For this mini series on postpartum encouragement, I am teaming up with one of my close friends, Heather. She is a mom of five kiddos and is currently right in the middle of her own postpartum with her sweet baby, Jack. Heather was at two of my births and I was so thrilled to be her doula this time around. She is an incredible example to me and many others in glorifying God through the joys and challenges of motherhood. You can read her posts HERE.
In the previous two posts, we’ve focused in on some of the changes a mom undergoes during postpartum and why a mom needs to slow her pace during this time. In this post, I’m excited to share lots of helpful resources and tools for a healing and restorative postpartum. When I find a helpful tip or effective product, I just can’t keep it to myself! I hope these ideas help you practically prepare for your postpartum.
Read my previous posts:
PART 1 : Understanding basic postpartum changes
PART 2: Planning for a season of slowing down
Read Heather’s posts:
PART 1: Spiritual preparation
PART 2: Mental preparation
PART 3: Emotional preparation
PERINEAL HEALING
With my first baby, I was a little shocked by how painful this was. Even with no tearing, I experienced quite a bit of swelling and it was pretty uncomfortable all around. I think this is another reason why we should plan to sit a lot in the first week. We need to give our bodies time to be still and give ourselves the best chance for a full recovery.
Here are some products that I’ve found super helpful in healing this area and staying as comfortable as possible.
Peri bottle. This is a great tool for keeping clean after using the restroom. Wiping can be painful while your perineum is sensitive and sore as you heal, so filling this bottle with warm water and rinsing is the way to go. You may get one from the hospital or your midwife may provide one as part of the birthing kit. I’ve always used this kind but I love the newer, more thoughtful designs that allow you to spray/rinse from any angle.
“Padsicles”. I know, I know, the name is really cheesy, but… it’s kind of accurate. If you’ve never had a baby, you will appreciate these one day. And if you have had a baby, well, then you know how great these iced pads are! Again, your hospital or midwife may provide you with a few of these, but you can also order more here or make your own–I’ve used both kinds! They are very soothing, especially if you have any kind of swelling. (The pre-made ones have a sealed cold pack inside an absorbent pad that is activated after you “crack” the pad–kind of like those glow-in-the-dark sticks you played with as a kid!)
Another great option are these reusable hot/cold perineal ice packs from Lansinoh. I haven’t tried these but I’ll be keeping these in mind for next time!
Herbal bath. This has been one of my absolute favorite parts of my home births. About an hour or so after the baby is born, my midwife gets an herbal bath ready for mom and baby. By then, the herbs have been steeping for a few hours and are then strained off into the bath water. And oh my goodness, it is the best thing ever. The herbs are so healing for the perineum, the bath water smells incredible, and it’s so nice to freshen up after the intensity of labor. It’s also great for healing baby’s cord stump. This one gives you enough for at least two baths.
Herbal perineal spray. I’ve not personally used these, but I’ve heard they can be really helpful! I love the Earth Mama brand and thought this one looked great.
BREASTFEEDING
Nipple butter. I’ve used several kinds over the years and hands down, this one from Earth Mama is my favorite. I really like that this one isn’t quite as thick and “stiff” as other brands, so it is very gentle to apply. It also provided instant relief whenever I would apply, which I hadn’t noticed with the others I’d used before.
Nursing pads. I loved these ones after Nora was born! I used disposable ones with my other two babies and they had worked just fine. Probably the only thing I hadn’t liked about the disposable ones was that they were a tad bit scratchy on my tender skin. I decided to try something new this past time and these ones from Kindred Bravely did not disappoint! They are SO soft and absorbable. Even during the days of my milk coming in and regulating, I never leaked through these.
If you prefer the convenience of disposable nursing pads, these are the ones I liked the most.
Soothing gel pads. My midwife gave me these after I had Chloe and I’ve made sure to have some on hand after each baby since! They feel amazing when you’re sore from nursing in the early days postpartum.
Nursing bras. I’ve been super impressed with the Auden line from Target this time around! They are comfortable, pretty, and functional. The price is perfect, too. I noticed that Walmart has some great nursing bras, tanks, and other pieces like this lace-edged grey robe. I also have their hands-free pumping bra and it’s great!
Nursing-friendly clothing. This is a separate post and one I can’t wait to do, but I at least want to mention Latched Mama. They are a mama-owned company and they make the most amazing clothes for nursing moms. I have several of their pieces and they are worth every penny–I’m pretty sure I wear them each at least once a week!
If you are wanting to boost or even just support your milk supply, these are two of my favorite products! I’ve seen a noticeable increase with both of these:
Mother’s Milk tea (you can find single boxes at most grocery stores in the coffee/tea aisle)
Mama’s Magic Milk Boost tincture
A FEW MORE POSTPARTUM SUPPORTS
AfterEase tincture. Girl, go put this in your Amazon cart now and thank me later! This herbal tincture is wonderful for easing (hence the name) those awful post-birth cramps. These cramps tend to get worse with each baby, so having something like this on hand is very helpful, especially in the early days when breastfeeding induces uterine contractions.
Heating pad. This is also helpful for soothing the aforementioned after-birth cramping. I liked placing it right on my tummy over my very sore uterus. Be sure to check with your midwife or doctor first before applying heat in the first couple days postpartum if you had heavy blood loss after birth.
Postpartum Balance tincture. I’ve not used this personally, but a friend said that she felt this tincture was helpful for her postpartum. I will definitely be trying this out next time!
A solid multivitamin. It’s super important to continue supporting your body with a prenatal or other quality multivitamin. After building a baby and then continuing on to breastfeeding, many mamas can wind up a little depleted. I love this one from Plexus, but there are many great options out there! Heather mentioned that she is using this postnatal vitamin from Pink Stork and really enjoying it!
The Christian Postpartum Course. One of my friends has gone through this course by Angie Tolpin, a mom of 9 and birth doula (she’s had couple more babies since launching this course!) and highly recommends it. I recently listened to this podcast episode with Angie and her husband talking all things postpartum and loved what they shared!
The First Forty Days book. This is such a neat book. While some of the ideas might seem little far-fetched and impractical in our American culture, there is a lot of wisdom from other cultures to glean in this book. Author Heng Ou really helps pregnant moms think through how they can plan for a season of slowing down after having a baby and exactly why you should plan to do so. I love this book!
BONUS TIP FROM A MOM OF THREE: GET READY FOR THE DAY
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a mom is that when I take a little time to get ready for the day, I feel energized and motivated. Of course, this looks a little different postpartum when I’m low on sleep and the needs of a newborn are all-consuming. The tips here aren’t in the context of the first couple weeks postpartum when you should really be taking things slow, but more so when you are finding your new normal. Here are a few things I’ve found personally helpful:
- During pregnancy, build a small wardrobe of pretty but comfortable pieces specifically for postpartum. These might include a few camisoles or flowy tops, a couple neutral cardigans, a nursing-friendly dress, a couple pairs of joggers or other lounge-type pants, and pretty robe. The goal here is have some things on hand that you are excited to wear and that you feel good in as you recover. You likely won’t fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes right away and will be tired of your maternity things, so having some special things saved just for postpartum is fun!
- Take that shower. I know it’s hard! Morning comes and maybe the baby is fussy–and the older two are squabbling (I mean, I’m not speaking from personal experience or anything). It’s easy to put something as basic as getting clean on the back burner. But I encourage you to make it happen… you will feel so much better when you are fresh and ready for the day. Nurse the baby and make sure she’s dry. She can sit in her car seat or other safe place in the bathroom where you can see her. I know I sound like a meanie, but if she’s fussing, a few minutes of crying won’t hurt her. And the other two can watch a short show nearby while you whiz through the shower!
- Spend a few minutes on a routine that helps you feel feminine and refreshed for the day. Even on days when I don’t wear makeup, just cleansing my face with my favorite cleanser, spritzing on a rose water facial mist, and smoothing on some moisturizer makes a world of difference. A quick swipe of concealer, a twirl of mascara, and some pretty earrings leave me feeling polished and put together.
I hope these links and tips have been helpful for you! If you know a mom who would be blessed by this post, would you share it with her? I’d love that!
And please chime in–what are some postpartum essentials you’d add to this list? Leave a comment below!
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