This is a list of everything this two time new mama could think of that will help make the postpartum time easier.
What are some things new moms need for themselves?
The period of time after a woman gives birth is a very special time in her life, feeling an overwhelming new love you’ve never known before.
In addition, emotional situations, sleepless nights, and fatigue can all face new parents.
There may be breastfeeding issues, colic, food sensitivities, mastitis, etc.
Intense happiness mixed with possibly some pretty difficult days is something to expect.
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Disclaimer
My personal perspective and experience is what I draw from for this information. I had two babies, naturally/no meds/no complications. Once in a hospital birth center and one water birth in a free standing birth center. If you have complications, or are expecting a c-section, you may find more pertinent info in an article directly addressing those situations.
Things New Moms Need For Themselves While Giving Birth
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
Even though motherhood really begins during pregnancy, that could be a separate blog post.
So, let’s talk about what new moms need for themselves while giving birth.
Support
The job of having a baby is a lot of work!
Support for a spouse and/or doula can make a huge difference in the experience. How did women deal with riding off on a stretcher to do it themselves?
If you are the support person, try to be ready to anticipate needs, and be the errand runner. When it really comes to crunch time, be prepared to be there as a constant assistant, helping reassure, advocate for, help hold different positions, massage, and perhaps even take a bit of aggression or sharp words. Don’t take offense! All will be smoothed out when baby arrives.If you are the mama, remember to ask for what you need. Your loved ones want to be there for you.
Energy Supporting Food
Forgetting to eat while you are in labor is easy to do, and this is only going to make your birth more difficult.
You want to have plenty of energy to handle the contractions and the pushing, which can take a ton of work.
Plan ahead with easy things to grab that require no thinking. Because thinking will not be your strong point while giving birth.
Quick energy is the most important thing food wise.
- Coconut water for electrolytes and natural sugar (or electrolyte drops, etc)
- Finger food protein like hard boiled eggs, precooked turkey bacon, peanut butter, nuts.
- Dried fruit, bananas, pre-made smoothie bags someone else can blend for you (if at home)
- Your favorite protein shake powder packed with a jar of milk of choice to mix with.
Comfy Clothes
After having the baby you will want to wear something comfy.
I suggest packing nursing friendly, easy on and off dresses/nighties to wear the first day or two. This one looks perfect.
Other comfy clothes you’ll want:
Socks
A nursing bra or three
Comfy/stretchy underwear
Here is my favorite nursing bra. I wore this out!
Personal Items
I this post, we are talking birth, so nothing is off limits here today.
You will want to pack your own pads, nursing pads, and spray for the undercarriage. (Catch my drift?)
When giving birth in a hospital, they will provide these things, but I hated all of what they gave me and I wished I had my own.
Pads – The gigantic diaper like pads they give out at the hospital are awful. Some women like them, so give them a try if you want, but I hated them and wanted my own. I much preferred wearing my own underwear with a heavy duty, long pad in them.
These extra long overnight pads are perfect. This is my favorite brand now. The material is organic cotton and they don’t irritate the skin like some.
Nursing Pads – The disposable kind I don’t care for as they tend to stick to your breast and feel itchy. I really liked my washable cloth ones.
Soothing Spray – In the hospital, the nurse bless her heart, offered me a “soothing, pain relief spray”. I said feebly, “okay!”. OUCH!
She brought me a bottle of Bactine spay. It about killed me. Said NO Sting right on the bottle, but ohhhh mama! It stung. I still have that stupid bottle of Bactine. I haven’t been able to throw it away yet, what a hoot. They charged me about $30 for it on the hospital bill. We can do better.
My doula taught me how to use a peri bottle with some Young Living Lavender in it. That’s all you need and it is so soothing and healing. I would be careful using other brands of lavender, I don’t have experience with them and they can have additives and sting you. Young Living Lavender is so gentle and soothing, most people can place it directly on skin.
Relaxing Playlist of Music
During and after having the baby, it is so nice to have a playlist ready to go.
Music is a personal thing, so you’ll have to put your own birth playlist together according to your own tastes.
I would consider getting something ad free, because hearing ads in the middle of the birthing process might make you mad.
Amazon Music offers 30 free days of Unlimited Music.
Things New Moms Need for Themselves at Home
Now you’re home and settling in to life, therefore you have some wonderful, yet hard days ahead.
Lots of Help
The number one thing that can make the “4th trimester” easier is help when you come home.
If you have a husband that can take a week or two off work to help you, that is ideal. Moms who can come over for an afternoon and let you take a nap and maybe wash a load of dishes are great helps too.
Rest
Even if you do feel pretty good after giving birth, rest is much needed!
Try very hard to stay in bed or on the couch for the first week. Even the first 2 weeks is better.
Set up everything you need on your bedside table, in a basket near you or in a rolling cart! Don’t make more work for yourself, going all over the house looking for what you need.
Forcing yourself to get back into the swing of things too quickly can extend your bleeding time and prevent your pelvic floor from recovering fully.
Listen to your healthcare provider’s guidelines. Also realize, sometimes you also have to listen to your own instincts, therefore if you don’t feel strong, rest more! And if it’s soon after and you do feel strong, rest anyway!
Nobody told me to rest enough and I bled for longer than I probably should have, and had an achy pelvic region and lower back for a long time. I knew better the second time!
Stocked Kitchen
Before time comes for the baby to be born, prepare lots of nourishing foods for you and your family to eat.
Freezer meals are the most popular option. You can spend some time prepping a few meals that can be dumped into a crock pot or Intsant Pot with no work.
You can also have things on hand like beef jerky, protein bars, fruit to grab etc.
Nursing Supplies
As I mentioned before, make yourself a diaper changing/nursing station with everything you need close by.
I love these carts from Ikea, they are really good quality. These are ” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow”>some from Amazon too.
As for nursing supplies, here are a few things that a new mom will need:
Pump, bottles and storage bags
Supplements and Pain Relief
Leefy Prana Inflammation Support – Use code DTGL15 to get 15% off you first purchase!
This stuff is phenomenal for relieving pain naturally. Great for headaches too!
Heating Pad – A heating pad is comforting for those after birth uterine contractions and overall soreness down there.
Sunflower Lecithin – This capsule is very helpful, I found, for helping prevent clogged ducts and mastitis. I took it the whole time I nursed my second with great success! It’s very affordable, too!
Progessence Plus Serum – This is a essential oil serum that has bio-identical progesterone for women. You do your own due-diligence with this one, ask your medical professional, do your own research, whatever. But my experience was that it really helped me feel my best after having a baby and balance thing out. My moods and sleep was much easier when I applied a drop or two of this after having my second baby. Check out Dr. Dan Purser’s stuff. He is a women’s health expert and is the one who actually formulated this product.
Good Water Bottle/Cup
One of the most important things you can do while recovering from birth and breastfeeding is DRINK! Drink a TON of water. And having a good, solid bottle that keeps your water nice and cold and reminds you to drink is helpful!
You could go as simple as a big mason jar to save money! I like to put decals on mine to liven them up!
This is a lovely, big glass one… Swooning over the color options!
Entertainment
While new moms will mostly be caring for baby, nursing, pumping or sleeping, there are a lot of times when there is quiet time that you may like to have something to do.
Prepare a few things within reach for keeping yourself occupied.
Zoning out on your phone watching YouTube videos, or scrolling Instagram is definitely fun for awhile, but you won’t want to do that the whole time. You will start to feel like a zombie. (Well, even more of a zombie.)
Easy reading books
Needlework if that’s your thing!
Podcasts
Writing/drawing in a journal
Magazines
Light-hearted movies
Phone/iPad with charger
Audio books – Try out Everand for 2 months free with this link! There are soooo many great books to listen to!
Privacy
I would last but certainly not least, new moms need privacy. Peace and quiet is important to recuperate, and to bond with baby.
Most new moms don’t want people popping in to see the baby right away.
Send a card, have flowers delivered, drop off a meal on the doorstep, or offer to hold the baby while she takes a shower and a nap. But don’t expect to be welcomed over for a visit and don’t’ expect new moms to be accepting guests.
New mama, it is okay to say no when you need to! You don not have to explain yourself. If you don’t want visitors, say you are not up to it, sometime later on.
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