My Postpartum Essentials
I am by no means an expert, but I am officially one month postpartum and I am finally starting to feel like myself again.
No matter how your child comes into this world, it is a major adjustment. Every area of your life is affected, and while my daughter is worth every second of it, I wish I spent a bit more time during my pregnancy physically preparing for the first few weeks. The nursery and all baby-related tasks were ready to go, but I spent little to no time physically getting ready for what my recovery would look like.
I’m still learning and recovering, but during those first days and weeks, there were several things that I now consider my “postpartum essentials.” I kept a note on my phone and added to it anytime I thought of something worth mentioning. I knew I’d want to write this blog post eventually in case this is beneficial for any new mom, expectant parent, or friend/family member of someone who’s preparing to have a child in some capacity.
For context, I was induced, had a natural delivery (vs. a C-section), and had a pretty bad tear. I’m sure my essentials list would look very different if any of these factors changed so I want to preface this list by giving some background on my situation.
{ONE} Nara Baby app
There are SO MANY phone apps that you can download to help track and document every detail of your baby’s life. I downloaded a few before giving birth because I wasn’t sure which one I’d end up liking. The Nara Baby app ended up being the winner and I love it.
It’s free and allows you to track feedings (e.g., time, how much she nursed/drank, brand of formula), diaper changes (e.g., time, type, consistency), sleep schedules, medications, and more. If you have more than one caregiver, you can add them to the app, as well, and it syncs up so anything they log is automatically added to your view. When he’s home, Luke and I split feedings and diaper duty so this feature is a lifesaver.
The thing I love most about this app is that I don’t have to remember the last time I did something. I track it all within the app and can quickly check the last time I fed or changed Vienna. This helps to problem solve why she might be crying instead of jumping to the conclusion that she’s hungry.
{TWO} Compression socks
I was very swollen in the third trimester of my pregnancy and I assumed that it’d all go away once Vienna was here. Spoiler alert: it did not. In fact, my swelling increased to the point where I couldn’t identify my knee from my thigh or calve! It was just one straight, swollen leg, haha.
As flattering as they are (not), knee-high compression socks are a must for postpartum recovery. Wearing them definitely helped reduce the swelling. The swelling eventually does go away (hallelujah) but compression socks are a must-have while you wait.
{THREE} Lemon water
I was also SO thirsty in the first week or two of being home. My instinct was to drink coffee, but lemon water quickly became my go-to. It was not only hydrating, but it also helped with the swelling issue so it was a win-win.
{FOUR} Disposable ice packs
Trust me. Get the disposable ice packs. Not just one or two… but a lot of them. I stocked up on them at the hospital and ordered more from Amazon when I got home. They were crucial, especially during the first week home.
{FIVE} Witch hazel
Again, trust me on this. Stock up on anything witch hazel-related (e.g., pads, wipes, spray). You can thank me later.
{SIX} Frida Mom Postpartum Kit
I registered for a few postpartum things and received them at my baby shower. One of those being the Frida Mom Postpartum Kit. It’s a bit pricy, but it has everything you might need, including some of the essentials that the hospital provides. I wasn’t sure what I’d end up using for my recovery, but this kit came in handy frequently. I split the contents up into two baskets so I had what I needed in both bathrooms. You can also find these items on Amazon if you run out of something.
{SEVEN} Coffee
Do I even have to say it!? I mean, this IS Coffee With Keri, after all. My aversion to coffee went away after I delivered (hallelujah!) so you bet that coffee has been a staple in my life once again. For any new parent who doesn’t drink some sort of caffeine beverage, I applaud you. I could never.
{EIGHT} A tote bag at the bottom of the stairs
For some reason, it came as a surprise to me that after giving birth, it was a struggle to sit up and walk, let alone climb up and down our stairs. Doing any of these movements felt like I had run a marathon. I felt so accomplished when I’d get to the top of the stairs. I MADE it!
So, in an effort to avoid going up and down the stairs a billion times a day, I started keeping a tote bag at the bottom of the stairs. Although I can go up and down without issues now, I still do this because it’s been a game changer. Any time I think of something that needs to go upstairs, I add it to the bag to bring up with me next time I’m heading that way. It sounds like a no-brainer, but this simple action has helped me stay efficient instead of going upstairs and then realizing I forgot something. Then, before I head back downstairs, I fill the bag with anything I want to bring back down (e.g., a new outfit for Vienna, my water bottle, a hoodie).