Congratulations on your new bundle of joy, mama! Those last few weeks of pregnancy are filled with so many emotions, and a big one for me was around postpartum care. As a mom of 4 you never really know how your postpartum recovery is going to be especially with other children at home. For me it was different with each of my pregnancies. If you are wondering “what do I need for postpartum care?” you’re not alone! Read on for what my must have postpartum care essentials were that could possibly benefit you as well over the next few weeks!
Postpartum recovery is a topic that not enough people talk about, everyones postpartum recovery is very different. Some postpartum symptoms can be found here. Now let’s get to the nitty gritty what are some must haves for postpartum recovery.
What do I need for postpartum care/ recovery?
The first few weeks after birth can be exhausting, painful and honestly pretty messy. No matter what your delivery ends up looking like, it’s a smart idea to stock up on a few essentials to help you during that time.
- Adult Diapers or Pads– they give you some at the hospital but not enough to get you through the first week at home.
- A comfortable bra– whether you decide to nurse your little one or not your breasts will most likely become engorged at some point so being able to keep them nice and secure can help with the pain and discomfort.
- Postpartum girdle– helps your uterus shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size and is also great for helping with movement if you are sore.
- Tucks (medicated cooling pads)– these were so magical when you are healing down there and help with swelling and healing.
- Freezer meals– this was a big one for me, having a house full of kids that stay hungry I knew for a fact that I was not going to be able to get up and cook full meals right after birth. I made some casseroles and pot roast that I froze to get us through the first week.
- Support! – Whether it be family, significant other or friends anyone you can just call and chat to. Sometimes your emotions are hard to handle so being able to lean on someone or have someone to help with baby duties for a little while to give you a break.