List of Items for a Smoother Transition
Pads - Plenty after birth of all sizes as your blood flows for between 4-6 weeks postpartum
Perineal ice packs - Can be helpful, as can peri-bottles to squirt as you pee to prevent any burning sensations
Sitz bath herbs - To help heal perineum and vaginal tissue
Plentiful food - Frozen meals, meal trains, DoorDash etc. to help ease thinking about planning family meals for as long as you can
Water in abundance - No-spill water bottles, or 5 gallon jugs you can replenish from
Organizer cart with wheels - So you can bring from room to room when nursing. Keep water, books/phone/charger, wipes and burp cloths, diapers underneath, snacks while breastfeeding. No need to gather - they're all in one place.
Nipple butter - Earth Mama is a good brand
Hemorrhoid cream - H-Salve by Thena
Comfortable postpartum clothing - Bras, underwear... be at your coziest! On that theme, make sure you take care of YOU. Get an in-home postpartum body massage. Make plans with your partner/family so you can get some alone time - even if it's an hour to shower, sit in the sunshine and just do whatever you want to do.
Nutrition
Eat warm, nourishing foods that are nutrient dense and easy to digest. Your body has been working so hard - support your changes by staying away from cold, damp, heavy and hard to digest foods, such as too much dairy, sugar, fried foods, or salads. Your digestive fire needs to rebuild, so plenty of WARM food:
- Bone broths
- Soups and stews
- Chicken, fish, beef, lamb
- Rice and lentils, beans
- Asian foods are great for this
- Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods
Community Support
Reach out to family, friends and community to support you during this time. Make sure you place a limit on visiting times, especially in the first few weeks as you are recalibrating to a new family life and post birth.
Resources
Check out Dr. Aviva Romm for all things hormone related, women's and children's health related. She is a Yale-trained doctor with a background in Midwifery and herbalism and has a well-rounded perspective on many topics.