The Ultimate Postpartum Essentials Checklist: Must-Haves for New Moms
Expecting a baby? While your registry may be overflowing with adorable outfits and baby gear, you might have overlooked one crucial aspect: necessities for your own recovery.
From self-care must-haves to essential items for making newborn care a breeze, this guide highlights the top five items in each category that you’ll really need in those early days after birth.
Perineum Care
- Peri Bottle - I recommend having one for each bathroom of your house
- Padsicles / instant ice pads - my favorites are the Frida Mom Instant Ice Maxi Pads or you can follow this recipe to make your own organic pads
- Tucks Pads - so helpful for hemorrhoids or swelling caused by pushing
- Arnica tablets - helps with bruising, swelling, and perineum pain after birth
- Maxi Pads
Cesarean Care
- Belly binder or compression belt
- High-waisted underwear - essential for incision comfort!
- Heating pad
- Earth Mama Skin & Scar Balm
- Refresh wipes
Infant Care
- Muslin blankets - You can use these for everything! Swaddling, as a clean surface to lay the baby down, a nursing cover, etc.
- Baby balm ointment
- Receiving blankets for spit ups - these cover more surface area than burp pads
- Diaper caddy or moveable station
- Zipper sleepers (with the zippers at the bottom) or gowns - nothing makes those middle of the night diaper changes easier than a gown, trust me!
Nursing
- Nursing pillow
- Nursing pads for leaking
- Organic nipple cream
- Loose, comfortable, easy open clothing
- Large water bottle - make sure to keep this close by, the middle of the night thirst of a breastfeeding mom is real!
Other Postpartum Care Essentials
- CALM Magnesium mix to help loosen stool
- Ibuprofen
- AfterEase for after birth contractions
- Red raspberry leaf tea - helpful prenatally and in the postpartum period!
- Nightlight - especially helpful for all of the nighttime wake-ups
Want the full list? Download my free, editable, Postpartum Checklist here!
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