Ready to prep your postpartum essentials recovery kit? Then you’ll want to have these products ready to go before your due date.
I’m currently 12 days postpartum with my second baby and am feeling GREAT but I’ll be the first one to admit – I learned A LOT after my first delivery!
It’s so easy to overbuy products for a new baby when you’re a first-time mom but more often than not, we completely forget about our own health.
This postpartum care kit checklist is exclusively for you, mama!
It features items new moms need to feel their best after the arrival of a new babe.
Keep reading to get prepared with the postpartum products you actually need.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and I could earn a commission at no cost to you if you make a purchase using them.
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10 Postpartum Essentials New Moms ACTUALLY Need
Below are 10 things you need after giving birth.
I packed a few of these items in my maternity hospital bag in order to make my stay THAT much more enjoyable and I highly recommend you do the same.
Let’s get started.
1. Disposable postpartum underwear
I personally didn’t like the feel of Depends!
Frida Mom disposable underwear is WAY more comfortable, super stretchy, and form-fitting.
So, you won’t have to worry about your underwear riding low or chunky lines when you’re out at baby’s first doctor’s appointments!
I bought three boxes of these to last my entire postpartum recovery.
I DO NOT recommend using this disposable underwear with ANY pads that have wings.
You should also use a Maxi pad or AT LEAST something thicker than an Always Ultra Thin Regular pad to avoid tearing the underwear after one use.
The product below works best.
2. Maxi pads
I LOVED Frida Mom Ice maxi pads during my recovery!
Instead of having to make padsicles (and getting my toddler excited about the prospect of having ice cream every time I open the freezer), these are kept in the bathroom.
You simply need to bend them in the middle until you hear a pop and give them a shake to activate the cold therapy!
They’re a higher price point than regular pads but an absolute luxury when you’ve got stitches that need healing and should rest as much as possible.
I purchased two boxes of these and that’s exactly what I ended up using – I felt almost like myself again after day 8.
3. Peri bottle
The hospital will supply you with a standard peri bottle after delivery but again, Frida mom’s upside down peri bottle is a major upgrade – it’s honestly one of my favorite postpartum essentials.
I swear this post isn’t sponsored, LOL – I’m just very brand loyal when I find products that work!
Instead of having to stick your hand in the toilet to get to the areas that need the most attention postpartum, this bottle features an angled design to help you reach as far back as the perineum without all that yuck.
You can also get more pressure with this bottle’s design and don’t need to refill it 3/4 of the way through.
I still rely on this daily at day 12 of my recovery.
4. Nursing bras
I was so done with wire bras by 18 weeks pregnant!
Nursing bras provide the right amount of support without making you feel constrained.
I purchased nursing bras that are loose enough to sleep in from Kindred Bravely and Bravado Designs for this pregnancy.
They’re SUPER comfortable and have been my go to bras since the second trimester.
Now that I’m nursing, I live in them almost exclusively when I’m not in a GAP nursing maternity sleep cami.
5. Nursing pads
There is nothing more uncomfortable than waking up to pools of milk in your bra or tank top!
Except maybe that extra laundry you’ll have to do.
During the day or whenever I’m wearing form fitting tops like nursing bras, I opt for reusable organic cotton nursing pads – I’m currently wearing Kindred Bravely washable breast pads.
I choose natural products wherever possible and I like the fact that these save you a bit of money in the long run!
When I’m wearing loose fitting nursing pyjamas, I like Medela disposable nursing pads – they stick onto the inside of your tops so you don’t have to worry about them shifting overnight or during a nap.
No shifting means no leaks!
6. Nipple Butter
You’re going to want to pack this one in your hospital bag if you plan on nursing!
My breasts were both chapped within 24 hours of meeting my little girl – the same thing happened with my oldest daughter as well.
I prefer to stay away from lanolin creams – those with sensitive skin or an allergy to wool can be affected by this sheep derived substance.
Earth Mama organic nipple butter features organic olive fruit oil, organic beeswax, and organic cocoa seed butter among other 100% natural and organic ingredients.
Earth Mama organic nipple butter is made WITHOUT yucky things like lanolin, parabens, petroleum, and artificial preservatives!
It smells delicious and DOES NOT needed to be washed off before nursing your baby or pumping.
I used this with my first daughter and bought it again for my second.
7. Perineal balm and/or spray
I had horrendous tearing after my first delivery and this stuff was a LIFE SAVER!
Earth Mama organic perineal balm is soothing and cooling exactly where you need it to be! It’s also fairly long lasting between bathroom trips.
If you prefer to spray instead of dabbing though, Earth Mama’s herbal perineal spray is AMAZING and provides the same soothing and cooling benefits as the balm.
Personally, I bought both for my second delivery and alternate between them.
8. Pain relief and/or medication
After both of my deliveries, I was given the same combination of Advil and Tylenol to cope with the pain of tearing and stitches.
Be sure to consult the medical professionals on site for your recommended dosage and take your tablets on time!
Out of your hospital prescribed medication? Consult your local pharmacist for breastfeeding safe options.
For the cramps in coming days, I also like the relief a heating pad has to offer – and bonus: these are AMAZING for menstrual cramps as well.
9. Sitz bath
I had second-degree tearing after my first delivery – it was horribly painful.
Sitz baths were a MIRACLE and are definitely something you should prioritize on your postpartum care kit checklist!
I love Earth Mama’s herbal sitz bath – it’s incredibly soothing and can be used as a poultice, sitz bath, or to make padsicles.
I took a sitz bath daily after I had my first daughter and it really helped with the pain and healing.
10. Prenatal or postnatal vitamins
I took MegaFood’s Baby & Me 2 throughout all of my pregnancies – this is one of the most high quality non-GMO prenatal vitamins I’ve come across.
It features REAL folate derived from vegetables instead of the synthetic folic acid that cheaply made prenatal vitamins contain.
I also take NutraSea Omega 3 Fish Oil with high DHA to support my baby’s brain development and sleep.
According to research, DHA can help mature infant sleep patterns more quickly – meaning more rest for you and your baby!
Honorable Mentions
1. Loose clothing
I’m excited to get my prepregnancy body back like the next mama but now is NOT the time.
I was feeling amazing after one week and attempted to wear postpartum support panties a bit too early during this recovery – let’s just say, my cramps said HECK NO!
Stick to the loose clothing you were wearing during your pregnancy or invest in comfy nursing pyjamas like I did!
I LOVE the GAP’s Modal sleep pants and matching nursing tops SO MUCH that I bought four sets!
I have them in black, grey, navy, and blue – it’s like my pandemic postpartum uniform, haha.
2. Stool softener
This is a MUST HAVE for any mama that’s experienced tearing and ESPECIALLY perineal tearing sufferers.
Your first few trips to the bathroom postpartum can be REALLY painful but having a stool softener like RestoraLAX can make them more tolerable.
Trust me – add this to your medicine cabinet NOW. You’ll be so glad you did!
3. Insulated tumbler
Since I’ve started nursing again, I drink A LOT of water!
Having an insulated tumbler like my YETI lets me keep a cold bottle of water on my bed and allows me to wake up to a drink during overnight feedings – free of spills and trips to the kitchen for a refill!
4. Baby-friendly laundry detergent
We normally use Persil laundry detergent but I hate the strong scent especially for my newborn baby!
I wash all of her clothing and mine in Nellie’s laundry detergent soda – it’s gentle enough for babies, cloth diapering, and mom’s clothing that baby will be in direct contact with.
For instance, I wash my nursing bras, tops, pajama bottoms, and camis with Nellie’s.
Nellie’s oxygen brightener is also a wonderful alternative to bleach and can be a lifesaver for white baby clothes and cloth diaper inserts – we did cloth diapers the first time around due to my oldest’s sensitive skin.
I personally HATE using bleach and prefer more natural and gentle products.
This postpartum essentials list for mom includes the basic products all moms need after delivery like:
- Disposable postpartum underwear
- Overnight pads
- Peri bottle
- Nursing pads
- Nursing bras
- Nipple butter
- Perineal balm and/or spray
- Pain relief and/or medication
- Sitz bath
- Prenatal or postnatal vitamins
Postpartum recovery is critical for the health of moms and babies, so be sure to take care of yourself daily, mama!
Have a great experience with any of the items above? Share your feedback in the comments below.
Wishing you a smooth delivery and recovery 🙂
Nikki Slivarich
Writer
Blessed mama of two beautiful little girls. I’m a full-time blogger and social media content creator who teaches moms and boss babes how to start an online business. Follow me on social for clever ideas to make money using the platforms you already love!
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