POSTPARTUM
My labor and delivery (you can read about it here) went incredibly smoothly, and I am so thankful I didn’t have complications so my list here might be a lot shorter than what you end up needing but I hope it still gives you a few good ideas and some helpful information!
- Depends or Always briefs are the best thing ever for your after birth bleeding, they absorb a ton and you don’t have to worry at all about leaks, plus they’re kind of mid/high rise and it feels really nice to have some pressure on your belly, or at least for me it was
- A perineal spray like Earth Mama’s feels so nice to spray on the pad or briefs your wearing, it’s cooling and has herbs to soothe
- The Frida Peri Bottle is well worth it, and bonus if you have a moment beforehand to fill it with warm water before using
- Get some button up pajama tops for easy nursing access. I’m also in love with these nursing tanks and nursing bras from Target
- Wherever you’re going to be posted up most of the day resting, whether that’s in bed or on the couch, get yourself a water bottle, snacks, hair tie, phone charger – all the things you might need within arm’s reach so you don’t have to get up (you’ll want to save your abs and glutes from extra work for a while) and extra pillows
BABY
Seriously every day I have a lightbulb go off about a better way to do something or an item that would be handy or a routine that makes more sense, etc. These are in no particular order but I hope this information is helpful to you in some way!
Seriously every day I have a lightbulb go off about a better way to do something or an item that would be handy or a routine that makes more sense, etc. These are in no particular order but I hope this information is helpful to you in some way!
- Change diaper then feed then baby is likely asleep (don’t have to wake then for diaper this way)
- Baby Tracker app (pro version gives Apple Watch app and shortcuts for Siri which I did and find super useful) is my favorite app by far although I’ve heard really good things about Huckleberry as well.
- Read about wake windows for newborns and do your best to follow them, I really think it made a huge difference in Grayson’s sleep once I took them more seriously and paid attention to his naps (stay tuned for a post all about sleep and accounts that I’ve followed/information that’s been super helpful)
- Water bottle in every room you’ll be breastfeeding
- Burp cloths buy tons so you can leave a couple in every room to have handy (I got these off Amazon they’re just basic muslin)
- Salt lamp for a night light (perfect amount of light and doesn’t disturb sleep)
- Portable noise machine buy at least 2 (1 for car and 1 for diaper bag). And then a regular noise machine, I love this one.
- I hate Water Wipes personally they’re too wet and aren’t folded to bring a new up after each pull which is extremely frustrating! I do like the Jackson Reece wipes because they’re so natural but they’re also so soft they almost don’t cleanse as well, and they stretch too much when you’re trying to pull them out so they become all skinny which isn’t helpful. Honest wipes are my personal favorite because they’re moist but not wet and are textured so they cleanse well and they are folded to pull up a new wipe after each pull.
- Honest Dry Wipes are AMAZING they come in handy for so many things especially spit up. But also I like to dry baby bottoms with them so he doesn’t have a moist bottom going into his diaper
- Baby nail scissors work so freaking well
- Kate Quinn is affordable (on sale) and super soft and stretchy.
- If you need to set baby down always go for tummy time unless baby is fussy. Getting in that habit! (BUT do not ever feel bad for using a swing, bouncer, etc to set baby down for a little bit. I have both a swing and a bouncer that I use as needed.)
- Small pack of diapers and wipes in each car as emergency
- Footie pajamas – make sure it has a 2 way zip or reverse zipper. Avoid snaps they just take longer which can be frustrating in the middle of the night. (If regular zipper then when changing diaper leave the top snap done and then can unzip, helps keep PJs on baby to keep them warmer this way. Exception would be Kate Quinn Organics which are so nice I put up with a regular zipper and no top snap)
- Make sure wipes are ready to grab as soon as diaper gets opened and get new diaper placed over even loosely right away in case baby pees, this is especially for boys
- Keep stain treatment at changing station so can spray right when clothes come off (Puracy or Branch Basics)
- Do your best to journal even one sentence each day, you’ll appreciate it. Same with photos.
- Buy 2 baby carriers, keep one in car/diaper bag and one at home (my favorite so far is the Konny)
- Keep a hair tie on your wrist at all times so you can tie up your hair while breastfeeding at a moments notice if wanted (and keep one in every space/room where you might breastfeed including your car and diaper bag)
- Buy a Yeti for your coffee or tea or you’ll never drink warm coffee/tea again otherwise
- Buy tons of snacks so you can eat something quickly with no prep, do your best for healthy snacks but anything is better than nothing don’t stress!
- Extra pillows next to the bed so you can prop yourself up while feeding (the Boppy is actually super helpful for this and/or propping baby up)
- Loving this diaper balm by Earth Mama
- Diaper bag: Diapers, wipes, extra outfit for baby, extra shirt for mom, burp cloth, changing pad, pacifier, portable sound machine, wet bag, travel sized diaper balm/hand sanitizer/stain spray, plastic baggie (for a poppy diaper you need to take home and toss, or could do a Stasher bag)
- This bum spatula is totally worth it so you don’t have to get your hands all goopy
Thanks for reading! I hope you found this helpful and I will continuously update this post as more and more things coming to mind!
