The Postpartum Guide - The Mom Guides

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postpartum

wellness essentials

nursing / pumping

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4th trimester

Welcome to Motherhood. “Postpartum” is the name of the time period after you give birth (also referred to as “the 4th trimester” or “the first 12 weeks”) — so every new mom goes through this stage.

Expect your emotions to be everywhere: hormone levels drop after childbirth (more on this later). Be prepared. During my pregnancy, I was so focused on what I needed to care for my newborn that I completely ignored what I would need to care for myself. Learn from my mistake and plan ahead— you will need relief!

checklist

Rest! The most common advice is to “sleep when the baby sleeps” — if you can, get your rest during this period so your body can heal and reset. The dishes, laundry, etc can wait.
Seriously, put snacks around your house. It’s really important to be well-fed and hydrated for the baby when you’re nursing. My doctor recommended placing a few snacks (mixed nuts, granola bar— whatever snacks you like) in air-tight containers on surfaces around my house so that it reminded me to eat and drink.
Schedule baby's checkups. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends babies get checkups at birth (this happens in the hospital or birthing center), 3-5 days after birth, and then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months. If you want to read more about what to expect, click for a cheat sheet from The Bump.
Schedule YOUR checkups. As of 2021, ACOG recommends checkups at 3 weeks and 12 weeks after birth. Consult with your doctor / midwife.
If you're up for it, schedule a wellness class. Motherly is a great place to start as you navigate the first few weeks of your new life.

SHOPPING LIST

"the first forty days" book

I loved reading The First Forty Days after giving birth; it made so much sense to me. It has recipes and helpful tips to guide postpartum healing. Here is a list of other highly recommended books on postpartum.

Meal Delivery service

We ended up getting a meal service that provided pre-made dinners that take about 10 minutes to prepare. While the food was average, it did the job and it was seriously life-changing. Check out:

reusable water bottle

Everyone has their preference… metal, glass, or plastic… straw or no straw… dishwasher-safe or hand wash only. Whatever you’re into, just get one that you will want to drink out of!

belly binder / wrap

The Ab Wrap by Bellies Inc was specifically designed for abdominal postpartum recovery. Belly Bandit also has a belly wrap which is a bit more affordable.

compression socks

Continue to wear them to reduce swelling, prevent blood clots, spider veins, DVT, etc. I love the Comrad socks.

disposable underwear

You’ll be bleeding pretty heavily for at least a week so you want inexpensive, disposable, yet comfortable underwear that has support. I’m a fan of the high-waisted styles but there is a big range out there to choose from. Check out Mother Mother, Thinx, or good ‘ol fashioned Always.

cozy pajamas

I don’t know what’s “normal,” but I was about the same size postpartum as I was in my 2nd trimester. I was completely comfortable wearing my maternity sweats and loungewear for a few months after giving birth. If you don’t have a super soft pajama set in your wardrobe, this would be the time to buy one. I love this 3-piece set from Cosabella.

all-in-one bundles

If you want an all-in-one kit, I highly recommend the one from BODILY as it’s minimalist, chic, and comes with pretty much everything you need! They also make one for scheduled C-sections.

Mother Mother and Frida Mom also make fantastic recovery kits.

shop postpartum

resources

evaluate your feelings

Hormones drop drastically after childbirth, which is referred to as the baby blues. Some experience this more intensely (postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis).

Be honest with your doctor / care team so that if you are experiencing symptoms (even if you don’t recognize them yourself), you can get the help you need.

If you’re like me and constantly find yourself googling symptoms, one of the best resources for women’s health is Loom’s Symptom Checker.

wellness

shopping list

brodo

Yes, the soup broth! I ordered an 8-pack of bone broth to keep in the freezer, and it was such a good move. Highly recommend it if you’re having a non-summer baby.

aromatherapy eye pillow

The Bodha linen eye pillow is weighted, smells like lavender and chamomille, and is designed to reduce tension.

pads

You will need a lot of pads (expect to bleed for at least a month) and you can’t use tampons. Opt for overnight, extra-long coverage. I like the ones from Rael because they’re organic, made without artificial dyes, fragrances, etc, and women-owned.

padsicles

You will want these padsicles for the first 2 weeks. You may read on other sites that you can DIY your own freezer pads… you probably won’t have the energy. I love these because they don’t need to be put in the freezer – you just crack it open and shake (like you would a glow stick), and you’re good-to-go.

peri spray

For both soothing relief and freshness. I’m a fan of the Earth Mama brand (and they also make a trifecta set), but people also like the blue Dermoplast.

peri bottle

Your hospital / birthing center will likely provide you with a medical-grade squeeze bottle, but if you want one that requires slightly less effort, you can get one with a spout that’s angled.

Note: I was perfectly fine with the one the hospital provided but I would’ve purchased this one or this one had I not been given one).

miralax

MiraLAX mix-ins (or dulcolax or colace) – This. Is. A. Must.

witch hazel pads

Tucks (or similar) for immediate relief and discomfort down there for those first few weeks.

shop pp wellness

if you're nursing

shopping list

nursing robe

This is so comfortable and provides easy access for around-the-clock nursing.

nursing bra

A must-have! Some of my favorites:

Note: I also tried Morrow+Mint but found it uncomfortable.

nursing tops, etc.

There are nursing tees, blouses, sweaters, sweatshirts, shawls, ponchos, scarves, and aprons. All of these options make nursing so much easier, especially when you are on-the-go. Some favorites:

nipple balm

For soothing sore and cracked nipples: Tiger Balm, Bamboobies or Mini Bloom.

nursing pads

Nursing pads are a must to account for leaks. I like these or these washable pads because they are softer and more comfortable than disposable ones.

soothing pads

Soothies Gel Pads and Bamboobies Nursing Pillows are cooling and comfortable. Whether you’re nursing or not, you will likely need relief.

nourishment for lactation

If you like cooking and want an extra nourishment boost, check out Eat to Feed: 80 Nourishing Recipes for Breastfeeding Moms. There are also many fantastic companies that make lactation snacks and supplements.

Freshly Moms (lactation snacks and postpartum meal kits)
Majka (lactation snacks and supplements)
Nunona (lactation snacks)

shop nursing

resources

should you hire a lactation consultant?

Breastfeeding is hard. In addition to your OB (and your mom friends that have been through it), there are loads of resources that can help. I highly recommend a lactation consultant/specialist. I used one for a few sessions and found it super helpful. To find someone, word-of-mouth referrals are great or you can check online networks like Boober, Le Leche League, or NYLCA if you’re in the New York area.

if you're pumping

shopping list

breast pump

The Elvie, Willow, and Momcozy breast pumps are wearable and worth the extra spend if you plan to pump on a daily basis — but if you don’t pump a lot, the Spectra S1 Plus, Medela Freestyle Flex, or The Babyation are great options. It was very important to me to have an electric pump that didn’t make a lot of noise, allowed me to pump both sides at the same time, and was portable (and not be plugged into an outlet the whole time).

If you already have a breast pump but it’s not hands-free, the Freemie collection cup set can attach to it to make it discreet and hands-free!

There are many reasons why you’d want a breast pump (working moms, maintaining milk supply, engorgement, etc.), but you can talk to your OB if you’re not sure.

Note: Health insurance covers this! The easiest and quickest way to order a breast pump is through Babylist Health. Or, you can call your health insurance provider and ask them to send you a list of breast pump providers that are in-network. Then, contact those providers to see what your options are. If you want something more high-tech than what your insurance will provide you for free, you can simply pay the difference. Just note, you can’t purchase a pump and then send the receipt for reimbursement.

pumping bra

Such a game-changer to be hands-free! I like the ones by Kindred Bravely, Bodily, and Momcozy.

milk savers

If you are leaking a lot and don’t want to waste a single drop, try these.

milk storage bags

Lansinoh makes standardized storage bags, but most brands make bags specific for your pump.

Note: Lansinoh makes bags that you can pump directly into (you will likely need an adapter unless you purchase the Lansinoh pump).

pumparoo wet/dry bag

The original breast pump parts wet/dry bag + staging mat to transport flanges, bottles, and bags. I love the “boob print” collab with @bemybreastfriend, where $1 from each purchase is donated to charity.