Baby #4 arrived last week, and I'm on the mend. The birth went really well, and my new baby boy and I are doing great. To prove it, I've added a picture of my feet above because they are surprisingly not as swollen this time around, and I take that as a personal victory! (Yes, I am that awesome ... I am giving you pictures of my feet.)
Postpartum recovery can be rough for even seasoned SAHMs, though. Here is what I'm doing.
What do you think of my little list? Too Type-A for you? Or just what you needed since you have no idea what you'll need after you have a baby, and are sure you'll be in no mood to have your husband figure it out for you. Do you have any special items that comfort you after childbirth? Post your advice in the Comments below!
If you want more of the inside scoop of what it's like to have babies, recover, raise them, and maybe even retain your super-coolness ... join my newsletter!
Postpartum recovery can be rough for even seasoned SAHMs, though. Here is what I'm doing.
- Herbal Sitz Bath. This seems to help "things" feel better. Peri-Ease Organic Sitz bath herbs You'll need a Sitz bath or just a bath tub. I use this one - but I've never used the bag and hose. (What is that even for? Never mind, I honestly don't even want to know!) I guess you can get creative with that if you want. For postpartum #3, I used the bathtub for my bottom-soaking, but it was painful to get in and out of the tub.
- Instant Cold Peri Compresses or a newborn diaper sliced at one end and stuffed with crushed ice. That's relief right there! Frozen overnight maxi pads pre-soaked in the herb mix from #1 (see above) is not recommended, as they take very long to thaw, and your husband may lose a bit of his sense of manliness by soaking, freezing, and helping you figure out how to thaw them.
- Breast pads. I usually use my Favorite Disposable Nursing Pads at first, then switch to Reusable Nursing Pads once my milk supply is established and I'm not leaking all over the place. Throw in some Lansinoh Lanolin cream for nursing, too, for when the girls get sore.
- Boppy Pillow (or stack of pillows) to keep a tiny newborn up off my recovering uterus and closer to the food, for better nursing. I've personally never needed a second cover, but if you have sloppy babies go ahead and get a pack-up cover.
- Flexible straws to avoid dumping ice water on myself and the baby when in laying or reclining positions. Nobody likes water up their nose.
- Overnight maxi pads. (Yes, the kind that goes up to your belly button and past your crack.) Don't skimp on this unless you have a special fondness for changing your sheets often.
- Warm socks. I like Keen or this one from Smartwool, that I'm actually wearing right now. I don't know about you, but my feet get cold after childbirth. Circulation is focused on other areas, I guess.
- Mesh underwear. So comfy on the belly. If birthing in a hospital, ask for extra before you leave! A great way to keep your husband's mind off of the general no-"relations" for 8 weeks postpartum.
- Good nursing bra. I'm trying out Bravado for the first time. I prefer ones that clasp in the back versus the sports bra style that you have to wrangle over top of your head. That's simply a wrestling match gone wrong!
- Nursing nightgown. I try to avoid pants the first 2 weeks postpartum to keep pressure off of the belly. I have a nursing gown like this, which is super soft and comfy, but I feel like I'm wearing one of those parachutes that we bounced balls around on during gym class in kindergarten. I would like to try one of these or these after Baby #4.
What do you think of my little list? Too Type-A for you? Or just what you needed since you have no idea what you'll need after you have a baby, and are sure you'll be in no mood to have your husband figure it out for you. Do you have any special items that comfort you after childbirth? Post your advice in the Comments below!
If you want more of the inside scoop of what it's like to have babies, recover, raise them, and maybe even retain your super-coolness ... join my newsletter!
