• Supplies for the post-partum period

    Date: 2010.09.10 | Category: Post-partum | Tags: ,,

    Having the right supplies on hand after you give birth can make your “babymoon” a lot more enjoyable! This is true especially for unassisted homebirthers, but of course any new mother benefits from having access to those little things that make life a lot easier. I’m talking about those items that are less obvious. Forget baby clothes and diapers – we all know you need those. This is a list of things that are not strictly necessary, but you’ll be grateful to have.

    1) Mama pads, soaked in witch hazel. If you are wondering what mama pads are, they are actually reusable menstrual pads. You know, like cloth diapers but for mama. The wonderful thing about these cloth pads is that they are reusable. Getting blood out of fabric is not at all difficult, but if you prefer the disposable pads, they work just as well – I find them a bit rough, though. Whatever type of fad you end up using after giving birth, soaking it in witch hazel first will help your vagina and perineum be less inflamed.

    2) A squirty bottle, also referred to as a peri bottle. Women who tore while giving birth, or even those who just have “skid marks” can feel a nasty burning sensation while peeing in the first… week or so after their births. Squirting or pouring water onto your vaginal area while you are urinating can take most of the burning away.

    3) Tons of towels or flat diapers. The post-partum period has a strange tendency to be accompanied by all kinds of fluids, some of which are unexpected. Buying plenty of towels or prefolds is worth it, even if you think you have enough. Examples of fluids I have encountered in the first few days after birth are tons of breast milk that soak the whole bed, newborn pee (yes, boys do have the ability to produce a “fountain”!), blood, meconium, and more. Simple breast pads have never been enough for me in the first few days after my milk comes in, so I just fold up a flat, and put that in my bra.

    4) Constipation is a common problem in mothers who just gave birth. Having natural laxatives such as prune juice, passion flower tea, or flax seed on hand can make life a lot more pleasant. Fiber rich foods can also help fight constipation.

    5) Finding nursing positions that work well for you and your new baby can sometimes require a bit of experimentation, even if you are already a seasons nursing mom. Breastfeeding pillows like Boppy can be handy and save you some aching muscles – instead of your arm, you can put the pillow under your baby’s head!

    6) Nice meals from the freezer, friends who come and bring you food, or a good meal plan for quick and easy, but still nice and nutritious meals. Most mothers don’t love spending lots of time cooking right after giving birth, though perhaps there are some. Some nice herbal teas are also great to have on hand while you are snuggling with your newborn!

    7) A baby carrier. Sure, perhaps this should be listed in a separate post about baby supplies, but in the first few days or weeks, it can be difficult to go anywhere without your baby, even if that refers to the toilet. A nice wrap, mei tai, or podaegi can be an essential post-partum item.

    8) For those who want to make herbal baths or sitz baths, comfrey, shepherd’s purse and calendula are good herbs. Homebirthers might have these herbs on hand already, to treat birth complications such as post-partum hemorrhage. But these are herbs that are well worth buying just for sitz baths, too.

    9) Umbilical cord care is a common concern in the post-partum period. In this case, it looks like less is more. Not putting anything on your baby’s cord stump, and giving the area as much air as possible, seems to be encourage fast healing.

    What do you think about this? What helped you the most while you were babymooning? What supplies would you recommend to any new mom?