Mommy Must Haves
It’s been a little over a year that I’ve been a mom and although there are must haves for our sweet babes, there are also mommy must haves in order to survive the first year. This is what I’ve found to be the most helpful from the first day to the first year of mommyhood.
Comfy Pillow - I brought my own pillow with me from home to the hospital, and I cannot recommend it enough. The hospital has pillows and all that, but if you have a good one with good support and maybe even some nice oils on it to help calm you - then bring it! It made me a lot calmer and my recovery sleep at the hospital a lot better.
Comfy Robe - I literally stayed in a robe the entire time I was at the hospital. There is no use in packing outfits except for the one you’re going home in. You’re whipping your boob out so much for feeding and the trek to the bathroom is already a huge feat. So you might as well do yourself a favor and make it all super easy to access, yet still comfy.
Large Pads - my go-to brand is Always and they did not disappoint when it came to recovery for me. Specifically the orange overnight ones.
Nipple Cream - I used a ton, Lanolin worked the best and most effective. If you are breastfeeding, trust me you need this.
Reusable Nipple Pads - The throw away ones are great, but the reusable ones protect so much more and are way more comfortable. If you can get cooling ones that you put in the fridge - even better!
Baggy Clothes - I know a lot of influencers and celebrities rave about these cute and adorable comfy clothes for postpartum, but the last thing on your mind coming home from the hospital is how to be “cute and adorable”. You think it will make you feel like yourself again, but I promise you - it will only make you feel worse because you are a very far version from what you were when you entered that hospital. But a good version still!! A great one at that. I truly wish I would have just packed my husband’s clothes to go home in and just wear in general for the first two months, if not longer. You’ll feel more comfortable and at ease and can just focus on baby!
Witch Hazel - The soaked pads from the hospital to clean/sit on after your recovery are doused with witch hazel. So after you run through your “raided the hospital” stash - I would recommend getting some plain witch hazel from the market, some make up rounds, and using the same container to douse them in. I used these for about 2 months in recovery and I swear it made all the difference. It’s also very soothing.
Dermaplast - They will have this at the hospital for you to take home with you as well, but you will absolutely need more. It’s a lifesaver when the itching starts….bleh!
Stool Softener - TMI about to happen, but it gets rough FAST. Take stool softener and help yourself a little bit. For some reason forgetting birth is easy, but the first “movement” after? Lord help us all…
Biotin - you will lose your hair, and you will lose it fast. I took biotin supplements to help with this stage of postpartum and it helped a lot. There are ridiculously priced shampoos that people swear by, but a Biotin supplement and the use of PureZero ($7.99) Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo and conditioner was a lifesaver for me.
Good ol’ Granny Panties - you will absolutely need these. Those cute bikini style undies will NOT cut it during recovery, and honestly, even after haha! I got some Fruit of the Loom from Wally-World and they were just amazing.
Hair Ties - Or clips or whatever. Something to quickly put your hair up because it will probably not stay down for about 6 months after baby. I got some velvet type scrunchies and I still use them everyday. My daughter is 13 months and I’m just now able to leave my hair down for an extended period of time haha!
PH Balanced Deodorant- This is a weird one, but postpartum you possibly-might give off a “musty” smell (and no it’s not from lack of showering). No one really ever talks about it, that’s why I was so blind-sided by it when my husband very nicely told me I smelled hahah! It has something to do with your hormones regulating themselves as well as giving off a stronger odor so that your baby can find their food more easily. I know, it’s wild! And then you just sweat a lot more during this time because your body is releasing the retention of liquids that it held during labor. Dove PH Balanced deodorant saved me from smelling though! So definitely grab yourself some just in case.
Rocking Chair - My husband and I didn’t think we would need one, and were sadly very mistaken. You will fall asleep in this sucker while feeding or rocking baby back to sleep. Or you’ll just find that most of your life is sitting in that chair as we did. Make sure it’s a comfy one!
Easy Snacks and Drinks - It takes time to get into a decent routine once you bring baby home. Especially with how often they need to eat, how often you’re consoling them, and how much they need to be held; the last thing you want to think about is feeding yourself. So get some snacks, a bunch of frozen meals, and easy portable drinks because you will burn through them very quickly.
Late Night Texting Buddy - I had a friend out in CA that gave birth about 2 months before me, but it made such a difference to be able to text another mom at 3am to just vent or ask the age old "is this normal!?”. I also had a close friend that didn’t have a newborn, but has a toddler that I would text at all hours of the night and it just helps a lot to have a people that understand and know what you need to get through those tough times. If you can’t think of anyone to text - I am happy to be your buddy!
Most of these things are pretty common, but I feel like after all the courses we took to prepare for the baby, there was practically nothing for momma postpartum. Therefore, I hope to help others be a little more prepared or even just reassured that they have the right stuff to really rock PP. Also, as I’ve stressed in my other posts - keep an eye on your mental state during this time. If you need a break, put the baby in the crib (crying or not) and take a break. I promise your baby will not remember it, they will not be traumatized, and they are safe while you check in with yourself. Go for walks and get outside if you can! It helps a lot to get out of the house and guess what - now we finally CAN! Fresh air does a world of wonder. It may not fix everything, but sometimes all it takes is a little whoosh of the wind or smell of the trees for baby to stop crying. We used to sit outside on our patio when Abigail would scream for hours and it would calm her right down.
If there’s anything else other momma’s would like to add, please feel free to in the comments! I love to hear about all the things that made a huge difference for each individual.
