I remember towards the end of my pregnancy I couldn’t wait for it to be over so I could walk normally, sleep comfortably and go up the stairs without losing my breath. What I naively did not realize was how hard those things would be immediately after delivering my baby. Labour was nothing short of it’s name. It was long, exhausting and yes, painful. Although I had expected there to be pain during, and some tenderness after, I did not realize it would render me nearly immobile for the first few weeks. Every woman will have a different experience and some might not be in as much pain as I was, or bleed for the entire 6 weeks, however, the following are some items that could help everyone postpartum.
Peri Bottle(s)
First and foremost one is not enough! The one they give you at the hospital is great but if you have more than one bathroom in your home or plan on leaving the house at all during the first few weeks postpartum you will want a handful of these little spas for your tender lady bits. Seriously. I had one in every bathroom, one in the diaper bag and an extra tucked away in the medicine cabinet. I was terrified to urinate after delivery, but the peri bottle filled with warm water (make sure it’s warm, hot is painful and cold is shocking), really helped ease and soothe the process. You can also add Epsom salt to the warm water for added relief. Not only was the bottle soothing it also cleanses the area without having to apply any pressure. I thought I’d never stop using these bottles, it took almost 6 weeks, but I eventually broke up with Peri.
These Peri bottles are currently on sale at $4.99 + free shipping on Amazon.
Tucks
Pushing causes a lot of stress on your body. If you thought you’d seen the last of hemorrhoids because you’re no longer pregnant, unfortunately, you’re sadly mistaken. It’s been nearly 5 months postpartum and I still have some from the two and a half hours I spent pushing. This is something I never talk about, until I realized I have to tell my daughter it is normal to go #2. I had pretty much convinced myself women do not go #2. The first time you have to go after giving birth is absolutely terrifying. I thought if I had to push, all my organs would fall out of my body. They didn’t. But to ease this process Tucks Pads helped with swelling and I also took a couple gloves from the hospital to hold myself while I pushed, just in case my organs did fall out I could catch them.
5 Packs containing 40 Tucks Pad per pack are also on sale for a whooping $27.99 + free shipping here.
Nipple Shield, Cream & Ice Packs
If you choose to breastfeed the first few weeks can be painful, but I promise the pain does go away. I had inverted nipples and my baby had to break the ligaments holding my nipples in. This was extremely painful, I do not want to sugar coat this, because you are not alone if it hurts, but after 7 weeks I no longer felt any pain and I am so grateful I never gave up. A nipple shield helps to give your nipples a bit of a break for some feedings. It also helps baby nurse if your nipples are flat or inverted. I had never heard of this little lifesaver until my mom’s friend had the same issue. What a difference it made for breastfeeding. It was wonderful to have this option. Additionally to heal and moisturize your cracked, chapped nipples a good lanolin cream or nipple butter can be very soothing. Do not worry about needing to wash this off before a feeding because these creams are okay for your baby to ingest and washing your nipples will just make it more painful.
There are ice packs specifically made for breastfeeding Mommas. They are great to bring down swelling and provide relief when your milk engorges your breasts. Warm compresses help as well.
Nipple shields can be found here for $5.99
Lanolin Cream can be found here for $7.58
Natural Nipple Butter can be found here for $19.95
Soothing gels pads are on sale for $3.68(saving $7.31). You can find them here
Reusable Ice packs can be found here for $24.99
Good Shoes & Slippers
Cushions for every part of your body! A good pair of shoes and slippers help support your back, legs and feet. It’s never a bad idea to invest in a good pair of shoes. Walking postpartum adds pressure to your pelvic floor and good shoes will relieve some of that pressure.
Sitz Bath
It’s literally a bath while you sit. This convenient little apparatus sits inside your toilet bowl and cleanses your perineum, while helping to heal any tears you may have. While your baby naps, take 10 minutes for yourself, grab your phone or a book and give your bottom the much deserved spa and relaxation it needs after successfully accomplishing it’s biggest task to date!
Find Sitz Bath here for $11.28.
Puppy Pads
There really isn’t anything sexier to your partner than you, naked, with your legs spread in bed, right? Ironically this is probably how you got here, but, when you’re sitting on your bed with a puppy pad under your bottom and a makeshift fan airing out the birthing region it will set a different mood. Do not worry the image of you airing out will be forgotten after the six week wait. It may not be your sexiest moment but it sure feels great! It also helps to heal the tears and stitched areas. Do this for about half an hour after a sitz bath, or a shower, several times the first week. I am unsure of the actual name for the pads at the hospital but they are exactly the same as puppy training pads. If you can take a few extra from the hospital on your way out, stock up, or if nothing else, head to your local pet store and they will have what you need.
Find 150 case of Puppy Pads here for an unbelievable $23.99.
Pads & Comfortable Underwear
As mentioned before everything sexy is thrown out the window at this point. Not only figuratively but quite literally you will want to throw away any underwear that ride up, that are too tight or do not provide much support for pads. Find the biggest, comfiest pair of underwear and fill your drawers! By the end of six weeks I had become so accustomed and comfortable to wearing them I nearly forgot I do not need them anymore. I felt no shame rocking them a while longer. Before the arrival of your baby, if you can, stock up on an absorbent, comfortable pad. You might feel like your baby is not the only one wearing a diaper but it will provide the most comfort and support.
Find Disposable post natal underwear here for $22.78.
Padcicles
There’s a new thing being shared on social media sites about freezing water in condoms and then using them to ease the pain following labour but I could not imagine inserting anything after delivering my 9.5lbs baby. Instead, one afternoon while anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby girl my partner and I put some music on, had some pregnancy craving snacks, sat at the kitchen table and made up a dozen padcicles. What you need: overnight Always pads, witch hazel and aloe vera (some people add lavender essential oil but I opted out). Pour a few cap fulls of witch hazel on the pad and about one tablespoon of aloe vera, fold them back into their wrappers and freeze. Once ready to be used, take out the pad leave it on the counter to thaw for 5 minutes. Wearing this should relieve swelling and pain.
All this information may sound scary, but none of it is unbearable. You’re strong Momma! You got this.
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Driving her sense of adventure is her insatiable desire to have an impact on those around her. Before motherhood, Jess’ career supporting women in domestic violence shelters further confirmed that she feels most impactful when empowering other women. While she is hoping to spend most of her time empowering the tiny human she grew, she also wants to spread her message to women around the world through her writing.
Jessyka is known as Mom to her beautiful baby girl, born November 24th 2016; Duck to her loving, supportive and hard-working partner; and Human to an energetic, cheeky little Yorkie.
- My Breastfeeding Struggles, Inverted Nipples And What Finally Helped Me - September 1, 2020
- My Battle With Postpartum Anxiety: My Baby Wasn’t Sick; I Was - August 19, 2020
- 7 Things I won’t Regret on our First Year Together… - February 23, 2018
2 comments
Some truly interesting info , well written and loosely user friendly.
Good Jessyka!!