The postpartum period can be a scary and bewildering time for a new mom. Not only are you learning to take care of a demanding non-verbal little stranger, but your body is also trying to recover from a major physical ordeal! Read these seven postpartum recovery tips on how to care for yourself and learn how to navigate through the postpartum period a little easier!
The Postpartum Period
The postpartum period represents a huge change in a new mom’s life. Your body and brain are going through so many changes you will honestly feel like a completely different person. This is a time to adjust to your new role in life, a well as recover physically.
Know that this time will be a challenge. It’s rare that any mom slips into her new life easily and happily (despite what your Instagram feed may show). You may have been expecting to immediately fall in love with your baby and live happily ever after. It’s ok if that doesn’t happen.
With my first baby, I did bond immediately with her, but still felt so stressed out about the responsibility that came with being a new mom. Although I loved her, I did not love being a mom at ALL. It was a struggle to get through each day, because of the physical recovery of childbirth, but more because of the stress of motherhood. Worst of all was the guilt that I should be enjoying my baby (after all, I had waited my whole life to be one). It took months to find my groove and really learn to love being a mom.
The most important part of postpartum recovery is to take care of yourself, as well as your baby, both physically and mentally. Give yourself as much rest as you can, as well as a lot of love.
Below are my top postpartum recovery tips so you can make it through the fourth trimester.
Postpartum Recovery Tips
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Postpartum Recovery Tip #1: Take Care of Yourself
While you’re probably totally focused on your baby, don’t forget that your body has been through a major ordeal and you need to take care of yourself as well!
One way to do this is to prepare a kit of postpartum supplies BEFORE you give birth (believe me, the last thing you’ll want to do is run to the drugstore two days postpartum!).
This is a lesson I learned with my first baby. I had my mom on call to run out and get me supplies about ten times in the first week I was home. I had had all my baby gear ready to go for months, but I had no idea I would need so many supplies for myself!
With my second baby, I placed an Amazon order at 34 weeks and had everything ready to go when I got home from the hospital (actually, I brought most of it to the hospital).
Don’t forget, you can make an Amazon Baby Registry and add items for your postpartum recovery too! Because if mama’s not happy, nobody’s happy. Click here to start your Amazon Baby Registry!
Here are a few essentials I had in my postpartum kit:
Pain Relief
You will most likely be very sore down there for a few days or weeks! You will also have cramping as your uterus contracts to its previous size (that gets worse with every subsequent pregnancy). Have pain relief lined up to take as soon as you are home! Just be sure to double check with your care provider first.
- Your favorite brand of pain reliever (my OBGYN reccomended alternating between Aleve and acetaminophen)
- Pain Numbing Spray: This is a numbing spray that many swear by!
Underwear
Things are pretty messy after giving birth and you will be bleeding for a while (for the first few days it will be A LOT). You want to make sure you’re covered in the underwear department. Your normal underwear and pad are not going to cut it, at least for the first week.
You have different options for underwear:
- Disposable underwear (a.k.a. adult diapers): Using disposable underwear means you are totally covered against leaks and you don’t have to worry about ruining your undies.
- Mesh underwear + pad: This is probably what you will be given at the hospital. You can buy your own pack of mesh underwear to continue wearing for your first week at home.
- Comfy undies + mega pads: some people, including me, are just more comfortable in regular underwear, but you aren’t going to want to wear your normal undies during this time. I would recommend buying a pack of large, comfy undies that you don’t care about getting stained
If Your Have a Tear
This is every mom’s worst nightmare, but it happens more often than not. Personally I had a third degree tear with my first, and a second degree tear with my second. Believe me, you will want to have items on hand to deal with it if you need to!
- Perennial Spray: Earth Mama Angel Baby makes an awesome all natural perennial spray full of witch hazel and other soothing ingredients. Spritz on after going to the bathroom, showers or sitz baths. They also make a perennial balm.
- Sitz Baths: Pour yourself a quick bath (you can just fill the tub up to your hips) to promote healing. Earth Mama has a lovely herbal sitz bath, or just use good old fashioned Epsom salts.
- Stool Softener: Make things easier on yourself. Enough said.
Hemorrhoid Relief
Hemorrhoids are a common side effect of pushing during labor (if you aren’t already suffering from them during pregnancy!). You’re probably crossing your fingers (and toes) that you are one of those lucky mamas who can avoid them, but honestly, it’s better to be prepared and be ready to treat them ASAP!
Here are some ways to treat hemorrhoids:
Comfort Items
I bought some comfy jammies to wear around the house. Look for dark colours (in case of stains) and stretchy material! If you’re planning on breastfeeding (check out this list of breastfeeding essentials), be sure to buy a button-down shirt, especially if you’re nursing in the winter when it is chilly!
I also bought a few pairs of comfy leggings that were a size larger than usual. I was so tired of wearing my pregnancy clothes, but I knew I wouldn’t be back in my normal clothes for a while!
If you’re Breastfeeding
Most breastfeeding supplies are really for convenience (read this post on everything you need to know about nursing a newborn), but there are two items that will help you with pain as your nipples adjust to breastfeeding (ignore those who tell you it shouldn’t hurt. there is an adjustment period and it does!).
I am a total advocate for hydrogel pads. They absolutely saved my life when nursing my second. I cannot recommend these babies enough! I will be stockpiling them for baby #3.
The second item is a good nipple balm. Earth Mama Angel Baby makes a great organic balm, but a lanolin is a lifesaver as well. You can also ask for a prescription for Dr. Jack’s Nipple Cream at your hospital or birthing center.
Read more about dealing with breastfeeding pain here.
Postpartum Recovery Tip #2: Snuggle With Your Baby
This is the most important postpartum recovery tip of all. This is the time for you and your baby to get to know each other and bond. Enjoy every single one of those squishy baby cuddles. Let the baby fall asleep on your chest while you binge watch Netflix on the couch.
Don’t feel one little bit guilty about it. Breathe in that sweet new baby smell and enjoy.
Don’t worry about baby forming sleep associations (baby’s brain isn’t developed enough to do this yet).
Don’t worry about spoiling baby (you CAN’T spoil a baby this young).
Don’t worry about the house, writing thank you notes for all the gifts that have been piling up.
Just relax and enjoy that precious little one.
The most important part of postpartum care is rest. I am sure it’s intelligent design or evolutionary survival that babies are so sleepy in the first week or two. Lay on the couch or don’t get out of bed at all. All your baby wants is you and all you need to do is be there for her.
Postpartum Recovery Tip #3: Sleep When Baby Sleeps OR….
It’s a great idea to sleep when baby sleeps. IF you can. Personally, I could never fall asleep knowing any minute baby could wake up (be sure to read this post on newborn sleep tips). It wasn’t until her naps stabilized (around 7 months) before I could EVER nap during nap time. I felt a lot of stress around attempting to sleep and getting so frustrated when I couldn’t.
My train of thought went like this:
OK, go to sleep now, the baby is sleeping. Quick, go to sleep as quick as possible so you can maximize your sleep time. Why aren’t you falling asleep? If you’re just going to lay here awake, you’re wasting what valuable time you have alone. It’s been half an hour and you’re still not asleep! Stop getting stressed out about sleep. You’ll never fall asleep if you’re stressing out.”
…And repeat until the baby started crying. Sometimes I would cry from the frustration of not falling asleep.
Instead of sleeping when the baby is sleeping, I now tell my friends to rest while the baby is resting. This can be sleep if you feel sleepy, or just laying on the couch watching TV or reading. Give yourself some time to REST and you’ll feel better, whether or not you get any sleep.
Whatever you do, DON’T try to do accomplish anything. See my next point.
Postpartum Recovery Tip #4: Avoid Housework Like the Plague
The one thing you should NOT do during this time is housework. Let your husband, partner or roommate do it. Hire a cleaner if you can. Ask your mom or best gal pal for some help. If you’re solo, buy some paper plates and let the dust bunnies pile up. Believe me, your baby doesn’t care about them and neither should you.
Maternity leave is not so you can be the perfect housewife. It’s to physically heal yourself and care for and bond with your baby. You’ll eventually have time to wash the windows again (or you’ll just get used to the streaks!). Housework is not you priority right now. Let it go.
Postpartum Recovery Tip #5: Make Requests
This is one time in your life where people will ask you what they can do to help you out. A lot of people. Hopefully everyone who visits will offer. Don’t try to be strong and appear to have it all together. Make a request. Bring over pizza, sweep the floor, hold the baby so you can shower. Accept the offers.
Postpartum Recovery Tip #6: Have Guests, or Don’t
Whether or not you have guests during the first week or two is completely up to you. Some families want some peace and quiet in order to bond with baby. Others appreciate some adult contact and being able to commiserate about sleepless nights and poopy diaper changes (and hopefully your guests will bring gifts and food!).
Whether to invite guests or not is totally up to you. Don’t worry about offending anyone. This is time to think about you and your babe, not others getting their noise out of joint. Politely say that you’ll let people know when you’re ready for visitors and don’t give it another thought.
If you have really pushy friends/family and you know they will not stay away, take some time before you announce baby’s arrival. There’s no rule that a Facebook post has to go up the moment baby makes its arrival. Give yourself some time before sharing your special news with the world.
Postpartum Recovery Tip #7: Don’t Worry TOO Much
There is SOOOO much conflicting baby advice out there. You will go insane trying to sort through it all. Use your mama instincts and when in doubt, talk to your pediatrician.
The most important postpartum recovery tip is to be kind to yourself. You are going through a major change in your life, both in terms of physical recovery and the huge task of learning to care for a newborn. It will take some time to recover and adjust to your new life. Don’t be too hard on yourself!
What are you most worried about in the postpartum period? If you’ve been through it, what postpartum recovery tips do you have for new mamas?
Great tips! Were surprisingly hard to find when I was pregnant!