5 Postpartum Self-Care Items Worth Every Penny
As you’re getting ready for the arrival of your newborn baby, preparing for the postpartum and recovery phase is equally as important as nesting and packing your birth bag. Depending on the hospital or birth center, you will be receiving some goodies to take home from the hospital, such as a sitz bath kit, postpartum pads, and gauze underwear. We recommend you budget for self care items to ensure your postpartum recovery goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some self-care items that we recommend that are worth every penny.
Nursing Cups
Breastfeeding can be a learning curve for many new parents. You and your newborn baby are having to learn an entirely new skill together. During this time, it’s normal to have increased nipple sensitivity, as well as cracked and sore nipples. The best nipple cups to get are these Silver Nipple Cups from Silverette. Silverette are small cups crafted out of pure 925 silver that fits over and helps to protect nipples while breastfeeding. Silver is a natural antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial metal that contains anti-inflammatory agents.These cups may be on the pricier end, but they come with rave reviews and are recommended by many lactation consultants.
Nursing Bra
If you’re planning on breastfeeding or pumping, a comfortable and well-designed nursing bra is a must. It should be made with breathable fabric, no underwires, and easily accessible clips at the top to unlatch the fabric covering the breast. We love this Hands Free 2-in-1 Nursing and Pumping Bra from MomCozy. It’s made with stretchy, breathable fabric and a cross strap design in the back. The bra also can accommodate all breast pumps so you do not need to purchase a separate pumping bra.
Perinatal Wash Bottle
After your baby is born, the nurses will typically encourage you to use the toilet before heading to the postpartum unit. To prevent burning, the hospital will provide you with a “peri bottle”, which is a soft plastic clear bottle with a nozzle on top. While it can get the job done, it isn’t ergonomically designed for the purpose it’s being used for, thus, you end up with a lot of water that isn’t used. Sometimes, you will end up having to fill the bottle up twice. We recommend the FridaMom Mom Washer, because it was specifically designed for this purpose. It’s even handy for after the postpartum phase, when you begin your menstrual cycle.
A Comfy Nursing Pillow
Whether you’re choosing breastmilk or formula, a comfortable nursing pillow is a must for new parents. The Boppy Pillow has been a popular item on baby registries for years, as it can be used for nursing and can double as a pillow to prop baby during tummy time. While we love the Boppy, we recommend the My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow as it provides the best support. It provides more support so your baby isn’t sinking down as you’re nursing, and also has a back support feature. The pillow has a clasp to ensure secure positioning. Your neck, shoulders, and back will thank you!
Full Labor and Postpartum Recovery Kit
Typically, there is a long list of items needed for the postpartum phase. Doctors and midwives will recommend new parents stock up on postpartum items such as witch hazel, pads, and frozen peas. If you’re still creating your birth registry list, add this Frida Mom Labor and Delivery + Postpartum Recovery Kit to your list. It has everything you’ll need to stay comfortable during the postpartum recovery period, such as a peri bottle, underwear, instant ice maxi padsicles, witch hazel pad liners, perineal healing foam, toiletry bag, caddy, and a pair of no-skid socks to use during labor.
