Postpartum Essentials

On the unknown number of days quarantined you will find me cleaning out our bathroom. I’m organizing soaps, loofas, toothbrushes, shaving cream, cleaning products, postpartum essentials, and whatever else lurks beneath bathroom sinks. We have a LOT of sunscreen under there!

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In my organizing and purging venture I have stumbled upon some of the items from my postpartum kit. I have a skinny canvas tote on the back of the toilet to keep some monthly essentials in and noticed some random leftovers from postpartum.

The thing about these leftover items is that they’re unopened and brand new. They were totally and utterly useless. I was, and still mostly am, one of those first time moms who overprepares and overthinks everything. So I had everything you could think of to prepare for every scenario. 

Ironically, I was actually grossly unprepared for the scenario I found myself in postpartum. Danny was born via c-section and recovering from major surgery was not on my preparedness checklist. 

Before you go stocking your postpartum kit with recovery essentials, take a moment to consider that things don’t always go according to plan. My plan was to have a baby so I was not totally thrown or disheartened by my c-section. I still believe in the items I bought for a recovery I didn’t have and think they would be valuable for a postpartum kit. I just wish I had waited until I knew for sure that I would need them. 

Buy Now: Postpartum Items EVERY Mom Needs

• Adult diapers: These things are amazing. In the hospital they will give you mesh underwear, pads, and makeshift diapers. This is fine for about a minute. I packed some of these diapers in my hospital bag and am so grateful I did. They are way more comfortable, absorbent, easy, and secure than what the hospital provided. 
• Mom washer: Another hospital provided item is a peri-bottle. The one they give you does the job but it sure does have poor aim. Even c-section mamas need a washer because moving around with that big incision and bandaging is tough work. The Frida company makes this really nice one for your home kit.
• Pads: Regular old run of the mill pads. I love these Always foam ones. They’re not like anything I used to miserably use in junior high. In those weeks where pads are a must and tampons are a no-go these ones are perfect. 
• Stool softener: No one wants to talk about it but everybody poops. Go to the pharmacy and get yourself some colace because the last thing anyone wants is discomfort where there are stitches (be it an incision or elsewhere).
• Nipple butter: If you are breastfeeding you are going to want and need some relief. I remember thinking I was crushing breastfeeding that first day because it didn’t hurt at all! Well, when that baby gets to it every 1-2 hours you quickly realize how little exercise your nips get. This Earth Mama Nipple Butter was so so nice and it didn’t deter my guy in the least.
• Underwear: When I wasn’t wearing an adult diaper I was wearing these. I didn’t want to have to restock my underwear drawer with new undies because postpartum ruined them. I bought a special set and I am so glad I did. They are higher waisted and gentle on the incision area and so incredibly soft. I’m 7 months postpartum and they are lowkey my favorite underwear. 
• Tylenol
• Ibuprofen

Other Postpartum Items

I can’t think of items that I needed especially for my c-section recovery that differed from a standard recovery. I did however have perineal spray, perineal balm, and Tucks wipes on hand had I not had a c-section. These are things I wish I waited on buying. I could have had them two-day shipped while I was in the hospital had they been needed. What postpartum items do you have on your must have list?