What To Put In Your Postpartum Kit
- Posted on: May 5 2022
Excitement is in the air! You have a new baby on the way! Emotions and anxiety can be elevated when you are expecting a new child. This is especially true when it is your first child. There are so many things you don’t know. Or maybe you have heard stories from friends and family or just don’t know what to expect. One thing that is always true is that everyone’s labor and delivery is different. Don’t get scared if your best friend had to get a C-section or your mom was in labor for two days. You don’t know if that will be the case with you because everyone is different. The good news is that your healthcare providers have a common goal and that is to keep you and your baby safe. The best thing you can do at this point is to educate yourself and prepare. One way to help you prepare for the aftermath of labor and delivery is by gathering supplies for a postpartum kit. These have become popular in recent years and many mamas swear by them. Let us review 6 products you may want to include in your postpartum kit.
1. Pads or Incontinence Underwear
Bleeding after delivery for up to six weeks is normal. This is usually a heavier flow than just a normal period and will slowly decrease over the weeks. This bleeding requires you to wear pads or incontinence underwear. You cannot use tampons at this time. Since the flow is heavy, large absorbency pads or incontinence underwear are recommended. You can buy these ahead of time or the hospital may send you home with some.
2. Hemorrhoid Pads
Many women swear by hemorrhoid pads made with witch hazel. They provide a cooling feel to your lady parts to help soothe them and reduce inflammation while you are healing. The name brand commonly used for these is Tucks Medicated Cooling Pads but you can also get a generic brand from your local store.
3. Sitz Bottle
The nurses at the hospital will teach you about sitz baths and other methods to help you soothe your lady parts after birth. They may also send you home with a sitz bottle, but if not, you can purchase one. This is a bottle to help you cleanse and comfort your vaginal area after giving birth.
4. Breast Products
The breast products you buy will depend on your choice to breast or bottle-feed. If you plan on breastfeeding you may want to purchase nipple cream which helps calm chapped irritated nipples which is common among women who are new to breastfeeding.
Breast pads are a must-have for breastfeeding mothers. These are small pads to put in your bra to keep milk from leaking through your bra and shirt. You can buy disposable or reusable ones. You can purchase breastfeeding bras but these are not always essential if you already have comfortable bras that allow you to easily access your breasts.
5. Heat and Cold
A heating pad can come in useful in many instances and is a household must-have. During postpartum, it can help with those cramps caused by your uterus contracting back to its normal size. Also, it is helpful to use if you are having issues with milk blockages in your breasts.
Having an ice pack is also an essential household product. If you are not going to breastfeed, an ice pack is helpful to stop milk production. There are also specific ice packs made to help relieve your vaginal area after birth but it is important to keep these clean in order to prevent infection. The nurses at the hospital may also show you how to make a vaginal ice pack from a baby diaper.
6. Comfy Clothes
Even though you may have a lot of visitors after returning home with your newborn baby, this is most likely not going to be a fashionable period in your life. You are likely going to be so focused on taking care of your baby and healing your own body that clothes are going to be the least of your concerns. Make sure you have plenty of comfy clothes to wear at home during this new exciting period in your life.
The hospital you are delivering at may have several of these items available for you during your stay. You can always ask your doctor what your hospital provides so that you know what you can leave at home. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, contact us here today!
Posted in: Obstetrics