Ah, postpartum time… I’m making my way through my third trimester, so the dreaded postpartum time is becoming a closer and closer threat. It will be a beautiful and life-changing time with our first child, but I’m not forgetting about the pain and discomfort that’s bound to come.
After lots of research, I’ve gathered up all the essential items I think I’ll need for the weeks following our son’s birth. Some are for pain, some will speed up healing, and some are just for comfort and getting my pre-pregnancy body back.
Not all of these essentials need to stay in the bathroom, but most should. Keeping them in a basket or caddy is a helpful way to make sure everything stays together in whichever bathroom you’re hanging out by.
To see what’s in my postpartum essentials kit, keep reading!
Postpartum Essentials
Tylenol – There’s no doubt you’re going to be in some pain after birth. Get a bottle of some maximum-strength pain killers.
Adult diapers – In those first few days when your bleeding is heaviest, it’s honestly much easier to lounge around in an adult diaper. I know, it’s not glamorous by any means, but they’re a lot less hassle than a huge pad. The Always Discreet brand is what I’ll be going with.
Pads – If diapers aren’t your thing, or after your bleeding has slowed down a bit, you’re going to need lots of pads. I’m talking those super-absorbent overnight ones with wings. You’ll wear those for a few weeks, then “graduate” to some ultra-thin overnight pads that are 100x more comfortable.
Padsicles – Before you give birth, take some of those larger pads and prep some padsicles using my instructions. These are wonderful for giving some much-needed cooling and relief in those first few days.
Granny panties – If it isn’t clear yet, things are gonna get a little messy. Save your good underwear and get some cheap undies you don’t mind ruining. Make sure to size up one or two sizes so they’re big enough to hold the huge pads.
Dermoplast – This is a numbing spray that you can apply right onto your downstairs. It not only helps with pain but also itching, which is especially great for those who have to get stitches.
Tucks pads – These are advertised for hemorrhoids, but you can also line a few tucks pads in your pad for a cooling relief on all your tender areas. Also, a bonus if you happen to get hemorrhoids during pregnancy or birth — which totally happens!
Peri bottle – Peeing after giving birth is less than enjoyable because of the acidity of your urine. A peri bottle is just a squirt bottle that sprays warm water (kind of like a manual bidet) to make peeing less painful. Lots of people swear by this one, which has an angled sprayer.
Witch hazel – If you made my padsicles, you’ll likely have a lot of witch hazel left over. This is just a natural, anti-inflammatory ingredient found in a lot of postpartum products. For some extra help, add a bit of this to your peri bottle every time you use it.
Sitz bath – Probably my favorite suggestion is getting a sitz bath. This is basically a little basin that fits onto your toilet seat that you fill with warm water and sit on for 5-10 minutes a few times a day. It helps keep you clean and gives some relief. Feel free to add some witch hazel to this, too!
Stool softener – Almost more than birth itself, I’m nervous about my first postpartum poop. Please, trust me, and just grab some stool softeners. Everything down there is going to be sore and you want to make it as easy on yourself as possible.
Belly wrap – After about a week or so, you’ll start to feel much better and start thinking about your pre-baby body. I know I already have been. A belly wrap is awesome to “pull everything together” and give you some back support. It’s not a weight-loss tool, but it helps with loose skin and speeding up the process.
Your hospital is likely to supply you with a lot of these things, but not enough to last you the full 4-8 weeks of recovery time. Make sure to ask what they’ll provide you with and then stock up from there.
There’s plenty of other postpartum products out there that I’m sure are great, but I didn’t see any of them as being necessary or they were just repetitive. This is just a list of postpartum essentials I think you’ll actually need, use, and be thankful for.
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