Postpartum Essentials Every Mom Needs -

{This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I earn a commission if you make a qualifyingpurchase through my links (such as Amazon), but it does not change the price that you pay. For more information, please see my disclaimer page.}

As we prepare for baby, I have been going over a list of postpartum essentials every mom needs. These are items that have made the postpartum period so much easier for me.

Peri Bottle

If you are birthing at a hospital, or your midwife has a birth kit, there is probably one included, but I am really loving this design.

After birth your lady bits need some special attention. Rinsing with water or an herbal tea after going to the restroom is a big comfort and helps keep you nice and clean without having to wipe the sore area.

I got the two pack so I can stash one in the diaper bag to have while we are out and to keep one in the bathroom at home.

Herbal Sitz Baths (Or Peri Bottle Teas)

I have not used a sitz bath, but I have made the “tea” and used it in my peri bottle after cooling. These are made with herbs that promote healing, which is definitely a plus. I have used one made by a local mama, as well as Earthley Wellness’ Herbal Soothing Bath.

Perineal Spray

Let’s face it, birth can leave ya sore, these sprays have been a huge relief for me, and they are made with clean ingredients that I can feel good about using. MotherLove Herbal has a great one, and I have also used Earth Mama’s Take Care Down There® and liked it.

Padsicles

I have heard conflicting information on the use of cold for the recovery period. It does numb and help reduce swelling. However, swelling is your body trying to heal, so please do some research on the matter and see what you feel comfortable with. If you don’t end up using them for birth, they do come in handy for other injuries as well.

I do like that these Lansinoh ones also double as a warming pack while The Frida Mom ones are more what you will find in the hospital-the instant ice pack type.

Period Panties

In the past I have used the mesh panties. With my last baby I had a bunch of panties that had just gotten pretty tatty, so I used those and chucked them after. This time I have gotten some PFAS free period panties for my postpartum period.

Postpartum Pads

Since switching to more natural feminine care, I have used bamboo charcoal cloth diaper doublers (that I bought new for the purpose).

I have a set, but I also grabbed some clean disposable ones from HoneyPot and Nyssa this time as well. The Honey Pot ones are long, but kind of thin. The Nyssa is definitely bulkier, but for a very heavy postpartum flow (or heavy period) they are nice.

There are also wonderful cloth options on Etsy. I do try to stick with organic. If you do go with reusable options, don’t forget a wet bag!

Postpartum Pain Management

You will definitely want something on hand for pain. The problem is that both acetaminophen and ibuprofen are pretty bad for you, and can cause several issues with yours, and baby’s health (post on the topic coming).

For general pain management, including childbirth, I highly recommend Earthley’s Pain Potion.

Soreness and muscle trauma associated with childbirth, I recommend Arnica.

For Afterbirth pains (especially if you have more than one child-and the more you have, the more you will want something because they intensify with each). I have used WishGarden’s AfterEase Tincture and it has been a life saver. This time I also grabbed Earthley’s Ease The Ache and want to see how it compares. From everything that I have heard it is right on par with AfterEase.

Postpartum Hydration

Hydration is a big factor in postpartum recovery. There are some great postpartum teas on the market, or you can make your own (recipe coming soon!).

Herbal teas help nourish your body, restoring some of the nutrients that it has used up making baby. They can also help greatly with milk supply.

For more ideas on staying hydrated, you can check out my post, Ideas to Stay Hydrated Naturally.

A Good Waterbottle

Another postpartum essential is a good water bottle. I really like ones with a straw feature because then you don’t have to worry about unscrewing anything to drink and you can drink laying down.

We’re had glass CamelBaks and loved them, they are a bit smaller, and while they are pretty tough, we have had a few break on us. I’ve swapped the plastic straw for a glass one from Strawsome.

Camelbak has come out with a 40oz stainless steel water bottle that is now on my wishlist. I love the soft mouthpiece, but until recently they have only gone to 32 oz, so I am excited to find this one!

Our family has several Thermoflask bottles that we use for daily use as well as outings. I love the 40oz size, though the mouthpiece is hard and I definitely prefer a soft mouthpiece. The xlong GoSili Straws fit well to replace the plastic one that it comes with.

Squatty Potty

(TMI Warning)

This is something that we have anyway, but it is especially nice after labor. Many moms experience difficulty with the first bowel movement after baby. This aligns your body to what it should be to go, and makes it much easier. The 7 inch isn’t really tall enough to do much, but the 9 inch is much better. This one goes a bit higher to 10 inches. You want your feet as close to level with your bum as possible.

Natural Stool Softeners

Hydration is huge. Lemon water can be especially helpful as the citric acid and vitamin c help flush toxins from your body.
Vitamin C Mega Dose
Soaked Chia seeds. Chia seeds absorb up to 12 times their weight in liquid which aids your hydration and they contain a lot of fiber to help things move along.
Dried fruit. Prunes, raisins, dried figs, dried dates all are great for helping things move along. Do be sure to add a little extra liquid intake since these dehydrated fruits do absorb water from your body.

Postpartum Supplements, Nutrition, and Meals

This may turn into a post of it’s own. For now here are somethings that are important in supporting your body (and baby’s if you are nursing) and help replenish nutrients.

Grass-fed Collagen

I like this one from Wholesome Wellness because it contains several types of collagen that are important for your body. I have been using this for about 2 years and love it.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for so many functions, but it especially is important for mom’s mood. I have recently started using Earthley’s Vitamin D Cream. Designed to be absorbed transdermally (which is actually the most effective method of delivery), you simply apply it to areas of the body that tend to have a little pudge after a shower (moist skin absorbs it best). I have noticed a much better sleep pattern for myself, as well as better moods, and energy. I plan to continue with this indefinitely.

Iron

Iron is important for women-especially moms that have just given birth. I take Earthley’s Herbal Energy as well as Wholesome Wellness Grass-fed Beef Liver pills. My midwife this time recommended taking the ‘dose’ throughout the day for best absorption (One of the 4-6 pills listed as the dose every 90 minutes).

When taking iron, it is important to take it either two hours before or two hours after calcium as calcium interferes with absorption of iron. Taking with with a good vitamin c rich food is a good idea.

For more on Iron for blood building, check out this post.

Prenatal or Postnatal Vitamins

It is recommended that women continue their prenatal vitamins, or switch to a postnatal vitamin to replenish the nutrients removed by pregnancy. Some things to look out for are making sure that your vitamins are a whole-food sourced vitamin (more easily absorbed and better used) and that the folate/folic acid is actually a methylated folate.

For this pregnancy I have used MegaFoods Whole Food Prenatals and I plan to pair that with with their Postnatal Vitamin.

Postpartum Nutritional Resources

Nutrition is very important for nursing women. Here are a few of my favorite resources on the topic:

A Mother’s Guide To Breastfeeding Nutrition from Earthley Wellness is a wealth of information on the key nutrients breastfeeding moms need.

These are some of my favorite cookbooks for postpartum and beyond.

Postpartum Meals

You may or maynot have a support system in your area, and they may or maynot offer to bring meals, but having some meals tucked away in the freezer is always a good idea.

I highly recommend these books for nourishing your body after baby. I am making several broths and soups, a nursing snacks, along with protein and healthy fat rich meals to have on hand for myself when baby comes.

Breastfeeding Essentials

I wrote this post on things that I have found educational/helpful in my 12+ year breastfeeding journey and recently updated it.

Comfy Clothes

Comfortable clothes are a big plus for post partum period. I usually live in big tshirts/nursing shirts, nursing dresses, and yoga pants or skirts the first few weeks after birth. I skip bras and stick with nursing tanks or double fitted tanks because they do not restrict lymph flow like bras do and are better for breast health (another post I plan on doing in the future).

Postpartum Resources

Here are a few other postpartum resources I found helpful.

Earthley also has a great Postpartum, Recovery Guide. Mamas need a ton of support to truly get the rest and recuperation needed to maintain their physical, emotional, and mental health. This guide will help you prepare yourself and know how to ask loved ones for help. Whether it’s your first or fifth baby on the way, learn how to avoid the pitfalls that can happen during the postpartum period by allowing yourself to truly recover as we explore important topics for new mamas.