WHAT NEW PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT POSTPARTUM CARE

ATTN: All moms (and dads!) – Did you know this?

Hey ladies (and potentially gents but probably not). Here I sit, 37 weeks along, a couple centimeters dilated, half effaced, and thinking I should probably start getting ready for this baby’s arrival.  Sure, I have a lot of the gear considering this is my second baby. So, I have pulled it from storage, cleaned it all and washed it with Buckaroo Organics Laundry Detergent, and now have most of it in our guest room waiting for the day we will bring her home and pull it all out in the living room to use it.

Since our first was a boy, as well, I have lots of baby boy NB and 0-3 month clothing washed and put away in the dresser, and luckily, I found about three packages of NB diapers in our storage. You could say I am pretty ready to bring this little man home.  I am sure many first time moms have lots of gear ready, a hospital bag packed, newborn picture sessions lined up, and have had their baby showers by this point, too. BUT, there is one thing most first time moms forget… I surely did… And it is called POSTPARTUM CARE! 

This is what I am up to today, and wanted to share with you how I am getting ready to take care of myself before and after “The Main Event”.  

***Am I allowed to call labor and delivery “The Main Event” while playing the song Let’s Get Ready to Rumble? and doing some jumping jacks to try to induce labor? Not appropriate? Ok, I was just kidding…

Postpartum Care Checklist

Here is the list I am going to use to make sure I will have all I need at home after labor and delivery:

• Nursing Bras and Tanks: 
  My personal favorite: Cake Maternity Cotton Candy Nursing Bra and Glamourmom Nursing Tanks
• Nursing clothing 
  There are so many great brands that now sell actual cute nursing clothes worth checking out. Or you can use what you have around the house…just have it altogether and accessible so you’re not digging around once you are so, so sleepy and exhausted at home. Ex: comfortable, loose sweats, baggy shirts, robe, button ups are really handy, cardigans, maternity jeans *no shame in my game* if you feel like sprucing up, etc.
• Nursing Pads: I really enjoyed these Bamboo Washable Nursing Pads. They were comfortable, came in a 2-pack and worked amazingly well! 
• Breast Pump
  My personal favorite, most popular among other moms, and comes with awesome accessories is the Freestyle Flex Double Electric Breast Pump by Medela…BONUS: Insurance should cover this via the Affordable Care Act!!
• Extra bottles to pump in and feed your little one 
  I used a combination of Medela bottles and Lifefactory Glass Bottles
• Pump and Save Storage Bags
• Pump accessories/bottle cleaner
• Huge, comfy granny panties
• Maxi Pads (overnight protection type)
• Medicated wiping pads
• Peri Bottle (most hospitals will send you home with one)
• Stool Softener
• Nipple Cream (Personal Favorite: Tiny Human Nipple Crack)
• Nursing Pillow (could second as a body pillow)
  There are A TON of options here! I’d recommend one that is best suited to you. I loved the My Brest Friend nursing pillow because it had a clip that I could cinch to keep the pillow at the perfect height for me and my baby. It prevented me from hunching over and promoted a healthy posture… since new moms tend to nurse or feed ALL. THE. TIME! 
• Lots and lots of your favorite snacks
• Freezer meals (or maybe you will have an awesome friend line up a meal train for your family and you can get some help in that department)
• Herbal Sitz Bath 
  YES, ladies…give that precious bundle to your spouse or mom or bestie, get spa music on Pandora, a glass of your favorite beverage and fill a tub up with hot water and goodness within the first few days of being home…and thank me later.

So there you have it, these are things I am preparing today as I get ready for baby’s arrival!  I hope you all remember to take care of yourself once that little angel enters your life! I know it will be hard to remember, I know there will be guilt, I know there will be raging hormones…but do something for yourself! You can’t be the best mom without feeling good! Xo