5 Postpartum Must-Haves You Didn’t Think You Need : You’re due in five weeks and you’re wondering if you have everything you’ll need to help you rest and recover in the next few months. While your family’s busy preparing for the baby, it also makes sense to double-check if your stash of postpartum must-haves is complete.
Why stock up on these 5 postpartum must-haves
Once you get back from the hospital, you will be sore and tired. You can’t remember where you put your stash of wet wipes. You might even forget to eat full meals because your full attention is on your newborn. Finally, expect to forget a couple of must-have items in your postpartum care kit.
Before you make last-minute purchases online or send your clueless partner to the nearest drugstore and purchase the best nipple balm for you, stock up on these 5 new mom essentials that are rarely talked about.
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Coffee or caffeine pills
Postpartum headaches are a real thing, particularly after an epidural. For supermodel Chrissy Teigen, no water, Tylenol, or magnesium helped with her postpartum migraines. She’d rather have witchcraft to manage the pain.
I love being pregnant. I like it more than not being pregnant. But the headaches, my god the headaches. Someone…please help. Don’t say water. Or Tylenol. Or iron. Or magnesium. I need witchcraft
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) December 19, 2017
Ask your doctor before childbirth for medications that can help address it. For some new moms, iced coffee or popping a caffeine pill will do the trick. If you’re worried that caffeine will impact breastfeeding, up to 300 mg (that’s about 2–3 cups of coffee or 3–4 cups of tea) per day is considered safe.
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Witch hazel wipes
Pads with cooling witch hazel are a godsend for new mothers. They are ideal for swelling and discomfort in your sensitive areas. Others also find it helpful for hemorrhoid relief postpartum.
If you’d like to DIY, you can prep them ahead of time. Soak your pads in witch hazel and freeze them in a ziplock bag. Your postpartum self will thank you.
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Slide sheets
Recovery from childbirth will be painful, and getting a good night’s sleep can be challenging for the first few weeks. This is particularly true for new mamas who had a C-section. You may find yourself having trouble turning in bed at night alongside the discomfort from the incision site.
A slide sheet on top of your regular bed sheet will slide along with your every move, making turning in bed easier and smoother. You don’t need to put much effort turning and getting up in bed because the sheet is made of soft, slippery material. Turn in bed with ease with slide sheets and you’ll drift back to a restful sleep in no time.
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Stool softeners
If you’ve just delivered a baby, expect constipation to be a mainstay for the next couple of weeks. This is normal because it takes a bit of time for your hormones to go back to normal. Plus, your abdominal muscles will need a break after stretching for nine months.
Besides consuming fiber-rich foods and making sure that you’re hydrated throughout the day, a stool softener can help make moving your bowels easier. A stool softener is a type of emollient laxative that helps soften your stools. However, it’s worth noting that some laxatives work differently, such as stimulating your intestines.
A recent review of research literature on managing postpartum constipation revealed insufficient evidence to conclude that other forms of laxatives can effectively manage constipation after childbirth. For this reason, it makes sense to simply stick with gentle stool softeners and lots of fiber in your food.
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Extra peri bottles
A soothing squirt of warm soapy water from a peri bottle helps you feel fresh down there when everything’s a mess. You don’t have to bend over with this postpartum must-have when cleaning your vagina and the surrounding area.
During postpartum recovery, you’ll also quickly realize that it’s less painful to squirt rather than wipe in making sure that everything is clean after your bathroom trips.
While most hospitals provide a peri bottle, ask for extra bottles from the staff or purchase them online. Have a peri bottle for each bathroom in the house, and add another one for your postpartum travel kit.
Stocking up on postpartum essentials is self-care
A postpartum kit with the essentials mentioned above will make a world’s difference during recovery from childbirth. One last tip — make sure that these supplies are organized and stored in an easy-to-find place.
Do you have other postpartum essentials in mind? Please share them in the comments below!
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