My Postpartum Essentials

Life after birthing a baby is wild! The new little human is a lot to handle, and on top of it, my body was all out of sorts. There have been a few items and resources that I can’t imagine living without during these first few months after birth, so I’ve rounded them up here. I’ve tried to be minimal and not get a bunch of fussy things, especially to be used for only a short phase of life. So, this is a small collection of items, many of which can be used well before and after the newborn stage!

Gear

TV in the bedroom - My goodness, having a TV where I can lounge comfortably has been so helpful while coping with morning sickness, reclining during the third trimester, and providing respite while tending to a new baby. Special shout out to The Great British Baking Show which always helps me feel better. We use the Apple TV for easy connection to all of our favorite streaming services (we don’t have cable). Note that we don’t let Margot look at screens so we don’t watch TV with her.

Halo Bassinest - We use this bassinet in our room for Margot’s nighttime sleep (and her naps in the early days). It swivels and has a push-down side wall to allow me easy access to pick her up in the middle of the night. It was especially helpful during c-section recovery when I couldn’t easily get out of bed nor use my core muscles. Ross was a very good nighttime assistant who would pick her up and deliver her to me, but when he wasn’t available, this bassinet really gave me independence. I got it used on Facebook Marketplace for a fraction of the price, FYI. We also bought this upgraded breathable mattress when we were petrified Margot would roll over onto her belly in the early days (her head was so heavy she’d roll to her side and we panicked). We also got these white fitted sheets.

Pine tar soap - When I had an insane allergic reaction to the mesh underwear from the hospital, a friend who experienced the same thing recommended this soap. Her disclaimer was that it will relieve the itch but smell like burning trash. What a selling point! I’ll admit that it’s so smelly that when my mom delivered it to me, she bundled it tightly in a plastic bag because she didn’t like the scent. However, by the time I got mid-way through the bar, I loved the smell and ordered another one even when my rash and itchiness healed.

Pajama dress - A friend who recently had a baby recommended these pajama dresses and I’m so grateful. Yes, Some may say nightgown, I say pajama dress. They’re amazing - I can’t imagine the last couple of months without them. The stretchy top allows very speedy boob deployment without needing to unbutton or unsnap anything. The elastic under the boobs also separated my belly which was covered in hydrocortisone (due to my rash) so I didn’t get ointment on Margot at all. I was also able to hold some nipple recovery pads in the top without needing a bra thanks to the elastic. I’m normally a baggy shirt and PJ pants sleeper, but the dress was great for the era when I couldn’t wear even stretchy pants on my sensitive c-section incision.

Baby nail file - This may seem like something that should be on my “newborn essentials” list, but this is such a benefit for nursing moms. Those baby fingernails are like tiny razor blades and really hurt when she’s flailing her arms during a feeding. This motorized nail file has kept both her and me scratch-free. Plus, it doesn’t run the risk of hurting her like a nail clipper can do.

Supportive underwear - After I healed from the rash that the mesh hospital underwear gave me, I was able to wear more than oversized cotton “granny panties." I wanted something that was supportive but wasn’t as tight as a belly band. This high-waisted compressive underwear was (and still is) perfect. They really hold in that loose blubber belly without being restrictive. When I ordered them, I also got these which are nice but not nearly as compressive, FYI.

Breezy and nursing-friendly dress - This is the only dress I’ve worn since Margot was born. And by that, I mean I wear it every single day. It’s lightweight, airy, non-restrictive, and the buttons make nursing access easy. I really should get another one in a different color before the neighbors think I’ve joined some green dress cult or something. (This is a similar one if the other link is out of stock)

Non-nursing bra that’s perfect for nursing - This has been my favorite bra for a few years and I love it even more now as a nursing bra. It isn’t meant for nursing, but it works better than nursing bras (IMO). It just pulls to the side in a pinch - no clasps, no panels. I can unbutton my shirt, then pull both the shirt and the bra over in one swift motion for speedy latching.

Water bottle with integrated straw - Staying hydrated is super important for breastfeeding and recovery, which I never worried about because I love drinking water. But oftentimes I’d fill a tall glass, then realize it was completely out of reach when I was breastfeeding. Or, I’d balance it on the couch and inevitably knock it over. I tried my regular water bottles but struggled to open them with one hand and when tilting back, her arm would accidentally smack me and the whole thing would spill onto us. All this to say, I got this water bottle which has an integrated straw, is insulated, opens with one finger, and holds 32 ounces. It’s perfect.

Body lotion - Skin is weird after having a baby, and after hand washing bottles all day long. This is really nourishing. I also got this lotion for my belly full of stretch marks but haven’t used it long enough to report on its efficacy.

Maternity leggings - I haven’t worn real pants for a year, thanks to these super comfy maternity leggings. I wore them through pregnancy, and they’re still the only pants I wear nearly three months postpartum. I tried several other maternity leggings and these are the only ones that don’t sag. They also don’t read too sporty nor too pajama-y like other leggings can.

Stroller fan - Postpartum hormones are no joke. I got super sweaty at night, so I used this fan (that we originally bought for the stroller) to cool down. I also use it for drying baby bottles - oh and on the stroller, too.

Breastfeeding relief pads - When Margot and I were just getting the hang of things, I was left super bruised and breastfeeding hurt. I got these cooling nipple pads and magically felt better within a couple of days. I haven’t used any other creams, lotions, soothers, etc. Just these!

Pajama tops - Once I graduated to being able to wear pajama pants and not just those PJ dresses, I’ve been wearing these pajama tops. They’re lightweight, stretchy, button-down for easy nursing access, and don’t look like PJs. I feel comfortable walking out into the real world wearing these as real shirts.

Manual hand pump - I found a manual hand pump really helpful when I was overwhelmed with pumping. I’ve struggled with a low supply so I was pumping around the clock in the early days to boost my production. I’d pump after each feed, I’d pump in between feeds, and I’d “power pump” for an hour. Using the electric pump was nice for its efficiency, but it was noisy, required a lot of gear (pump, tubes, flanges, bottles, handsfree bra, power supply), and is just all around clunky. Then, I started using the manual hand pump and it felt like I had freedom even though it wasn’t handsfree. Getting rid of the mechanical noise of the pump was such a breath of fresh air.

Lactation supplements - Again, I’ve had a low supply so I’ve tried many tricks from pumping techniques to bloodwork. I take these lactation supplements to boost my supply. I can’t tell you for sure if they work, but it feels like they do so I don’t plan on stopping.

Video baby monitor - A baby monitor should be on a “newborn essential” list but I think it’s important to include it here. These early days are scary, so seeing and listening to Margot during her naps is really helpful for peace of mind. Postpartum care isn’t just lotions and underwear, it’s mental care, too! I know there are specialty monitors on the market that will track heart rates and breathing, but we didn’t invest in those.

Resources:

Baby Tracker app - Time moves in mysterious ways with a baby. We can’t remember when we fed or changed her, so this app serves as an extension of our tired brains. We always reference it for keeping an eye on her wake windows, for wondering if she’s been pooping enough, and for tracking patterns of sleep over time. I can’t imagine not having it!

The Longest Shortest Time podcast - This is my favorite parenting podcast and was really helpful for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Pediatrician book - The internet is a scary place with alarming answers for basic questions. We got this book written by a pediatrician and it’s a nice reference to avoid being overwhelmed with an abundance of information online.

Support groups - I found that specific support groups were helpful for dealing with low milk supply, postpartum emotions, and baby sleep. There are so many groups for so many things! My only suggestion is to leave the groups once you feel like you’ve gotten the value you need out of them. Otherwise, it can be grating to see the same difficult topics rehashed over and over.

Instagram accounts - Similar to the support groups, I’ve found select Instagram accounts really helpful for learning about pediatric health from a pediatrician, picking a formula, navigating low milk supply, understanding car seat safety, learning about physical milestones, delving into postpartum and infant care, and getting a handle on infant sleep.

Things I thought I needed but didn’t use:

Feeding pillow - I bought this cute nursing pillow that’s way more attractive than other nursing pillows, but I found that I never used it. I feed Margot in bed, on the couch, at the dining table, in the backyard, at my desk, and in her room. And during none of those times have I gotten up to retrieve a pillow from another room. I prop her up with my leg and/or use a pillow from the couch/bed. I struggled with having a pillow next to my c-section incision, then once it healed, I realized I already adapted to nursing pillow-free. Plus, my plush belly acts as a pillow! Luckily, the nursing pillow I got is really cute and can serve other purposes in her room.

Scar sheets - A friend encouraged me to buy these ScarAway sheets, but I opted not to even bother with them. The c-section incision mark is so small and not in a spot that anyone (even me!) can see, so I don’t see the need to treat it. I am however trying to get rid of the stretch marks because those really took over my whole abdomen!

Belly band - I used the hospital belly band for a few weeks but it was gigantic, so I got a simpler belly band, then never used it. I think it was too small for me, but I found it so uncomfortable. It was cumbersome while nursing, felt too snug, and was weird to manage with my belly ointments.

Breastmilk storage - I spent SO much time in pregnancy researching milk storage. I shopped for reusable storage bags and even milk icicle storage. But in the end, I’ve had a low supply and won’t be storing any milk as I don’t make enough for even daily feeds. There’s no way I could have known in advance, but I wish I didn’t spend so much time researching this.

If you missed it, you can read Margot’s birth story here.