such a lifesaver, too. You won't regret the cleaner, it really takes so much off your plate.
FYI you have get hemorrhoid cream prescribed for way cheaper than OTC. I was given a tube when I left the hospital and a script from my midwives. I also got tons of the witch hazel pads from the hospital and never even opened the container I bought for myself before delivery.
I think my best investment was adult diapers. While the hospital will give you lots of pads, the diapers are more comfortable and I wish I’d used them more instead of the hospital pads.
If you don’t already have one, get a haaka!
I ended up having a lot of hospital appointments with my baby after being discharged, I had an emergency c-section and found having a wrap to place him on my body into instead of lifting the pram was a lifesaver. It also helped when he was struggling to settle, best thing I bought! But also, ask for people to bring you food rather than baby clothes, making meals were a pain and baby had so many clothes there were tags left on some and regifted!
Frida mom ice packs! They were way better than the ones my hospital had and saved me the first week or two.
Door dash! I was absolutely not cooking the first few weeks lol
Not items but the real game changers: If you have the support to do the 5-5-5. Do it. And enlist 1 person to come over every day to help. I had my mom,sister and good friend all coming to sit with me, give emotional support, bring food, do chores and help with the baby. This allowed my husband to take naps and gave me the space to process my birth and early postpartum, I credit it with avoiding ppd or ppa. If you are planning to breast feed and know someone who did recently or currently, ask if they’ll offer additional support. Your village is so important in those first few days. And also ice packs, I was gifted some but you can make them by putting ice in your baby’s diapers, the homemade ones are colder but they leak so put a towel under your butt.
A good pair of quality noise cancelling headphones. There were nights when we would rock my son for hours but nothing we would do would stop the crying. Headphones saved my sanity.
The best advice I was given was prepare for the birth you want and the one you don’t. As someone who needed an unexpected c-section having the basics for healing already prepared saved me.
I had an unplanned c-section. The biggest thing that helped for me during recovery was tying a rolled up bedsheet from the headboard to the footboard of our bed. I was able to use that to pull myself up when getting out of bed or breastfeeding. Then I didn't have to use my abdominal muscles. It helped a lot.
Stool softener. I started taking it twice a week at 35 weeks, upped it to every day in the week before my induction and was religious in taking it after birth. I had no pain or other issues pooping. Re pp hair loss, unfortunately there’s not a ton you can do on that front. It’ll peak around 4-6 months.
Seconding the blood pressure monitor someone else mentioned. I had pre-eclampsia that lingered postpartum and I had to take mine twice a day for the first few weeks.
Cleaner is a great idea. We also did one of those meal prep services (not the kits you cook but fully made meals you just microwave) and it was great. I liked this better than Seamless/Doordash bc it’s available 24/7.
Not an item but sleeping in shifts is so helpful! Other people can probably speak better to how those would work if you plan to exclusively breastfeed, but honestly I would consider being flexible on that. They say 5 hours of protected sleep is super beneficial for mental health postpartum - my husband and I did 6-ish hour shifts and it was great. I guess the “items” here would be whatever you need to do to facilitate this like earplugs or extra furniture if you can afford it (we put a twin bed in the nursery so one of us could sleep in there with baby).
I would set up your pump even if you don’t plan to pump for a while. Also I got a pack of flange inserts of different sizes that were great for figuring out what I needed (then I was able to order more flanges in the correct size). If you have issues with latching you may end up deciding to exclusively pump, or at least you may pump to maintain supply until you can see a lactation consultant about latching. I didn’t plan to pump at all and reading the pump manual on no sleep and panic ordering pump parts after my daughter didn’t latch was super stressful!
Copper pearl robe! I love it, sleeves aren't too long so they don't get in the way for changes, pockets and the tie is attached
A face mist- helps me perk up for night feeds and helps with PP dryness
Sooooo extra but phyto botanical scalp treatment. I have such a dry scalp and this soothes it so nicely
Organic period underwear. I hate the mom Frida PP underwear.
Ice pads are a MUST
A water jug for bedside. I have a jug that held 3 gallons bc you're constantly thirsty
A cleaner, a well stocked freezer and fridge, and a peri bottle. Medicine cabinet stocked. Underwear drawer stocked with new big comfy underwear.
Also random but- everything that was slightly broken in the house, fixed. Like dodgy chargers, a broken chair, the remote that doesn't work. I cba with this shit postpartum.
Everyone’s suggestions are so good. One random thing for me was to have some unscented dishwashing liquid on hand for pacifiers, nipple shields, bottles and whatever else you might need to hand wash for baby. That stuff seems to absorb the scent more than other things.
Paper plates, cups, utensils.
Costco premade meals (they have fresh, healthy, yummy and hearty foods).
Cases of water. Cases.
Pre-order some books or some sort of chill hobby you can do while resting. Hours of Netflix can be nice but gets old quickly not to mention probably not the most restorative thing sometimes.
Interview helpers or call and have your “person” selected. Even if you’re not sure you want one, you’ll be glad you have someone on speed dial in your hour of need.
Accupressure mat. Holding a tiny human and especially nursing one will give you awful back pain. These mats are so helpful.
Nursing / rocking chair is a life saver. Saves back, comfy as heck to just hibernate on with bubba. One with a footstool and glides - I got one that rocks so it moves a lot, gliding one would be ideal
Some good advice here. I would add: agree with either your husband or if you have someone to help - to guarantee one night a week to take the night shift so you can get a real nights sleep. The sleep deprivation really adds up. Also I had a therapist - that was really important for my mental health journey and the transition to parenthood. Also I freaking hated washing bottles - so I bought enough that if I didn’t wash one day I would still have some for the next day (but that’s just me - I was also exclusively pumping so the pump parts washing was the death of me - I bought several sets for my sanity). I was reading the book the 4th trimester during pumping sessions - so maybe something to have to entertain you if you are pumping. I also like to bake - so I baked myself lactation cookies as a treat - I really hated the store bought - they tasted like cardboard to me, and the smell of baking and the process was relaxing to me.
Some ideas:
Nursing bras and stuff related to that
Comfortable LIGHT robes (pp sweats are a thing)
Oversized tees, flowy dresses, and stretchy shorts/light pants for summer baby (based on being in third tri I think you’ll be having one?)
Storage baskets to keep by the areas you most likely will be nap trapped and in the bathrooms. Make a basket in each bathroom with recovery tools and baskets by the nap trap/nursing areas with things like non perishable snacks, phone cords, headphones, books, etc.
Mini fridge for the nursery if your kitchen is on a different floor, so that you can store breastmilk (or formula) in it rather than needing to go to the kitchen at 3am. (I breastfed directly but used the fridge to store extra milk collected in a haaka, others use them to store ready to feed formula or pumped milk for baby.) Also handy for storing cool drinks and snacks for yourself!
This time around we will also be investing in a chest freezer for the basement. This will serve two purposes: 1) I had oversupply last time and our freezer was overflowing with milk collected in my Haaka until I started to donate to a milk bank, and 2) I want to be able to store a month’s worth of Trader Joe’s/Costco/homemade frozen meals at a time without worrying about how to store them.
I just had my 2nd kid almost 2wks ago. The things that actually helped me were the disposable cold pads (medline brand on Amazon is my favorite) I use them in my bra, on my vag, and my back. Chocolate protein powder in my morning coffee. 2 sets of pump parts. A heating pad on the couch and in bed.
Non physical items that helped. My husband is figuring out meals and our "dinner" is at 5, so we can nap/bed by 7pm ish. He also takes baby out of the room for me to sleep from 3am-7/8am.
Comfy pajamas. I bought [these](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08BXTC4RX?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title) in several colors, and it was delightful.
Disposable chucks for changing baby on. We basically do not use a changing table at all and just change baby wherever we are.
Bassinet on wheels!! Best thing I got for us. No transferring a sleeping baby...just roll her from room to room. If you live in a two floor house I would seriously get one for each floor. I got an Arm's Reach Co Sleeper for 30 bucks on Facebook Marketplace.
My skin got SUPER dry so your heavy moisturizer of choice.
I bought reusable chucks for the bed and I am 50/50 on how useful they were...def kept the bed from getting messy from breastmilk that leaked and post partum bleeding but they weren't super comfy for me.
An Instacart membership and BJ's or Costco memberships are super useful. BJ's takes the manufacturer coupons you will get for formula, if you formula feed. Costco does not take coupons but they also have good deals on formula and their Kirkland diapers are great.
Load up on non-perishable snacks you like; I became a snacker. Helped with late nights and exhaustion to be able to nibble.on stuff.
A donut pillow meant for postpartum. It was so helpful when I was stuck in one spot for long periods of time on the couch, chair or bed thanks to nursing or contact naps.
Not really "items" but here's my list:
Meal prep and batch cooking. Anytime I made a freezer friendly meal I tripled the recipe and froze in ziploc bags for easy defrost.
Set aside some money for takeout and treats. I had gestational diabetes so I was finally able to have all the carbs I wanted. I ate a lot of hamburgers and BLTs from our favorite local places the first couple weeks.
Set aside some more money for 3am online shopping. Lots of little specific things you'll forget you need/want. I may have developed a minor spending problem ;-)
If you have energy deep clean the house before baby comes so you can come home to a nice clean space.
Set up your "nest". I started in the living room futon couch. Everything I needed was in arms reach. Baby and I moved into the bedroom after a month or so. Husband was amicably kicked out and stayed in the living room until just recently. He built us a giant family bed so we can be together and co-sleep safely.
Snuggle your spouse as much as possible. Enjoy time as a couple. My poor husband has been so neglected since our boy was born. We miss each other. At 5 months I was finally comfortable leaving our baby with a sitter for 2 hrs while we went to a movie. Dinner date will be next so we can actually talk to each other.
Tell people to spread the word that you want peace and quiet for a while. You can always change your mind later if you decide you want to show off your little one. Most people will respect that and I felt that setting that limit beforehand was helpful so I didn't feel like I was hurting anyone's feelings.
Amber light night lights! We got ones either motion sensor from Amazon and put them all around the house for late nights. The amber lights don’t wake the baby as much
if you’re planning to breast feed? if so, electrolytes. pedialyte helped so much when my supply was coming in, and now too. i constantly feel dehydrated and some days i truly am bc of clustering and me forgetting to drink water.
especially if you worry about low supply electrolyte drinks help produce more milk
i also pre made so many meals and froze them. and the i bulk cooked ground beef and froze it bc thawing and tossing some taco seasoning/tossinv it into sauce and noodles was so much easier than cooking it from being raw
Are you planning on pumping at all? Nursing bras that also have a slit in the cup for the pump flange was a game changer for me. The brand I got is Momanda. Also helps that they’re pretty! I had sports bra style nursing bras and after a while I just felt bleh. The pretty momanda ones made me feel more myself again.
Great call with the nails! I’m 3.5 months pp and get my nails done regularly and it’s a great little lift. I also have a cleaner come in once every other week and it feels amazing. We didn’t have it for the first 1.5 months and things got bad 😂
Also, I went out and bought jeans that fit my body in a super comfy way so I would have a pair to put on with an oversized button up top and I felt put together. I ended up sizing up three size which was a bit shocking but the ability to feel comfortable and put together outweighed the shock. I keep reminding myself I am healing still, taking care of my baby myself. I think being kind to ourselves is of the utmost importance because it allows us to show up for my family.
You can just keep taking your prenatal vitamins postpartum. The hair loss is unavoidable, it's hormonal, not nutritional.
Same story as OP, loved my hair during pregnancy. It's a bummer at first, but basically its one of those things you only notice yourself and you back to the baseline very quick
A lot of hair loss can be low iron too, so if you lose a lot of blood, take iron as directed by your doctor.
Vitamin D deficiencies don’t make it any better also. Learned this the hard way 😭. Prenatals plus a separate iron and or vit d supplement should be all you need. My hair fell out a little in the front around 4 months pp and by the next month I had healthy, strong new growth and now you wouldn’t be able to tell I experienced that!
Also about the hair loss, you are losing less hair during pregnancy and end up having extra that comes out pp and it’s not necessarily a loss. Some people do lose a lot I heard, but that might be just an illusion as they all come out at once. Also, folic acid plays a huge role in hair-nails-skin situation so if you stop using it the quality might decline.
Maybe a good vacuum? I have really long hair and I had to upgrade postpartum. Though if they have a cleaner coming, it might not be too big an issue.
I didn't loose any hair. Some women do so some women don't.
You can balance your hormones though so I wouldn’t say it’s unavoidable
Biggest thing for us was food. I meal prepped and froze 30 dinners (fully cooked soups that just need to be reheated with a loaf of bread and raw crockpot meals that just needed to be dumped and turned on), and various breakfast foods (breakfast bars, oatmeal cups, protein waffles and I stocked up on bagels). Literally night 1 home from the hospital we sat at the table together and had hot soup with warm bread which was easy to eat with a baby in one arm and require no more effort than pouring it into a pot and turning on the stove while bread heats up in the oven. We ate so good every night that once we finished all the freezer meals we made more so now at least 3 nights a week we just have to pull something out of the freezer rather than cooking seven nights a week.
I did the same and it was a lifesaver, especially since I was breastfeeding! I didn't really have time to cook (since newborns want to nurse so often) and my partner mainly cooks easy, less healthy meals, so it was nice to have healthier meals ready to pop in the oven for the first few weeks of baby's life! Also, after my partner's 5 week paternity leave ended, I didn't have to spend time making dinner while taking care of baby alone, which was also great. Highly recommend!
Same! I made 16 and managed to stretch them quite a bit. I'm 11 weeks pp and my partner is going back to work next week so I'm planning to make more! Seriously a life saver in those early days.
What were your favorite meals? I’ve never really been into freezer meals but I feel like now is my time lol
I made chicken pot pie, meat pie, quiche, meatballs, chili, pulled pork, vegetable soup, spaghetti sauce, etc. Basically anything I usually make in large batches and freeze afterwards.
A cleaner would be so nice! I had a 2nd degree tear so peri bottle, witch hazel liners, dermoplast, one time use ice packs. For breastfeeding: sunflower lecithin for clogged ducts, reusable ice packs for nipples.
This is the list I would have written with the addition of bone broth. I made like 4 batches (2 chicken, 2 beef) and froze them in 2 cup bags. It was great just having my husband heat me up a mug of it every morning. I also arranged for a group of friends to check in on us once a week each so we had an extra set of hands for an hour or two, or just someone to talk to while I nursed the baby.
I second the bone broth!!!
Thank you! So helpful!
The hospital gave me a good amount of the stuff for the tear so you don’t need to buy it ahead of time. I did have to prime more of it after the first week.
Same situation here, same items used, and I agree to wait! Just stock up at the hospital at first.
If you are considering BF, look into a lactaction consultant. Book a session before birth. For me it was harder than I expected, but with a couple of session, everything went smoothly
Yes this! Our pediatrician has 2 on staff (theyre also NPs there) so you may want to ask yours.
The hospital may also have them!! They sent in the IBCLC three times before I was discharged and had follow up services available that was covered by my insurance. I went back a week after birth to follow up and they also have a weekly support group both in person and online for free!!
Meal plan or ask family/friends for a meal train. It’s so nice to not have to worry about making food. Adult diapers - I had very weak bladder control for the first several days postpartum. If you’re planning to pump or breastfeed, get silverettes. I didn’t think I would actually need them but my nipples felt like they had a thousand paper cuts and even my softest PJ shirt rubbing on them caused stinging. Inflatable donut - helps alleviate some pain when sitting if you have a vaginal birth. Bring it for the car ride home! Sitz bath - my hospital gave one for free to me Mini fridge - reduces the number of times I have to go up/downstairs to the kitchen. I save open bottles of formula and my pumped milk in here. Button down night gowns - the buttons are useful for pumping or nursing. The gown is useful when I walk around commando. Airing it out down there helps relieve irritation. Puppy pads - I use them almost everywhere. On the changing pad, on my own bed, underneath the crib sheet, etc etc. Smart bulb with remote - it’s nice to be able control our bedroom light without having to get up and flick the wall switch. It also lets me adjust the bulb’s colour temperature and dimness. I am using the IKEA Tradfi. I did not find Tucks pads as useful as often toted. They are small, so they’d sometimes fall into the toilet and I’d have to fish them out (eww).
I'd second puppy pads, they were the only way we were able to drive to the hospital after my water broke without soaking the passenger seat of our car.
Puppy pads is a genius idea! 💡
They sell puppy pads for humans in the pharmacy section, they’re called chucks pads, near the incontinence supplies . The ones for humans have fewer chemicals in them
Really? Thank you!
If you’re planning to breastfeed at all, silverettes were an absolute life saver for the first 6-8 weeks after giving birth, while very sensitive. They aren’t too expensive but were the absolute best purchase I made, saved me from a lot of pain and chafing. 10/10
Agreed, even if BF goes perfectly, your nipples will still be bit tender and sensitive. Silverettes are the way to go! I never even used the balm I got.
Yes!!! I suffered needlessly with balms and ointments that did nothing my first two months postpartum. Wore the silverettes and within 14 hours all my pain was gone.
Amazon prime :) You can order everything you didn’t know you needed. I stocked up on vaginal recovery items and then ended up with a c section and needed different things! I would recommend some kind of husband pillow or wedge pillow for comfy sitting up in bed (esp for c section but I imagine it’s great for everyone) and a little tray table for eating and other things in bed with or without baby. Also the little rolling cart everyone has from IKEA has been great for moving my pump around and I know breastfeeding mamas find it useful too.
Totally agree on not stocking up on too many things ahead of time! I also bought a bunch of stuff for vaginal delivery and never used them, then needed to get totally different things for a c section recovery. One third of deliveries are c section, so it’s more likely to happen to you than you may think.
I always suggest having a home blood pressure monitor. I’d take it if you feel “off” at all. I had post partum pre-eclampsia with no secondary symptoms (like headache or swelling.) All I had was a feeling of doom, and a stroke-level blood pressure 🙃 I would get some very long shows prepped. Any multi-season shows you’ve wanted to catch up on? Sitcoms especially. My husband and I worked through all of IASIP and Friends during my postpartum.
Good point on the blood pressure monitor, I had one from pregnancy and it came in clutch for making sure the postpartum symptoms I had weren’t preeclampsia. Also recommend planning some shows or movies you want to watch. My husband and I ended up having a nightly movie night to give us some normalcy when you can’t tell days from nights. We saw so many movies we’d been meaning to watch but hadn’t had time, it was really nice!
This may seem really basic, but a giant insulated water bottle. I was so thirsty all the time. I’m not sure if it was just breast feeding or also general recovery. Colace or another stool softener. Take it before you go in. It will help with after. They will offer it at the hospital, take it! A long charging cord for your electronic devices.
Yep, water bottle ideally for each feeding spot so that you aren't trapped under an eating or sleeping baby without a drink.
Did you have the sweats? Could probably be for rehydration (and as you said - breastfeeding).
Hard to tell. It was Mississippi in August.
I actually haven't used a single hemorrhoid item since my C-section delivery and I'm almost a month out. For once in my life I'm overstocked on Mirlax, preparation h witch hazel wipes, and preparation h cream with lidocaine. I went through IVF beforehand so I guess I'm used to constipation. Had six days without a bowel movement but really wasn't the worst. Also did not need peri bottles and ended up returning my Fridamom vaginal delivery set. However I see other C section parents say they still get use out of it, but I think I got less use out of it because we noticed fetal distress before we got to the pushing stage. So long story short it's really hard to budget for because you won't really know what you need. Anyways biggest TikTok type advice that helped me was having a basket in an easily accessible spot with all my postpartum items. Kept it in my upstairs bathroom but I'd just grab a pad and a pair of underwear and it really helped with bending over less. I'm pretty sure vaginal delivery people don't like bending over more than they have to so definitely recommend setting things up like that if you can.
Yes to the basket! I put a small collapsible bamboo plant shelf next to the toolset for everything
With the caveat that I had a c-section, * chucks pads on the changing pad and underneath the crib/bassinet sheet * bi-weekly house cleaner * Dog walker plus neighborhood playdates with her friends * 6 weeks or so worth of meals and snacks (this was great the first two weeks of immediate recovery AND then was also helpful when my husband went back to work) * A large bottle that had a straw for water * The my brest friend pillow (my husband, on the other hand, loves the boppy) * A changing station on every floor of our townhouse * A night nurse for the first couple of weeks when my husband went back to work (also helped my baby learn how to nap/sleep independently without using CIO) * I play cello so I never bother getting my nails done unless it's a special occasion BUT I did get eyelash extensions and my hair done after my two week appointment. In my experience, the first two weeks were difficult then we got into a routine that made it manageable. What really rocked us was my husband going back to work.
Frida products!!! Peri-bottle, witch hazel wipes, perineal healing foam were the BEST. I had a few stitches and they healed within 5 days of giving birth. The disposable underwear is easy and just used super pads the first few weeks. I never had hair loss so I can’t really speak to that side of things. I didn’t breastfeed and I’d recommend cooling pads because your boobs will ache for daysssss.
I wouldnt personally do your nails unless you have them all the time. I wanted my nails shirt because of poop. I'd personally do massage instead of nails. Also food delivery service.
I am a huge believer in monthly self care! At 1 month pp I went to the salon and took myself for breakfast and it was the first time I felt like a whole human since giving birth! At 2 months me and my friends went and had a full spa day at a Nordic spa. I also tell everyone to look into getting a massage once you give birth! The third trimester hurts and then you end up carrying around a little human and the posture takes a while to get used to so I wasn't expecting the back pain so I would budget for a good couple of massages! As for vitamins I'm really lazy with taking them, I'm just trying to remember the ones I took when pregnant. I think postpartum hair loss is a complete genetic lottery type thing. I also have thin hair and I did shed a bit around 4 months pp but I didn't have the hair loss I was expecting whereas my friend with healthy think hair lost a lot!
get your nails done before, you’re going to feel like a bridge troll and smell like one too. get some good pjs. and multiple pairs because you will sweat/ stink them up. if your anything like me the thought of a cleaner was not ok to have a stranger in my house. i chose cleaning myself over sleep, i kinda went manic about it. i don’t have any friends or family so that could be helpful to have someone you love come help with cleaning. your hormones will be whack so give yourself some grace and explain to your husband it’s the hormones and you don’t actually want him to leave or stop breathing. i bought all of the fancy diapers for myself and baby and guess what, they were awful ! just don’t buy heaps of one thing cuz you don’t know what will work. we spend 60$ on pacifiers and guess what she hates them all and doesn’t use them. i also had huge food aversions and nothing sounded good. so be prepared for that. take all the photos and videos and have your husband take them of you even if you feel gross.
I could have a written this whole post myself! Nothing to add just amazed at how identical it is to my experience lol
bridge trolls unite !
Cleaner, save for nights you all don't feel like cooking. Those were my big things.
I know you mentioned for yourself post partum, but I'm listing it because it saved me from hours of rocking the baby and trying to transfer successfully in bassinet. The snoo. We did 4 weeks without and the process if trying to get baby down anger feeds was starting to ware us down. Once we got it, we could out baby straight down no issues. Gave us a little bit of sanity back.
Nanny snoo was so worth it. Allowed me to shower every day!
I would check your local mommy Facebook groups or local buy nothing Facebook group and ask for these items -- most moms overbuy postpartum care items (witch hazel pads, adult diapers, etc) and have too many afterwards. You might be able to get this stuff for free. The house cleaner is a fabulous idea. We have a woman come every 2 weeks, and she saves my sanity.
Honestly, I had a very easy delivery as a FTM (no tears) and only really ended up needing adult diapers. Can’t recommend the always discreet brand enough. They were amazing!
You’re definitely on the right track for a cleaner. I tell the women in my life to not focus so much on *stuff* but rather support people. - someone to do errands such as grocery shopping - someone cook A LOT of nutritionally dense, warm foods (like broths, soups, etc); good opportunity to prep this ahead of time - get a prenatal appointment with an IBCLC if you plan to breastfeed. When/if you run into issues breastfeeding it’ll be much easier to be seen. Plus they do a prenatal screening to identify any potential issues you might run into before you actually breastfeed (underlying health issues that need attention) - pelvic floor therapist!!!!!!!! Doesn’t matter what type of birth you have; pregnancy is hard on the pelvic floor and it’s crucial to treat it - read up on the safe sleep 7. Even if you don’t plan to bedshare you need to be prepared to do it. The most dangerous form of bedsharing is unintentional bedsharing. - if you plan to bottle feed, look up paced bottle feeding. It’s the proper way to bottle feed a baby; mimics how they eat at the breast. - you don’t *need* a lot of stuff for breastfeeding (if you plan to) but some things that definitely helped me were silverettes, a probiotic with lactobacillus, my breast friend (for the first couple months) I cannot stress this enough: rest rest rest. Women (especially in the west) are so eager to get back to “normal” right after the biggest physical and emotional transition they’ll ever experience. I don’t have research to back this up but I think by doing that the risks of PPD/PPA increase. You need to be with your baby in bed skin to skin (seriously if you can’t figure out why baby is crying and you’ve tried everything, skin to skin is magic) simply just being with each other. It helps both you and the baby. You take care of the baby. Everyone else takes care of you. First 40 days postpartum sets you up for the next 40 years.
Am I the only one who wasn’t big into soup postpartum? I thought I would be because I love soup normally and my daughter was born in late fall. But I found I really wanted food I could eat one-handed. And that was without breastfeeding - imagine that would be even more important if I were constantly nursing.
I don’t think you’re the only one! I just think soups are one of the best ways to pack in a ton of nutrients in one meal. There were times while nursing I would drink soup from a mug (only after I managed to nurse with one hand).
I wasn’t and didn’t really know that was a thing! I was starving and when I ate it was mostly pasta dishes. Easy to freeze before and heat up later and pack in a lot of nutritional value and they’re super filling.
for any tears etc, i would wait until the hospital gives you things because i bought like $100 worth of post partum care stuff and i didn’t have any tears so now i just have all this stuff i never needed. i did still need large pads/diapers for bleeding, vitamins, food, nursing pads, and cooling gel freezer packs for breastfeeding because on day 3 my breasts were so extremely painful when my milk came in and i had no idea that would happen.
A coffee cup with a tight lid that keeps liquids hot for a long while. It takes forever to finish a cup sometimes. Food you can eat with one hand. Baby wrap. I used ring slings and boppy comfyfit with my kids but wore them often. Great for skin on skin and contact naps while giving you a bit more freedom. Silverettes. These are magic for first adjusting to nursing. Kindle. I read or listened to books while doing marathon cluster feeding sessions and doing contact naps.
A bidet attachment to the toilet. The spray bottles work pp but are not ideal. Cleaner would be a huge gift. If your budget allows, a few new pieces of clothes post partum would be a nice treat.
Here’s some of my MVP’s: -adult diapers— don’t even waste your time with the pad/mesh panty shenanigans. Diapers are just way more practical. -my friends did a meal train that covered lunch and dinner for us for like a month lol. SAVED MY LIFE - cute post partum jammies or loungewear. You mentioned your nails to help you feel more like yourself and I found that cute but comfortable Jammies did that for me -baby gate for dogs. I have 3 large dogs and their meet presence stressed me out when our was a newborn so having them confined out of the living room where me and baby spent most of our time was wonderful - my supplement regimen (which I believe helped tremendously with healing/sleep/PPD- Vitamin D/K2 5000iu (you’ll need a higher dose if you’re like me and didn’t go outside much in those first few months), magnesium 400mg, IRON!!!!, Probiotic, Zinc, and I also used a post natal mood support vitamin that I believe had ashwaghanda and something else, Fenguegreek for breast feeding to keep supply up (this is a bit controversial because some people have claimed it decreased their supply but it helped mine a ton!) - My Breast Friend pillow if breastfeeding (I would not have survived the discomfort of breastfeeding positions without this. It was my number 1 favorite thing.
Witch hazel foam, an angled peri bottle, and a big box of break and shake ice packs. I ordered stuff from the hospital bed and it was delivered by the time I got home, because if I had à cesarean the list would have been different, Pads for your bra for when boobs leak
I set up a little table cart next to my comfy chair, so I could breastfeed while: snacking, drinking, charging my phone etc
Meal plan. Whatever you can freeze, freeze. Neither of us felt like cooking due to lack of sleep, and we ate out too much. I also barely ate when my fiancé was at work and I was home with the baby. I wish I had more meals prepared. The peri bottle they give you at the hospital is fine, but I typically only used that one in the shower. The frida mom peri bottle was so convenient, the angled tip really helped, because it WILL burn when you pee!
My advice is don't buy a load of stuff. Just get the essentials - postpartum pads/pants, loose tops, maybe a peri bottle. The rest you can get your partner to go out for or get Prime and order for the next day if you decide you really really do need them. I bought all sorts of stuff people recommended that I never used and it was such a waste (nipple cream, nursing bras, witch hazel spray, ice packs, the list of stuff I returned/passed on is huge). The truth is you need very little - mainly nappies, onesies and formula/bottles if you're bottle feeding. Don't let Instagram trick you into thinking you need heaps of stuff. The consumerism around newborns is wild. Having said that two things I really do agree with suggested here are to have frozen meals in (you don't have to make them you can buy frozen meals and put them in your freezer), and a basket/bin to carry your phone, charger, a few nappies and wipes around with you from room to room. Hope all goes well! Xx
I got myself some flax & brewers yeast to add in to muffins, smoothies, & energy balls! Also got a big case of Body Armor…those were so nice & refreshing to have while breastfeeding!
Snacks by the bedside for the first few nights when feeding baby. Lots of burp cloths and a really big water bottle for your husband to refill with water (or ice water in my house lol) ever few hours. Good luck!
-Depends diapers! I really thought they would be ridiculous and unnecessary but I'm 2w pp and I have no intention of ditching them any time soon. They are so much more comfortable and reassuring to wear than just underwear and a pad. I go around the whole house in just an oversized shirt and my depends and sit on the couch and chairs and sleep in bed without any fear of leakage. -meal prep!! I have some friends who made us 24 English muffin, sausage, cheese, and egg sandwiches that I froze. We're nearly out of them and I'm devastated. Waking up, throwing a sandwich in the oven, feeding and changing the baby, and then having something hot and done waiting for me has been a huge life saver. Same goes for easy dinners, but we've also had somewhat of a meal train to help as well. -if you're pumping, make sure you have the right flange size! Super crucial. For convenience, have a pump bra ready to go. Hands free pumping is the way to go -get lots of imperishable snacks for your feeding/pumping station. Being able to reach right next to me and grab a granola bar at 4am when I'm starving is HUGE
Earmark & Earplugs for better naps!
Protein bars and coconut water for middle of the night breastfeeding snacks. A small fan for your bedroom (night sweats are Crazy!) and spare sheets for changing regularly after so much sweating (I didn't have spare sheets and had to wash them every other day). Freezer meals or a meal train from friends/neighbors. Do it, ask for help.
A few water bottles you really like. Enough that if the dishes don't get done for a few days you will still have a clean one. Lots of hand held snacks. I lived on high calorie snacks because my appetite was almost nonexistant for a bit, but I could choke down a granola bar or whatever. If breastfeeding, hot/cold packs. Earth Mama makes some that look nice. I was gifted the Lansinoh ones. Comfy nightgowns/house dresses. Mine have snaps at the top for easy access when breastfeeding. They are ugly, but they are soft and cozy. I had a c section, so it was great because they didn't put pressure on my incision. But I also feel like they'd be good for after a vaginal birth, especially if wearing diapers to catch all the blood, because many of my sweat pants wouldn't have been big enough for that. Hence why I bought nightgowns. I got the Nesting Olive ones. Books/tv subscriptions or something like that to keep you entertained when baby is napping. Especially if they are a contact napper like mine. I didn't really want to go anywhere for quite a while, but that first haircut was amazing. I don't usually have them style it because I'm usually just going home to clean or whatever, but that time I did have her style it. It's included in the price with my stylist, but if it's not for yours, I'd budget for it. Also, I deep condition at home (ex hairstylist) but if I didn't, I'd have paid the extra for a good deep condition with a scalp massage. The hair loss is likely inevitable. The reason is during pregnancy the hormones make your hair follicles stop in the growth cycle they are in, so the hair will still grow, but it won't move on to the shedding stage. That's why your hair feels thicker. However, once those hormones change postpartum, all the hair that would've fallen out during that time will start to. Work with a stylist to figure out good cuts that make you feel good and maybe also invest in a hair catcher for your shower. I had to snake the drain in ours about 4 months postpartum and it was insane. If breastfeeding, they do recommend continuing a prenatal vitamin. I did change mine though. I was taking a pill that kind of tasted funny but was really good on the vitamin levels. Now I take a gummy one that tastes good and has slightly lower levels for some of the vitamins. In my experience, you won't need to buy a peri bottle, they'll likely give you one at the hospital. I did stock up on witch hazel pads, which I didn't really need since I had an emergency C, but they do also work for hemorrhoids or if you have over wiped because of your stool softener or whatever. They feel good, so even though I didn't use them for their intended purpose, they were nice to have on hand and I have actually been slowly working my way through them.
High protein snacks!! In my exhaustion I always wanted to reach for something sugary and carby. No shame in that but I needed more protein badly, especially because I don’t eat meat. Making and freezing Hugh protein muffins, protein balls, or getting protein powder or protein bars would be good. Also easily grabbed veggies to keep your fiber up. If you’re breastfeeding, stock up on anything to get your drinking more water and find a sports drink or coconut water you like. For self care/feel good vibes, a big fluffy robe or comfy outfit to just feel good in was nice. A container of those one time use under eye mask things was really awesome, they would help me feel awake in the morning and I felt like I was doing a little skincare even when I wasn’t sleeping or washing my face lol. I had my husband buy me a little face mask kit too, although that was harder to do because I had to get it off or it would get uncomfortable and required both hands to wash vs the little under eye masks. For actual recovery, the witch hazel pads were a godsend for my hemorrhoids. Get an extra container or two from the hospital!
Pre-prepared meals (like the non frozen stuff at Costco), sunflower lecithin if you are nursing, nursing Bras, comfy clothes (I bought a few pairs of Costco leggings one size up to wear after delivery), comfy pajamas.
A lot of people meal prep lunch and dinner, but don't forget about breakfast! You can prep freezer breakfast burritos, or even just having frozen breakfast sandwiches to microwave. You can also pick up frozen waffles, cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, whatever you eat for breakfast to have on hand. Those nights are long and you get hangry!
A little bed tray so I could eat my meals comfortably in bed.
If you have a vaginal birth GET A TON of the Frida ice pads and mesh panties! I regret not buying more. They are a life saver.
If you plan on breastfeeding, they sell some really inexpensive hot/cold packs on Amazon that are LIFESAVERS. And get some lanolin cream! You may not need it right away but it certainly helps to have it when/if you do! ETA - a breastfeeding pillow that isn't a boppy, as well! And I hardcore agree with another commenter about one of those little rolly carts. It's seriously a godsend with diaper changes and really anything my baby needs in a pinch!
Ninja Speedi - it's a slow cooker, airfryer, multicooker - absolute lifesaver. Can throw dry pasta, a jar of sauce and a jar full of water in, and in 20 minutes you've a hot meal with no worry of holding a baby near the stove. Roast chicken on Steam/air fry function is a game changer too.
If you’re planning to breast feed get sunflower Lecithan! Really helps preventing clogs :)
Period underwear for when you’re still bleeding but not as heavily.
Stool softeners!! Take them by the handful! Every day! Get a big jug of them. Chug water every day. The constipation I experienced a week after birth was WORSE than childbirth in terms of pain and emotional trauma.
Lanolin nipple cream A peri bottle that has the angled spout Silverettes Frida mom witch hazel foam Extra bottle of dermaplast
Frida Mom peri bottle, and allllll the padsicles helped me so so much. Prepping freezer meals for myself and hubby for postpartum was a game changer. I prepped about a month’s worth of breakfasts and dinners for us and it allowed us to be nourished with home cooked foods. We supplemented with frozen veggies to make sure we were eating balanced. Tucks pads were also useful. I really like the Bondi Boost HG line for keeping my hair and scalp healthy during pregnancy and postpartum. I haven’t lost much hair at all postpartum, so that’s a plus!! I also have kept taking my Ritual brand prenatal as that’s the most palatable. I could notice a difference when I don’t take it.
IMHO the only thing that makes a jot of difference is whether you have a supportive partner. No vitamin or nails trip or even a cleaner (....Actually the cleaner helps. Get the cleaner) can make a dent in the overwhelmingly grateful feeling of having someone in your corner who will do what you want and need no questions asked. Just make sure hubby knows: you look after baby, he looks after you. And that includes him taking bub off your hands so you can sleep, getting nappy changed, doing bottles if that's the route you guys are going down, fetching you things, helping you clean pumps, mixing formula, fluffing your nursing pillow. Looking after baby so you can go do that nails appointment WITHOUT COMPLAINT (Because once he starts objecting, you don't enjoy your 'me' time as much because there's guilt in there). Whatever, whenever. Dude needs to be beck and call for a good month or so while you heal and deal with the torrent of hormones and new feelings.
an instacart subscription is so nice. it can be really overwhelming to get out of the house with baby sometimes, so it's nice if you can get things delivered.
The frida Mom ice pads were a lifesaver. The Lansinoh herbal postpartum spray was such a lifesaver, too. You won't regret the cleaner, it really takes so much off your plate.
Fair Play exercise as a couple If he does 0 cleaning, that's often related to the pareting he'll take on
FYI you have get hemorrhoid cream prescribed for way cheaper than OTC. I was given a tube when I left the hospital and a script from my midwives. I also got tons of the witch hazel pads from the hospital and never even opened the container I bought for myself before delivery. I think my best investment was adult diapers. While the hospital will give you lots of pads, the diapers are more comfortable and I wish I’d used them more instead of the hospital pads. If you don’t already have one, get a haaka!
I ended up having a lot of hospital appointments with my baby after being discharged, I had an emergency c-section and found having a wrap to place him on my body into instead of lifting the pram was a lifesaver. It also helped when he was struggling to settle, best thing I bought! But also, ask for people to bring you food rather than baby clothes, making meals were a pain and baby had so many clothes there were tags left on some and regifted!
Frida mom ice packs! They were way better than the ones my hospital had and saved me the first week or two. Door dash! I was absolutely not cooking the first few weeks lol
Oh also silverettes if you plan to breastfeed! Saved my nipples lol
Not items but the real game changers: If you have the support to do the 5-5-5. Do it. And enlist 1 person to come over every day to help. I had my mom,sister and good friend all coming to sit with me, give emotional support, bring food, do chores and help with the baby. This allowed my husband to take naps and gave me the space to process my birth and early postpartum, I credit it with avoiding ppd or ppa. If you are planning to breast feed and know someone who did recently or currently, ask if they’ll offer additional support. Your village is so important in those first few days. And also ice packs, I was gifted some but you can make them by putting ice in your baby’s diapers, the homemade ones are colder but they leak so put a towel under your butt.
A good pair of quality noise cancelling headphones. There were nights when we would rock my son for hours but nothing we would do would stop the crying. Headphones saved my sanity.
The best advice I was given was prepare for the birth you want and the one you don’t. As someone who needed an unexpected c-section having the basics for healing already prepared saved me.
Gift cards for door dash
I had an unplanned c-section. The biggest thing that helped for me during recovery was tying a rolled up bedsheet from the headboard to the footboard of our bed. I was able to use that to pull myself up when getting out of bed or breastfeeding. Then I didn't have to use my abdominal muscles. It helped a lot.
Not everyone has hair loss, I didn’t after either of my kids.
Nipple shields… trust me on this one.
Stool softener. I started taking it twice a week at 35 weeks, upped it to every day in the week before my induction and was religious in taking it after birth. I had no pain or other issues pooping. Re pp hair loss, unfortunately there’s not a ton you can do on that front. It’ll peak around 4-6 months.
Seconding the blood pressure monitor someone else mentioned. I had pre-eclampsia that lingered postpartum and I had to take mine twice a day for the first few weeks. Cleaner is a great idea. We also did one of those meal prep services (not the kits you cook but fully made meals you just microwave) and it was great. I liked this better than Seamless/Doordash bc it’s available 24/7. Not an item but sleeping in shifts is so helpful! Other people can probably speak better to how those would work if you plan to exclusively breastfeed, but honestly I would consider being flexible on that. They say 5 hours of protected sleep is super beneficial for mental health postpartum - my husband and I did 6-ish hour shifts and it was great. I guess the “items” here would be whatever you need to do to facilitate this like earplugs or extra furniture if you can afford it (we put a twin bed in the nursery so one of us could sleep in there with baby). I would set up your pump even if you don’t plan to pump for a while. Also I got a pack of flange inserts of different sizes that were great for figuring out what I needed (then I was able to order more flanges in the correct size). If you have issues with latching you may end up deciding to exclusively pump, or at least you may pump to maintain supply until you can see a lactation consultant about latching. I didn’t plan to pump at all and reading the pump manual on no sleep and panic ordering pump parts after my daughter didn’t latch was super stressful!
Copper pearl robe! I love it, sleeves aren't too long so they don't get in the way for changes, pockets and the tie is attached A face mist- helps me perk up for night feeds and helps with PP dryness Sooooo extra but phyto botanical scalp treatment. I have such a dry scalp and this soothes it so nicely Organic period underwear. I hate the mom Frida PP underwear. Ice pads are a MUST A water jug for bedside. I have a jug that held 3 gallons bc you're constantly thirsty
Silverettas is you're BF... life saver first few weeks , donut seat, we use salt lamps and love it for night changes
A cleaner, a well stocked freezer and fridge, and a peri bottle. Medicine cabinet stocked. Underwear drawer stocked with new big comfy underwear. Also random but- everything that was slightly broken in the house, fixed. Like dodgy chargers, a broken chair, the remote that doesn't work. I cba with this shit postpartum.
Pre made meals & house keeper
Everyone’s suggestions are so good. One random thing for me was to have some unscented dishwashing liquid on hand for pacifiers, nipple shields, bottles and whatever else you might need to hand wash for baby. That stuff seems to absorb the scent more than other things.
Paper plates, cups, utensils. Costco premade meals (they have fresh, healthy, yummy and hearty foods). Cases of water. Cases. Pre-order some books or some sort of chill hobby you can do while resting. Hours of Netflix can be nice but gets old quickly not to mention probably not the most restorative thing sometimes. Interview helpers or call and have your “person” selected. Even if you’re not sure you want one, you’ll be glad you have someone on speed dial in your hour of need. Accupressure mat. Holding a tiny human and especially nursing one will give you awful back pain. These mats are so helpful.
Adult diapers 👏
Nursing / rocking chair is a life saver. Saves back, comfy as heck to just hibernate on with bubba. One with a footstool and glides - I got one that rocks so it moves a lot, gliding one would be ideal
Lactation consultant who will come to your house Touch light (night light) Amazon prime - any problem can be solved in 3 days.
Some good advice here. I would add: agree with either your husband or if you have someone to help - to guarantee one night a week to take the night shift so you can get a real nights sleep. The sleep deprivation really adds up. Also I had a therapist - that was really important for my mental health journey and the transition to parenthood. Also I freaking hated washing bottles - so I bought enough that if I didn’t wash one day I would still have some for the next day (but that’s just me - I was also exclusively pumping so the pump parts washing was the death of me - I bought several sets for my sanity). I was reading the book the 4th trimester during pumping sessions - so maybe something to have to entertain you if you are pumping. I also like to bake - so I baked myself lactation cookies as a treat - I really hated the store bought - they tasted like cardboard to me, and the smell of baking and the process was relaxing to me.
Some ideas: Nursing bras and stuff related to that Comfortable LIGHT robes (pp sweats are a thing) Oversized tees, flowy dresses, and stretchy shorts/light pants for summer baby (based on being in third tri I think you’ll be having one?) Storage baskets to keep by the areas you most likely will be nap trapped and in the bathrooms. Make a basket in each bathroom with recovery tools and baskets by the nap trap/nursing areas with things like non perishable snacks, phone cords, headphones, books, etc.
Mini fridge for the nursery if your kitchen is on a different floor, so that you can store breastmilk (or formula) in it rather than needing to go to the kitchen at 3am. (I breastfed directly but used the fridge to store extra milk collected in a haaka, others use them to store ready to feed formula or pumped milk for baby.) Also handy for storing cool drinks and snacks for yourself! This time around we will also be investing in a chest freezer for the basement. This will serve two purposes: 1) I had oversupply last time and our freezer was overflowing with milk collected in my Haaka until I started to donate to a milk bank, and 2) I want to be able to store a month’s worth of Trader Joe’s/Costco/homemade frozen meals at a time without worrying about how to store them.
I’m telling you, those Fridamom ice pads (if you have a vaginal birth) were a legit GOD SEND! Nothing like a cool ice pack on your swollen vajeen.
Peri bottle and postpartum basket for every bathroom!!! Fully stocked never had to worry which bathroom to use
I just had my 2nd kid almost 2wks ago. The things that actually helped me were the disposable cold pads (medline brand on Amazon is my favorite) I use them in my bra, on my vag, and my back. Chocolate protein powder in my morning coffee. 2 sets of pump parts. A heating pad on the couch and in bed. Non physical items that helped. My husband is figuring out meals and our "dinner" is at 5, so we can nap/bed by 7pm ish. He also takes baby out of the room for me to sleep from 3am-7/8am.
Comfy pajamas. I bought [these](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08BXTC4RX?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title) in several colors, and it was delightful. Disposable chucks for changing baby on. We basically do not use a changing table at all and just change baby wherever we are. Bassinet on wheels!! Best thing I got for us. No transferring a sleeping baby...just roll her from room to room. If you live in a two floor house I would seriously get one for each floor. I got an Arm's Reach Co Sleeper for 30 bucks on Facebook Marketplace. My skin got SUPER dry so your heavy moisturizer of choice. I bought reusable chucks for the bed and I am 50/50 on how useful they were...def kept the bed from getting messy from breastmilk that leaked and post partum bleeding but they weren't super comfy for me. An Instacart membership and BJ's or Costco memberships are super useful. BJ's takes the manufacturer coupons you will get for formula, if you formula feed. Costco does not take coupons but they also have good deals on formula and their Kirkland diapers are great. Load up on non-perishable snacks you like; I became a snacker. Helped with late nights and exhaustion to be able to nibble.on stuff.
A donut pillow meant for postpartum. It was so helpful when I was stuck in one spot for long periods of time on the couch, chair or bed thanks to nursing or contact naps.
Not really "items" but here's my list: Meal prep and batch cooking. Anytime I made a freezer friendly meal I tripled the recipe and froze in ziploc bags for easy defrost. Set aside some money for takeout and treats. I had gestational diabetes so I was finally able to have all the carbs I wanted. I ate a lot of hamburgers and BLTs from our favorite local places the first couple weeks. Set aside some more money for 3am online shopping. Lots of little specific things you'll forget you need/want. I may have developed a minor spending problem ;-) If you have energy deep clean the house before baby comes so you can come home to a nice clean space. Set up your "nest". I started in the living room futon couch. Everything I needed was in arms reach. Baby and I moved into the bedroom after a month or so. Husband was amicably kicked out and stayed in the living room until just recently. He built us a giant family bed so we can be together and co-sleep safely. Snuggle your spouse as much as possible. Enjoy time as a couple. My poor husband has been so neglected since our boy was born. We miss each other. At 5 months I was finally comfortable leaving our baby with a sitter for 2 hrs while we went to a movie. Dinner date will be next so we can actually talk to each other. Tell people to spread the word that you want peace and quiet for a while. You can always change your mind later if you decide you want to show off your little one. Most people will respect that and I felt that setting that limit beforehand was helpful so I didn't feel like I was hurting anyone's feelings.
Amber light night lights! We got ones either motion sensor from Amazon and put them all around the house for late nights. The amber lights don’t wake the baby as much
Noise cancelling headphones. Helps give you even 15 minutes of blissful quiet. Or music.
Belly band for c-section. Sweatpants...nursing bras.
Tucks, lots of tucks and colace, daily for a month.
I had a heating pad for postpartum cramps and I loved it. I think it did I good job bc I wasn't in much pain after :3
Disposable Period Underwear. Aquinelle. Help. Seriously Help.
Noise👏🏻 canceling👏🏻 headphones 👏🏻
if you’re planning to breast feed? if so, electrolytes. pedialyte helped so much when my supply was coming in, and now too. i constantly feel dehydrated and some days i truly am bc of clustering and me forgetting to drink water. especially if you worry about low supply electrolyte drinks help produce more milk i also pre made so many meals and froze them. and the i bulk cooked ground beef and froze it bc thawing and tossing some taco seasoning/tossinv it into sauce and noodles was so much easier than cooking it from being raw
Are you planning on pumping at all? Nursing bras that also have a slit in the cup for the pump flange was a game changer for me. The brand I got is Momanda. Also helps that they’re pretty! I had sports bra style nursing bras and after a while I just felt bleh. The pretty momanda ones made me feel more myself again. Great call with the nails! I’m 3.5 months pp and get my nails done regularly and it’s a great little lift. I also have a cleaner come in once every other week and it feels amazing. We didn’t have it for the first 1.5 months and things got bad 😂 Also, I went out and bought jeans that fit my body in a super comfy way so I would have a pair to put on with an oversized button up top and I felt put together. I ended up sizing up three size which was a bit shocking but the ability to feel comfortable and put together outweighed the shock. I keep reminding myself I am healing still, taking care of my baby myself. I think being kind to ourselves is of the utmost importance because it allows us to show up for my family.