Postpartum: No One Said It Would Be Glamorous

When I was pregnant with my son, I spent countless hours researching baby gear. I poured over reviews and sought opinions from friends, methodically comparing them in true type A form.

I constructed the perfect baby registry. No plush lamb item from Pottery Barn was left unturned. The nursery was stocked, ready to welcome Jake into the world, but I realized I was woefully unprepared for my fourth trimester.

That’s the thing about pregnancy. We expand and develop that glow. Loved ones shower us with tiny items for tiny people (that happen to take up a lot of space). Friends cheerfully advise us on the best swaddle and the latest monitor. So many opinions and stories about tending to a newborn are shared, but the well seems to run dry when it comes to advice on caring for yourself postpartum.

Everyone is so open about the pain of labor and delivery, but the candor seems to stop there. Why don’t we talk more about what we should expect from our bodies, the recovery, and the entire postpartum experience? Why do we not prepare each other better, so the next woman does not feel shell shocked? Perhaps these topics elicit embarrassment, or maybe there is the fear of frightening mothers-to-be. I wish I had been more prepared in this area, instead of mainly learning from experience.

We all vary in our experiences postpartum, but the following ten items are ones all women should already have before they deliver. Some of these things I already had, but many were ordered on Amazon during a 1:00 A.M. nursing session.

1. Soft and pretty nursing pajamas

Not only do you want these for the hospital once you ditch the hospital gown after delivery, but you will live in them once you come home. Wearing pretty nursing pajamas made me feel a little more human in the postpartum phase, while also providing function for constant feedings.

2. Reusable nursing pads

I started with disposable nursing pads, and they are straight-up garbage. They don’t stay in place, and they cause irritation. Invest in a few sets of reusable nursing pads. Make sure you get night time ones as well for extra absorbency.

3. Depends

Speaking of absorbency…just take the preemptive strike and buy the adult diapers. Your dignity may take a hit, but it is better than the alternative. Put them in your hospital bag too. Although the hospital provides mesh underwear, these are higher quality and you’ll be glad you have your own if you run out before the nurses can get you more. Also, absorbent mats that can go under you in your bed will come in handy. Yes, like the pee pads used for training puppies.

4. A bedside fan

Because if the reason for Depends isn’t enough, let’s also wake up soaking in sweat throughout the night. Holy postpartum hormones, please get yourself a fan to go next to your bed.

5. TUCKS Pads

Your body went through a major ordeal. The honest truth – you will feel like a war was fought down there, and these pads help soothe the battle wounds. These include natural antiseptics to help inflammation, and the witch hazel provides soothing relief. Stick some in the freezer for extra cooling relief.

6. Dermoplast Spray

Pee, Dermoplast, Tucks Pad, Repeat. This will be your routine. Luckily, my hospital sent me home with this (which they likely billed me double for- I was too tired to notice). Dermoplast’s active ingredient is benzocaine, which acts as a topical anesthetic, but it also contains aloe and lanolin.

7. Bottle Sterilizer

I did not register for one of these, but I will be buying one for the next round. The people who always told me to sleep when the baby sleeps must have had full-time help or perhaps a bottle sterilizer. Because when Jake slept, I cleaned pump parts. Occasionally I used microwavable sterilizer bags, but putting plastic (even BPA free) in the microwave makes me nervous.

8. Velcro Swaddles

I desperately wanted to be that mom who could effortlessly swaddle my son into the perfect baby burrito, but I am who I am. When it is 3 A.M. and you’re throwing the Moms on Call swaddle directions against the wall, you’ll be glad you have the velcro swaddle.

9. A side-sleeping bassinet

I remember when I was healing the first couple of nights home, getting out of bed every time Jake cried was excruciating. He was in a bassinet in our room, but what we had was not easily accessible for reaching over to grab him. My husband often picked him up and brought him to me, but I know next time I will be buying a side sleeping bassinet that attaches to our bed for easy access.

10. The MamaRoo

This is the Rolls Royce of baby swings, but definitely register for it. The MamaRoo has several different sound and motion settings that automatically rock your baby to sleep. Plus, it has Bluetooth technology so you can fix the settings from your phone. Sounds bougie, but between exhaustion and physical recovery, you’ll be glad to control the pace of the swing from your couch. I know that baby swings have been under scrutiny in the past year, but if your baby is properly strapped in and supervised, there is not a reason why they should be falling out or rolling over.