8 postpartum essentials you need after birth
In anticipation of the arrival of your new addition, the emphasis is almost always on preparing items for the baby, creating the perfect aesthetic for the nursery, and making exciting social media announcements along the way.
While these things are wonderful and exciting, there is one extremely significant and life-altering stage that is all-too-often neglected: postpartum. In this article, we will discuss what can be expected during this period, the importance of practicing self-care as a new mother, and our top postpartum essentials that are perfect for the minimalist mom.
Talking about Postpartum
When people hear the term “postpartum”, it is often associated with “postpartum depression”, which is why some women don’t believe that they ever experience postpartum.
This is not the case! Every single person who gives birth experiences postpartum. Postpartum is defined simply as the period of time after a woman has given birth.
Postpartum is a time of huge adjustment to the new physical and emotional changes and responsibilities that occur after having a baby. While it may appear mundane to an onlooker, postpartum can be extremely overwhelming and confusing as a woman works to understand her new reality. Postpartum is a vastly unique experience that is different between each and every person.
The Importance of Self-Care
Self-care is always the most needed at the times that it is the hardest to attain. Postpartum is one of those times!
There is a renowned quote that says: “You cannot pour from an empty cup”. After the birth of a child, it is a parent’s natural instinct to give everything they can to their child. While this may feel like the right thing to do, it can be detrimental to the mental health of a parent, and therefore detrimental to the overall well-being of a child. As parents, we need to make it a priority to take care of ourselves. One of the first ways we can show this self-love is by taking care of our physical bodies after giving birth. The postpartum body is delicate and vulnerable, and should only be cared for with simple, natural products.
When selecting postpartum products, look for ones that are:
Organic
Plant-based
Multi-purpose
Minimalistic
We have assembled a list of our favorite minimalist postpartum essentials that every mother should have in preparation to give birth. And you know we could talk about essentials and not mention the products in our recovery kit!
Your Minimalist Postpartum Essentials:
After giving birth, it is likely that your perineal area will be in dire need of solace. A great way to do this is by treating yourself to a sitz bath.
To use, simply add 3 tablespoons of herbs to the provided muslin bag for use over the toilet, or add 1/4 cup to a warm bath. Sit in hip height water and let yourself soak for 20 – 30 minutes. This sitz bath blend is our favorite due to its certified organic, plant-based, lanolin-free, vegan, gluten-free, no petroleum, no parabens, qualities. Its ingredients include beautiful and natural scents and flavors such as lavender, sage, shepherd’s flower, rose petals, and chamomile.
A favored trend across mom-focused social media accounts is DIY “padsicles” to help treat postpartum perineal discomfort. While they may provide temporary relief, this specialized perineal balm is ready-for-use straight out of the jar. Formulated with peppermint and witch hazel, this balm has cooling and soothing effects that will provide you with instant relief and feelings of relaxation. For a vaginal birth, apply a small amount of the balm to your perineum or to a pad, and let it work its magic! If you are recovering from a Caesarean section, apply the balm to a cotton pad and gently dab it over your incision for instant cooling. This multi-functional cream promotes gentle and restorative natural recovery.
To be used on your own or with the help of a partner or support person, the all-natural massage oil is the perfect item to have on hand whenever your body starts feeling the aches and pains that commonly arise during the postpartum period. Made of all certified organic sunflower oil, dried lavender flowers, lavender oil, you can take comfort in the purity of these ingredients. This oil can be applied directly to the skin, without fear of toxins or chemicals. Daily massage reduces numbness, increases circulation, and blood flow which speeds up healing.
Organic Mother's Milk Tea for Breastfeeding
Learning how to breastfeed/chest feed is a huge learning curve during postpartum. Trying to navigate your baby’s latch, feeding schedules, and milk supply can be stressful. This unique, caffeine-free tea blend is intended to help to calm your nerves and stresses, to allow you to focus on your tasks at hand, one at a time. High levels of stress can decrease milk supply, so by taking the time to practice self-care, you increase your capabilities of increasing your milk supply. The relaxing tea is a perfect combination of organic fennel seed, organic spearmint, organic fenugreek, organic anise seed, organic coriander whole, organic marshmallow root, organic nettle, and organic blessed thistle.
When your breastmilk sets in, it will take time for it to regulate to the point that you don’t experience leaks. In the meantime, having soft, absorbent, and reusable breast pads on hand can prevent you from having to change your bra and shirt every 30 minutes. These super-soft, extra-absorbent pads are made out of organic bamboo material that is machine washable, making them easy and convenient to use.
After a vaginal birth, you will need to treat the entire vaginal area gently and with caution. Instead of wiping with toilet paper after using the bathroom, you will want to use a peri bottle to rinse the area. This peri bottle is fantastic due to its unique design that is intended to be held upside down for easy water flow. It also has a thin narrow neck, making hard-to-reach places accessible.
Treat yourself to several pairs of cozy, non-conforming postpartum panties! While it may not seem like something to prioritize, giving yourself the opportunity to experience complete comfort in early postpartum is a game-changer. These cute undies are super-soft and flexible to the new and unique curves of your body after birth. They also have a special pocket on the front so that you can easy carry an ice pack or heating pad with you for increased comfortability.
Support
This item is not something that can be purchased or stored in a jar in your cabinet, but it is absolutely essential. Whether or not a parent has a strong support system during the postpartum phase can make or break the experience. While it would be ideal for a new parent to have several willing hands on deck to help at any time, this is simply not the reality for most. However, with the rise of forums over social media, a mother doing the job on her own can still be part of a community.
Some ways to build a support system for yourself could include:
Finding a “mom” page on social media that is local to your area.
Attend community events with your baby (ex. Library story times, stroller groups, etc.)
Reconnect with old friends who are in a similar life stage as you.
Download an app such as “Peanut”
Engage in online conversations about motherhood.
No matter what items you end up purchasing to take care of yourself during postpartum, the most important thing is the intention behind it! As a parent, it can be easy to put your own well-being on the back burner, for the sake of catering to your child’s needs. However, this is counterproductive! By taking care of yourself and using high-quality, all-natural products to do so, you not only ease your recovery, but you start modeling to your child the value of self-love. It is never too early to teach your child what it means to love and care for yourself. You are well worth it! What other essential would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments.