I absolutely love when I get to support families as they prepare to welcome a new little love into their lives, but I also really adore supporting them as they adjust to their new life. Many women find that they are very prepared for pregnancy and birth, but postpartum surprises them in many ways! That’s why I put together a short, but hopefully helpful, list of my favorite postpartum items to make your life after baby a bit easier.

Disclaimer: every momma is different and these items are not going to replace mental and emotional preparation. I suggest reading books like The Fourth Trimester and The First Forty Days to help you prepare for your postpartum experience.

Other than preparing by talking to other moms/your doula and reading books about postpartum life, I love these products for those first few months after baby is born:

Bamboo Nursing Pads

I loved using these washable, reusable nursing pads when my milk was coming in. This pack came with plenty for me to use while others were being washed and did a great job keeping me from leaking through to my shirt. They also wick the moisture away from you really well so you don’t feel like you’re covered in breastmilk.

Haakaa Milk Catcher

This thing was a life saver! Not only will it catch any milk that leaks from the breast you aren’t currently nursing on, but it also can help relieve pain if you become engorged. With both of my boys, I had a ton of supply right at the beginning and it was really painful.

Ibuprofen

This one may seem obvious, but it was a game changer for me this third time around. My midwife explained to me that engorgement isn’t actually because your breasts are so full of milk, it’s inflammation that your body creates as a reaction to a “foreign object.” Ibuprofen helped me get my engorgement under control in less than 24 hours! It was amazing!

FridaMom Perineal Cooling Pad Liners

If you give birth vaginally, there will almost definitely be some soreness for a while. These pad liners were so easy to grab from the bathroom drawer and put on my pad when using the bathroom. I loved the simplicity and ease of having these around.

Earth Mama Nipple Cream

While I’ve loved my breastfeeding journeys with my boys, they didn’t come without some painful moments. As your body and your breasts get used to the demands of nursing your baby, this nipple cream may be a huge help! It soothes sore or cracked nipples and is totally fine if baby gets some in his/her mouth.

A Postnatal Multivitamin

Especially if you’re breastfeeding, but even if you aren’t, newborns take a lot out of you. Having a good postnatal vitamin is key in making sure you get the nutrients you need and stay healthy through some sleepless nights and long days.

Depends

This third postpartum season was the first time I tried these (before, I was just using pads and mesh undies) and I really loved them! It was nice to just have one item rather than fitting a pad into the undies and then just throwing it all away. I’m not gonna pretend it was glamorous to walk around in an adult diaper, but glamour isn’t really what I’m going for after having a baby!

Someone You Can Be Open & Honest With

Whether this is a doula, family member, or friend, it’s so important to have a support system. Postpartum can feel very isolating, especially during Covid times, and sometimes you need to talk with someone who isn’t “in it” with you, like your partner is. I also highly recommend finding someone who has resources to share. So if you need a lactation consultant or pelvic floor therapist, they can help you find that quickly.

Extras:

Essential Oils – Having something to grab when you’re feeling emotional, tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, is always a good thing. I’ve found that essential oils can help with these emotional issues (as well as physical ones). Feel free to email me if you’re interested in grabbing some essential oils for your postpartum toolkit.

A diaper caddy – Having a portable diaper station was so helpful during the first few weeks when getting up and down isn’t exactly easy. Have a few diapers and wipes within reach from the bed, the couch, and any other place you may be resting with baby.

I hope this short list was helpful for you! If you have questions, you can always email me or message me on Instagram – I’m happy to help!