All the essentials you need for your postpartum care kit.

After growing your tiny human for 9 long months, being in labor for countless hours, and departing from the hospital without a full-fledged staff of nurses, you are going to need a Postpartum Care Kit. You may not need everything in this kit, I didn’t. But I am glad I was prepared because some things were absolute lifesavers. ESPECIALLY my Peri bottle. Regardless of what you think you may need, you could end up needing more or less. It is best to be prepared postpartum. Let’s jump in!

• A Robe
• Peri Bottle
• Underwear/Pads/Diapers
• Stool Softener
• Nursing Pads
• Padcicles
• Compression Socks
• Silver Gel
• Dermoplast
• Toilet-Top Sitz Bath
• Epsom Salt, Witchhazel, Lavender
• Protein
• Haakaa
• Nipple Butter
• Belly Wrap

As you navigate this transformative time, crafting a thoughtful postpartum care kit can be a reassuring step toward self-care and well-being. Just as you’ve prepared meticulously for the arrival of your little one, dedicating attention to your own postpartum recovery is equally important.

A Robe

The first thing in any new mother’s arsenal is a robe. Make sure it’s lightweight and thin. You can walk around, and whip your boob out easily, it keeps you from having to wear clothes. After having a baby, you won’t fit in your maternity clothes anymore, but you still won’t fit into your pre-baby clothes either.

My robe came in clutch. I wore it every day for those first few weeks. You will probably have to wash it every other day due to baby puke, blood, and breast milk.

I bought mine from Target, but this one on Amazon looks very similar. There are many different colors, and with some robes, you can buy matching baby swaddles. Avoid the silk ones. It is more difficult to wash breast milk out of them.

Peri Bottle

Your Peri bottle will literally save your life. They give you a cheap little squirt bottle in the hospital but it is NOTHING compared to the curved one below.

The curved ones are able to spray all of your nether bits adequately. You may enjoy cold water in them if you are pretty sore, but I found it to be very physically shocking. I preferred the water to be a little more than warm. It helps mostly when you pee. It keeps you from having to wipe while you are still very sore, but it also helps with the poop too. Your entire undercarriage will be sore and raw and ripped. This bottle will be your new best friend. Pro-tip, buy two. Keep one in your bathroom under your cabinet, and keep one in your purse for when you have to go out in public. Or just buy the fancy one for at home and put the hospitals in your purse.

Underwear/Pads/Diapers

You can’t use tampons after having a baby. Even if you could, you’d be crazy to attempt. In the hospital, they will give you diapers. Take them and wear them with pride. I used mesh underwear and a pad for the first day before giving in and wearing adult diapers. The diapers catch everything. You don’t have to worry about laying on your side at night and leaking, (Yes. That does happen.) Plus they are great for the incontinence you are bound to have after pushing out a 6+ lb bowling ball. They are also fabulous for women who birthed their children through cesarean. The diapers pull up high enough to cover your incision and add a little extra support.

If you cannot bring yourself to wear adult diapers, you are in for the gargantuan pads. Overnight pads are the best because they hold the most. You will have to get the extra long kind too, the blood will go through your booty cheeks, up your crack, and soak right through your undies. Mesh underwear is the best. They are longer than normal to help cover your belly some, and you just throw the entire thing away after you are done. No worries about bleeding through.

Stool Softener

Ah yes. Our good friend stool softener. This is slightly different than laxative so make sure you get STOOL SOFTENER. That first poop after the baby is going to scare you. Stool softeners will definitely help. Your doctor may have you take it for the first week after the baby anyways, but I have it added to the list. Some doctors don’t give you enough information.

Nursing Bra

This is a little obvious, but I still want to tell you about them. I highly recommend soft bras to the wired ones. Buy your nursing bras BEFORE you give birth. In your third trimester, your boobs will be twice their normal size, but guess what, they will still get bigger. Wait until your 8th month, take the size bra you wear now, and go up by only one size. You may need to go up more than that, but that is why we buy soft bras. They are also great because you will be super sore when your milk comes in. Between raw nipples and achey full breast, the soft bras will be the best.

Nursing Pads

This one is another easy one. Even if you choose to formula feed, your breast will still be sore and will still leak those first few days postpartum. You can purchase reusable breast pads. This can be time-consuming and a little gross. You will have to wash them often and if you miss one or wait a day to wash, it will get crusty and smell absolutely sour. But, it is cheaper than buying disposables. I am normally a clean person, but I ended up with disposable breast pads all over the house stuck to everything.

Padcicles

Trust me, your lady bits will love this. I both bought them and made them. then I compared the two.

The ones I purchased were Frida-Baby/Frida-Mom. They were great on the way home and the first little bit. You crack them like a glow stick and put them between your legs. They absorb the blood as well. The only problem I really had was the expense. They were large, but they were expensive.

You can make them yourself with various things around the house. You will have to buy pads anyways. There is a great blogger who showed me how to make them. You can learn how here.

Compression Socks

Your feet swell a ton during pregnancy, they will still swell postpartum. You should try to be horizontal as much as possible for at least the first 2 weeks, but these will still help you immensely. They reduce swelling as well as assist in preventing blood clots and varicose veins.

There is a heightened risk of blood clots, particularly in the legs due to decreased mobility and changes in blood flow. Compression socks help improve blood circulation by assisting the veins in returning blood to the heart more efficiently. This can lower the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other related complications.

Silver Gel

Silver Gel isn’t a necessary item. It’s an ointment that you put on small tears, scars, and stitches to help improve healing time as well as reduce scarring. It doesn’t burn to put on as much as the next one does.

Dermoplast

Dermoplast will either be your best product or worst. DEPENDING on your level of tear and stitches. It is a numbing spray… But it will burn to put it on if you have some serious damage to your lady parts. It works amazingly, as long as you don’t have any serious open wounds. If you have some serious stitches, try putting Vaseline on them before peeing or pooping. This will help with the burn from pee, but will also help apply the Dermoplast.

I know that makes you nervous, but seriously, it helps. Spray it on your labia and on your hemorrhoids. I will help lessen the pain.

Toilet-Top Sitz Bath

A toilet-top sitz bath is not actually necessary for your postpartum healing. You could very well do a sitz bath in your tub. It is great for soothing the achey muscles you have after laboring for days. But on days when you don’t have time for a full bath, or if you simply do not want to completely undress and take a full bath, a toilet top sitz bath is perfect. Fill it with warm water and add Epsom salt. witch hazel, lavender, or anything extra you may like. They also sell salts specifically for sitz baths.

I had a very simple one like this one.

These are a little more boujee than the one above.

Epsom Salt, Witch Hazel, and Lavender

These will go in your sitz bath. Regardless of toilet top or in an actual tub. You can buy the individual items or you can buy it all together specifically made for a sitz bath. The Epsom Salt with soothe the soreness, Witch Hazel can help the healing process, and lavender will help to soothe you.

Protein

For the love of all that is holy, buy snacks and stuff before labor. You will be starving nonstop since you have worked off so many calories with labor. If you are breastfeeding, it will be even worse. I was a ravenous fein while I was breastfeeding. My husband made beef jerky himself, I ate probably 2 lbs of it within the first few days. I craved meat and water more than I craved air. Breastfeeding takes so much work. You burn tons of calories by feeding another human.

Painkillers

Your doctor will likely prescribe you some extra strength ibuprofen postpartum or maybe something strong if you have had a c-section. Take it. Even if you think you don’t need it, take it. Ibuprofen and Tylenol will probably be enough, but on the off chance that it isn’t, take the painkillers anyways. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any medicines. Some can thin your blood.

Haakaa

This is considered a manual breast pump. But it is so much better. I bought two, one to take on the go and one to leave at home. I ended up keeping them both at home for a while. They were great if you are too sore to use an electric breast pump. The letdown that happens with these is a more natural and normal feeling. I would put one on each breast in the shower and when the hot water hit me, I would have an amazing letdown. It holds about 4 oz or more if you are careful. Just don’t forget to transfer them into bags and freeze or refrigerate the milk.

Nipple Cream

Nipple cream helps to soothe and heal dry, cracked, or sore nipples that can occur with breastfeeding. Nursing an infant can sometimes lead to irritation and discomfort, and nipple cream can help alleviate these issues. Sore or cracked nipples are so painful. It made breastfeeding a less-than-pleasant experience for both me and the baby. Nipple cream will help reduce pain and discomfort.

I do HIGHLY recommend using organic nipple cream.

Belly Wrap

Pregnancy and childbirth can cause the abdominal muscles and skin to stretch SIGNIFICANTLY. Wearing a belly wrap postpartum can provide gentle compression and support to the abdomen, helping to reduce discomfort and provide a feeling of stability. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have had a cesarean section or experienced diastasis recti (a separation of the abdominal muscles). They make specific ones for those who have had c-sections.

While a postpartum belly wrap primarily focuses on the abdominal area, it can indirectly provide some support to the pelvic floor muscles, which can be weakened after childbirth.

You can view a full article here on why belly wraps are so beneficial. What to Expect.

Remember, every person’s needs are unique, so feel free to adjust this list based on your preferences and any specific recommendations from your healthcare provider. As you prepare your postpartum kit, keep in mind that the focus should be on creating a comfortable and stress-free environment that promotes healing and bonding with your new baby.

In the transformative journey of motherhood, prioritizing postpartum care is essential for nurturing both body and spirit. Assemble your postpartum care kit with thoughtful consideration, embracing the items that will soothe, support, and assist you in such a difficult transition. From protein-filled snacks and hydrating essentials to cozy apparel and self-care indulgences. Remember, this kit is not merely a collection of items, but a kit that you made for your own wellbeing. You must take care of yourself first before you can take care of anyone else. As you embark on the path of postpartum recovery, may this care kit serve as a comforting companion, guiding you through healing and restoration.

Make sure to keep an eye out for my future posts!