Everyone knows the basic supplies you need for the postpartum period: mesh underwear and giant pads. But here are a few things you may not have thought about, but that are essential to an easier and more relaxed after-birth recovery.
When I had my first baby, I prepared for postpartum the best way I knew how, and I feel like I did pretty well. I had enough hygiene supplies for the first week or so, and the hospital supplied lots of supplies for me as well. However, in preparing for this second baby, I’ve thought of a bunch of things that will make round two easier for myself and my family.
PERI BOTTLE WITH A HOOKED NECK
This is a very common suggestion for postpartum supplies, but I firmly believe that this one device can make or break your many, many, many bathroom trips during those first days and weeks after giving birth. Trying to use the peri bottle provided by my hospital was a nightmare. I love this product so much that I am planning to bring it with me to the hospital this time around. I also highly recommend using it in the shower to rinse your downstairs area more comfortably and thoroughly.
There are lots of companies that sell variations of this product. If you run a search for “hooked neck peri bottle” online, you can sort through all of your options. I personally own the FridaMom version and it’s phenomenal.
DISPOSABLE PLATES, BOWLS, CUPS, AND FLATWARE
Trust me when I say that two of the things you are going to want to avoid the most are: cleaning and being on your feet. By stocking up on disposable dishes and flatware for literally all of your meals in the first days and weeks, you will avoid a lot of dishes and you will thank me.
HAIR CATCHER FOR YOUR SHOWER/BATH DRAIN
Did you know that the majority of women suffer from some form of postpartum hair loss? If you didn’t, I’m sorry. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky few that doesn’t notice any increased shedding or thinning of your hair. If you’re like me however, about four months after you give birth, you’ll notice you’re dropping hair everywhere and your hairline will start to suffer.
When dealing with hair loss, the last thing you want to do is unclog your shower drain weekly. Buy a shower drain cover or hair catcher to save yourself the disgusting effort. Amazon has lots of options depending on what your drain looks like.
HIGH CALORIE SNACKS YOU CAN EAT WITH ONE HAND
Buy yourself lots of snacks that you actually like to eat and keep them everywhere. In your room, in the nursery, in the pantry, in the living room, next to your comfy chair. Heck, throw a couple in your bathroom drawer to eat while you throw your hair into yet another updo and apply more deodorant instead of taking a shower.
Bonus points if those snacks can be opened, prepared, and eaten with one hand. I remember holding and carrying Calvin almost all of the time when he was a newborn, so I often only had one hand available.
Some of my favorite snacks are: grapes, pretzels, cheese snacks (string cheese, Tillamook, Babybel, etc.), homemade protein bars, Larabars, bananas, Cosmic Brownies, trail mix, fruit leather, beef jerky, dried mango, smoothies, baby carrots, and drinkable yogurt.
DOWNLOADED PODCASTS, AUDIOBOOKS, TV SHOWS, AND MOVIES
Please listen to me now and download some entertainment to your phone. Whether you’re up in the middle of the night feeding or you’re nap-trapped and can’t reach the remote, waiting for your entertainment to load on your phone is the worst. And, playing downloaded content takes less battery power from your phone than streaming does.
BIGGER TRASH CAN WITH LID FOR BATHROOM
Ok, listen to me. Whether you have a vaginal delivery or a c-section, you are going to be bleeding heavily for at least a few weeks. In addition to the Tucks, mesh underwear, and giant pads, I highly recommend that you take a look at the trash can you currently have in your main bathroom. Is it large enough to hold multiple soiled pads/adult diapers? Do you have plastic bags to line it with? Does it have a lid? If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, then I highly recommend that you get a new trash can for the bathroom before the baby comes. Not having to rinse out the can, change the bag multiple times a day, or look at the carnage inside it is worth the $$ if you can spare it.
CAN OF DISINFECTANT WIPES FOR BATHROOM
Having a bottle of disinfectant wipes next to mom’s main toilet to wipe any drips or messes from your post-birth bathroom trips will make you feel better. It’s easier to clean as you go than try to clean up day-old or week-old messes. Trust me.
RICE HEATING PAD
Having a rice pad that you can easily heat and reheat in the microwave will come in handy more often that you think. Heat can feel good on your abdomen as your uterus shrinks back down to normal. You may find you have new pain in your lower back, neck, and shoulders from poor posture while nursing or simply holding your new baby, and heat can really help. A gently warmed rice pack can also be comforting to lay next to your new baby if you need to set them down for a moment to use the bathroom, brush your teeth, prepare some food, care for other kids, or just stand and stretch (never leave baby unattended with a heat pad of any kind).
COLGATE WISP SINGLE USE TOOTHBRUSHES
This is a product I’ve only ever used while camping or backpacking, but I bought a few for postpartum this time and here is why. Sometimes you’ll find yourself up feeding in the middle of the night or nap trapped on the couch in the middle of the day and you’ll realize your mouth tastes gross. Or maybe I’m unique and that won’t happen to you. But if it does, it will be nice to have one of these little guys nearby so you can freshen up your mouth a little. I always feel better when my teeth are clean.
LARGE INSULATED WATER BOTTLE WITH A STRAW
I will drink 2-3 times as much water if it is cold and if I can drink it through a straw. We don’t have an ice maker on our fridge (wishlist item!), so I fill a 77 oz jug at night before bed and put it in the refigerator. Then I use that water to refill my 32 oz HydroFlask throughout the day, usually refilling the fridge jug at lunch or in the early afternoon. You can also use a pitcher or something similar.
Anyway, the insulated HydroFlask with the straw lid is a huge reason I’ve been able to drink so much more water this pregnancy, compared to my last. The hospital often gives you a 32 oz plastic mug with a straw during your stay. If that works for you, then great! Just make sure your water is easy to access, easy to drink, and easy to set on the couch next to you during those early days.
MEDS
There are three oral medications commonly administered in hospital after giving birth. This is not medical advice, this is friend advice. And, as always, follow the direction and recommendation of your doctor first.
With Calvin, I was sent home with a prescription for 800 mg ibuprofen tablets to be taken 3x a day or every 8 hours, not exceeding 2400 mg in 24 hours, and a prescription for a stool softener to be taken once in the morning and once in the evening. My doctor also recommended continuing to take my prenatal multivitamin, or some other women’s multivitamin as long as I was nursing.
As a friend, my recommendation is that you DO NOT skip out on the prescribed ibuprofen, stool softener, or multivitamin use. Don’t take it casually. Making sure to take these medications as often as prescribed, at least for the first 10-14 days can make a significant difference in how you feel postpartum.
However, once again, follow the recommendation and direction given by your doctor and if you have more questions, ask a physician or seek out research published in peer-reviewed journals.
BABY TRACKING APP (FOR FIRST TWO WEEKS)
When you go to your first appointment with the pediatrician after your baby’s birth, they are going to want to know a lot of details about baby’s habits thus far. They will want to know how often baby is eating and how many wet and dirty diapers baby is making in a day. You are likely to be so tired and overwhelmed with all of the changes, that remembering these facts off the top of your head will feel impossible. Keeping track of all of these things in a free tracking app will make your life so much easier for that first appointment. After those first two weeks, feel free to stop tracking if you don’t want to!
I would also recommend keeping some notes in your phone about how you are feeling. Your mood, how often you cry or feel like crying, any scary/difficult thoughts you are having. Keeping a log of your own wellbeing will make spotting warning signs for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety easier for you and for your healthcare providers.
EXTERNAL BATTERY
Being able to charge your phone without being chained to the wall can be a game changer. I recommend having one of these for the hospital, for postpartum, and just for mom life in general. The other option would be to buy a charging case for your phone if that is more convenient for you.
BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES
Bluetooth headphones are kind of the norm now, but they are definitely more convenient than corded headphones when taking care of a baby while trying to listen to your podcast. You don’t have to worry. about cords getting tangled or yanked on by baby, but you can also enjoy your true crime in semi-peace.
A PLAN FOR YOUR MEALS
This is going to look different for everyone, but I think it is so important that you do it before baby arrives. Make a plan for what you will be eating for the first few weeks of your newborn’s life. For some people this will be pre-cooking and freezing a lot of meals to be reheated later. For others, this will be making a grocery list and meal plan in advance. For some people, this will be stocking the freezer with chicken nuggets and frozen pizza. For a few people, this will be adding extra money to the budget to allow for a lot of takeout, curbside pickup, and food delivery. It doesn’t matter how you prepare, just choose a method that will work for you and for your family and make sure it’s sustainable for the entire time span you intend it for.
BARREL OF MERRELL'S 
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