the fourth trimester: my most used postpartum products
postpartum was one of the most vulnerable yet beautiful times of my life. i look back on it so fondly, even though it is one of the hardest things i’ve ever done. newborns are no joke. but through the hazey fog of newborn land, there is something so glowy and magical and cozy. if i could impart any wisdom to you, it would be to rest! rest rest rest. and then rest some more! let your partner nurture you, take time to nurture yourself. spend this time getting to know your new little one, and try your best to soak up each and every little detail, because it is truly so fleeting.
and on that note, remember in the hard moments that it is all temporary. when you’re in the trenches it feels never ending, but it will soon pass. also know, it’s okay to not love newbornhood. as much as i speak fondly of postpartum, i simultaneously kind of hated the newborn phase. it’s freaking hard! just know there is light (and sleep) at the end of the tunnel.
these are the items i used most postpartum for comfort + healing, i’ll do a separate post with some newborn tips + the things i *actually* used for baby
some tips for postpartum:
◠ prepare your room to be a cozy sanctuary - a lot of focus gets put on the nursery, but you’ll be spending a lot more time in your room. buy some fresh pillows and set up your side table with all the necessities to make it as cuddly cozy as possible for those newborn days
◠ pick a comfort book or show - same idea as above, you’ll be spending a lot of down time holding a nursing or sleeping babe. pick a cozy comfort show or book to enjoy (for me it was new girl!) and put a journal beside your bed or use your notes app to work through the emotions but also to capture the special moments.
◠ set a focus status on your phone - like ‘do not disturb’ but you can edit who’s texts/what app notifications can still come through. i did this the first week or two to protect my presence in each moment, and only let a select few important notifications come through.
◠ don’t stress about tummy time - or all of the other ‘must do’ things that may actually just feel overwhelming. just spend time with your new baby! let them lay on your chest and look at you (this actually counts as '“tummy time”!) instead of stressing about showing them high contrast books every single day, show them around the house, take them out in nature. there will be time later for all of the rest. for now, all they need is you.
◠ make a plan for visitors - decide on how you want to handle visitors with your partner and what boundaries are important to you both, and communicate those expectations beforehand. send out a reminder text before visitors come over with things like washing hands, how long they’re welcome to stay, etc. some may not have been around a newborn in a while and may have forgotten things that you think might seem obvious like hand washing, no kissing, etc.
◠ don’t be afraid to ask for what you need - your people want to be helpful during this time but may not know what would be the most beneficial.
◠ read “the first 40 days” - this was such a beautiful book about the importance of not rushing this sacred time. i encourage all new expecting mother’s to read it.
Upside down peri bottle: you’ll see this on nearly every must have list, it’s soo much easier to use than the standard ones.
Cooling pad liners: I used these witch hazel infused liners from Frida Mom, I’ve also heard Tucks pads work similarly, but I found these were so easy to use - they look like an extra long wipe, so they were simple to place directly in the pad or diaper. They are sooo cooling and soothing, I used these anytime I wasn’t using a padsicle (more on those below)
Perineal foam: also from Frida Mom, a few pumps of this on top of the padsicle or liner for added cooling + healing benefits. I tried an herbal perineal spritz, but it just soaked into the pad or diaper instantly. The foam sits on top so it gets the cooling and soothing goodness in all the nooks and crannies.
Dermoplast: I mentioned this one on my ‘what to pack in your birth center bag’ post - it may not be the most clean option out there but it works woooooonders. Especially the first day or two, the numbing + cooling this provides is unmatched. Spray this directly on the coochie, otherwise it will just absorb into the pad or diaper.
Disposable period diapers: is the fancy name for it, but really it’s just adult diapers. I got these organic ones for the first few days postpartum when bleeding is heaviest. They kept everything in and just felt really secure. This brand runs small, I wish I had gotten the large.
Postpartum pads: I used these after the first few days, once the bleeding lightened up some. They are still heavier duty than your standard period pads, and they have leak proof sides that helped them feel more safe and secure. I just used these in my regular undies but wished I had gotten the Frida Mom mesh underwear. They would have been nice to have because I felt like my regular underwear were still a bit too compressive for me at this point. (note many hospitals have mesh underwear available to take home, my birth center just didn’t)
A few things I didn’t get/love:
I skipped The Frida Mom instant ice packs, I read that these were bulky + a little spendy, so I skipped these in favor of making my own padsicles - recipe below
Herbal perineal spray - while I usually love any and all things herbal, this just didn’t pack the cooling punch I needed postpartum
Sitz bath / herbs - while I think it would have been helpful, I just didn’t have the energy to utilize this since it required a lot of prep and time to actually sit and do it
Frida Mom makes a variety of bundles, but most included the ice packs or didn’t include something else I wanted, so I just bought each item separately and found it worked out better for me.
Pads without wings: look for a long organic option, i grabbed these at a local health food store and they worked well
Aloe vera: make sure it’s just the gel, no extra ingredients!
Witch hazel: look for alcohol free and unscented
Calendula extract (optional)
◠ add the witch hazel & 10-20 drops of calendula to a spray bottle
◠ open the pads and slather with aloe (it helps to use a spatula to spread it out) - use way more than you think. i went a little too conservative on this
◠ spray the pad with the witch hazel / calendula mix, soaking it well from top to bottom
◠ i left mine laying flat and put in a gallon size bag to freeze. make enough to use a few per day for the first 5+ days. i only made 14 and ran out, so luckily my mom made me some more <3
Postpartum Restorative Tonic: from Milk Moon Herbs is crafted with some of the most nourishing + nutrient dense herbs for postpartum. It is iron-building + contains restorative adaptogens. I took a few tablespoons in sparkling or still water daily postpartum.
Natal Nurture: this tincture is made with red raspberry leaf, an herb that’s incredible for all things pre & postpartum. It tones the uterus and aids in womb healing + restoration. I also drank a lot of red raspberry leaf tea postpartum, but having the tincture on hand to quickly get a concentrated dose of the herbs was so helpful. I still take this daily a year+ later.
Red light therapy: I had some back pain from labor and from hunching over while learning to breastfeed, using near infrared light therapy from Lumebox was so helpful. I also used it on my womb to promote healing.
Arnica Tablets: discuss it with you midwife, these were very helpful for soothing perineal pain.
Afterease: this tincture from Wishgarden is so amazing for soothing afterbirth pains, I used this immediately after birth and for the first few days postpartum and it was a must have.
Stool softener: start taking stool softener right away and don’t stop after the first poop! Everyone warns you about your first postpartum poo, but noooobody mentioned the second. I chose this option since it contains no artificial dyes.
Bone broth: is one of the most healing and nourishing foods you can consume postpartum. I prioritized having at least a cup a day.
Nourishing postpartum tea: I continued to drink red raspberry leaf tea along with some other healing herbs. The tincture mentioned above was certainly easier to prioritize postpartum, but it was good to have this nourishing infusion on hand as well, plus I was already in the habit of drinking this daily from pregnancy. I make a large batch as an overnight infusion, this extracts the max amount of minerals and vitamins to get as many nutrients as possible.
Ingredients:
Red raspberry leaf
Nettle
Optional: oat straw, alfalfa, red clover
How to:
◠ add a generous amount of herbs to large glass jar, I aim for around 1/4 to 1/3 full (I just eyeball it)
◠ bring filtered water to a boil and fill the jar of herbs fully, close carefully
◠ let herbs infuse on the counter for 8+ hours or overnight
◠ strain and store in the fridge for 2-3 days
I’ll likely do a future post deep diving into our entire breastfeeding journey with everything I’ve learned a year+ in, but for now… these are the products/tips I found most useful for those early days. A few tips…
◠ Work with a lactation consultant: I can’t stress enough how helpful this was and it’s covered by insurance! It’s required by law for insurance to cover this service, look for the credentials IBCLC. They will meet you in their office or even come to your home a few days after birth to help you with latch, positioning, check for ties, etc. I’d also recommend taking a breastfeeding class if you can, there is one locally at Breathe Birth & Wellness that was so invaluable.
◠ Feed on demand: I’m a big believer in breastfeeding on demand. Realizing there is no magic breastfeeding schedule was so freeing. Let your baby tell you when they’re hungry, and let your body learn to respond naturally. The rule of “every 3 hours” is a myth, perhaps a decent average, but there will be days filled with cluster feeds that are much much closer together, and times your baby may sleep a longer stretch and go without a feed for longer than that. Unless there are low weight concerns, all of this is okay! Going with the flow, drop all pressure and expectation. Your baby and your body will work in such better harmony this way.
◠ Don’t stress about “milk coming in”: it’s a myth that your milk just doesn’t show up for a few days. The first few days is technically called colostrum, aka liquid gold! You are actually producing this long before baby arrives! Your babies tummy is the size of a marble at this point, and only needs this magical golden milk to thrive. Around day 3-5, the colostrum changes to a thinner, whiter milk. We often call this transformation “the milk coming in” but I hate this term… it implies there was nothing there before which just isn’t true.
◠ If something feels off, something is: outside of maybe the first few days, breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt. It shouldn’t make you want to cry, send you into a cold sweat, etc. There is some discomfort the first few days but that should be it. If you are experiencing pain please please please reach out to a lactation consultant or your provider and dig deeper. Also on this note… if you do get nipple damage from a poor latch, ask for APNO. It’s not ~ perfectly natural, crunchy, medicine free ~ but it might just save your breastfeeding journey. It’s a prescription medicated nipple ointment that can help you heal fast which might be necessary to continue breastfeeding.
◠ A few of my favorite breastfeeding accounts to follow for trustworthy advice: @karrie_locher, @bemybreastfriend, @holisticlactation, @teapotlactation
Silverettes: if you plan to breastfeed, these are a life saver. The silver naturally soothes and heals nipple damage that often occurs in those early breastfeeding days. I started using them right away and wore them nearly 24/7 when I wasn’t actively breastfeeding.
Nipple cream: I love this one from Motherlove, it’s organic + infused with soothing calendula and marshmallow root
Hydrogel pads: these are just another great tool to have on hand, especially if you’re having some trouble with pain/soreness from a poor latch like I was. I rotated these with the silverettes on days it was extra rough - these have more instant pain relief for moments I was really struggling, but the silverettes seemed to be more healing.
Manual Hand Pump: from Medela is a must have in my opinion. I began using it before birth to express colostrum, during postpartum if I had an issue latching and needed to relieve some engorgement, and even still use it now on occasion. You can add the same silicone flange inserts to this that you will need for your electric breast pump, more on these next.
Appropriately sized flange inserts: are essential if you plan to pump at all - which even if you exclusively breastfeed, you will likely still need to pump on occasion. Pumps only come in one or two sizes, so you will need to get silicone flange inserts to make the pump fit your nipple correctly. I highly recommend getting sized by a lactation consultant, but there are also kits on Amazon.
Sunflower Lecithin: speak to your provider/lactation consultant, but I felt like taking these preventatively helped keep clogged ducts at bay. I took them daily the first few weeks as my milk adjusted, and then occasionally as needed if I did something that I felt might cause a clog (went to long overnight without a feed, accidentally fed on the same side twice, etc)
Breastfeeding pillow: I got the Snuggle Me Organic brand and didn’t love it. Instead I would recommend getting a Boppy, these seemed to be wayyy comfier anytime I tried one.
Things I skipped in the early days:
Pumping to build up a stash: I’d at least wait until your milk regulates if possible. Breastfeeding is a supply and demand system, pumping signals to the body that it should be making more milk and excessive pumping may lead to an oversupply. (pumping to give baby a little extra to meet weight goals under the guidance of the IBCLC is different)
Haaka: hot take, I know. These are technically no different than a manual pump as it suctions and stimulates the breast, telling the body that it needs to produce more milk. Of course check with your IBCLC, but I opted for a milk collector instead to collect any leakage from letdown so that there was no extra stimulation that might lead to an oversupply.
Lactation cookies/gummies/vitamins/tinctures/etc: There is little evidence that these work, and I wanted to regulate my supply as naturally as possible using babies cues. Staying hydrated + eating enough is a much better supply booster than most of these products.
Bottles: we waited to introduce a bottle, but even if you’d like to introduce one sooner, I’d recommend waiting to buy a ton of bottles. Babies can be surprisingly picky and may only take to a certain brand. Sign up for the free registry gifts from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Babylist - each of these came with either a Dr Browns or Philips Avent bottle. There is also a bottle bundle box you can purchase at Babylist that has a few other brands to try out before committing to buying a bunch of a specific brand! Same goes for paci’s.
Long phone chargers everywhere!
Water cup with a straw. Partners - it’s your job to keep this full at all times including 4 am (especially 4 am)
Hydration packets - I love these from Needed
Snacks galore. I prepared a lot of meals, but you’ll be snackin. Load up on all of your favorites!
I ordered this small waterproof dog blanket on Amazon to sit on for those first few days when the bleeding was most intense just in case. (I also slept on it the last few weeks just in case my water broke in the night) The thought of having to change sheets or deep clean the couch while in the trenches of postpartum sounded awful…