Hi Friend! If you’re reading this post, it’s likely because you’re about to deliver a baby and you’re looking for some support and information on the essentials to help your body recover and heal after delivery.
When I delivered my first baby, I walked into the hospital ready to give birth via a c-section. I walked in with rose colored glasses and a very naive mindset of what the coming weeks would look like. Now, nearly 14 years later, I have given birth to 4 live babies and have said goodbye to 5 babies I didn’t get to keep on this side of Heaven.
There are a LOT of things that I wish I could go back and change about my postpartum recovery. There are things I wish I had done differently and items I chose intentionally to have on hand for my last live birth.
I would love to share these items with you so that you be armed with confidence and know that you have the tools to heal and thrive in the fourth trimester.
* Before I dive into my list, I want to make clear that this list is for EVERY woman preparing to deliver a baby. Whether you’re choosing to parent in a traditional sense or whether you’re preparing to deliver a baby you be raising on this side of Heaven (due to a pregnancy loss, life limiting diagnoses, adoption or surrogacy experience). Regardless of your situation, I tenderly want to acknowledge that birth experiences are not one size fits all but each birth experience DOES require recovery and grace for our bodies as women.
My Top 10 Postpartum Essentials:
This was an item I didn’t have with me for my first delivery and I made sure to have on hand for my next three live births. There was something incredibly freeing about ditching the scratchy, revealing hospital gown and bringing my own. I chose gowns with comfortable fabric, snaps for nursing and skin to skin plenty of room to move around for birthing positions and something I was fine to throw away after birth in the case that it became ruined during delivery.
I did get push back from hospital staff at each of my deliveries which STILL feels crazy to me. Just know that NO ONE can make you wear a hospital provided gown. If YOU want to bring your own gown, own that choice and stand by it confidently. I’m so glad I did and I have never regretted my decision to feel more like myself while delivering babies.
Fresh Smoothies for the Hospital and Bone Broth for home!
Fresh smoothies were a HUGE one for me and I can’t recommend it enough for immediately post delivery. Before my last delivery I went to Whole Foods and I stocked up on fresh organic smoothies. I brought a small cooler to the hospital with me and I kept these smoothies on hand for immediately post delivery and the following 24 hours of postpartum. I also had them on hand at home in my fridge for the first several weeks after delivery.
While I can’t speak for everyone, my own experience has been that I deliver my babies and am in ROUGH shape immediately afterwards. For this reason, I knew I wanted to have something on hand that would provide me energy and lots of nutrients to jump speed my recovery. I especially made sure to stock up on smoothies that were loaded with fiber and protein to help aid in digestion.
With that said, warm foods, soups and bone broth have researched and said to be incredible healing for your body after delivering a baby. I stocked up on my favorite Kettle and Fire Bone Broth to have on hand once I arrived home and I warmed it and drank it in place of morning coffee for the first several weeks after welcoming Judah.
On that same note, Electrolytes are hugely important in helping to restore depleted nutrients after delivery. I used LMNT electrolyte packets throughout my last delivery and postpartum journey. These were essential to helping my body heal. My doula made sure I had them on hand in my giant hospital water bottle during my delivery and I made sure to have water with electrolytes next to my bed in the weeks after coming home.
Among many other things, electrolytes are said to help aid sleep, digestion, blood sugar, boost immunity, lessen headaches and support muscle function; all of which can be affected during delivery.
I didn’t have any snacks on hand after my first several deliveries and this is something I made sure to change this last time around. Chomps sticks are grass fed, full of protein and easy to pack, keep on your postpartum cart (more bout that below) or stash in a purse or diaper bag. I also brought these skinny dipped almonds and Lara Bars. Having your own snacks on hand allows you the freedom to grab food when you’re hungry and not have to buzz the nurses each time you want a snack.
The hospital will provide you with a thin mesh underwear for postpartum. Three deliveries in and these just never feel sufficient. Before my last delivery, I went to Target and stocked up on multiple packages of thicker disposable underwear. I had a whole system set up in the bathroom at the hospital. I made sure to have several pairs of the underwear right next to the toilet along with some thick pads to stick inside and a Peri Bottle with warm water ready to go each time I needed to change. I kept this same setup going at home and it worked well for me!
A heated blanket and Warm Socks
Another few crucial items that I wish I had known to have on hand for my first delivery. After you deliver, you’ll experience full body chills due to hormone fluctuations. Bring an electric heating blanket and several pairs of thick warm socks to relax your body and help calm the shakes and clenching.
This was something new that I put together before my last delivery and it was SO helpful to have at home while healing. I ordered this cart on Amazon and I used it to hold all the postpartum essentials. It housed my breast pump, my Haaka, snacks and water, diapers & wipes, nipple balm and diaper rash cream. I also used the cart to store crayons, coloring books and books for reading to my older kiddos so that they could sit next to me in bed and have something to do during my recovery.
The Haaka was an absolute lifesaver for me and if you choose to and are able to nurse, I promise it will be your saving grace as well. I used my Haaka while nursing on one side to collect let down milk on the opposite side.
I would also bring my Haaka in the shower to collect milk that would fall during and immediately after getting out. Not only did this help me to stash up extra milk, but it also kept me from getting sticky from leaky milk. I would go as far as to say, buy TWO and keep them both on hand.
Bring your peri bottle home from the hospital (or purchase your own). As soon as you make your trip to the bathroom, turn on the warm water and fill it. Make sure it’s not too hot or too cold. Trust me, this is a life saver in the days post recovery and it isn’t just enough to have one at the hospital.
Oh goodness, how I wish we didn’t need this but really, it’s an essential. I’ll spare you the details but just make sure you have some on hand for the weeks after delivery. Even if its a “just incase” scenario. Also, just a tip that I didn’t know with my first baby– ask for a laxative to be added to your medicine rotation in the hospital. This is incredibly important and I’m not sure why it isn’t a part of all delivery recovery plans.
There you go, friend! That’s my list of postpartum essentials! I hope this is helpful for you as you prepare for your upcoming delivery! If you have added suggestions, I would love to hear them in the comments!
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