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Top Ten Postpartum Essentials

by kate baggott on October 6th, 2006

You’re preparing to give birth. You’ve packed a little case full of tiny clothes. You’ve got some pyjamas and, probably, some relaxing CDs to listen to in the birthing room. Preparing to give birth, you’ve probably spent more money and received more gifts than for all the birthdays of your life combined. And you have probably packed slightly more baggage than you take on a two week vacation. It’s pretty ridiculous considering most of you will probably be in the hospital for less than 12 hours. So what is essential for your own care after the birth and what can you leave behind?First of all, the CDs can stay behind. Use them at home to keep you calm when the contractions start. When labour is really in full-swing, you’ll need even the passive energy you spend on listening, and when that happens the last thing you will want to hear is Sarah McLaughlin or a pan flute. Secondly, bring a comb, but leave the curling irons, hair dryers and make up at home. At the finish line of a marathon, you don’t see runners reaching for some mascara to freshen up before the medals ceremony. Nor, after giving birth, will your first concern be about a deep conditioning treatment.

Instead, make sure you have these things on hand for your own care.

10. Chewing gum. One study has shown that it helps get women’s systems moving again after a c-section. Who knows, it may just help women after a vaginal delivery too.

9. Apricot, pear or peach nectar. Not only will you be in need of fluids after giving birth, but you’ll also need to help guard against constipation. Keep a bottle of one of these on hand for when you want something that both tastes better than prune juice and doesn’t require a prescription.

8. Calendula cream. It wards off diaper rash, it helped me with my dry skin after constant hand washing and it prevents diaper rash. It is the only product I have total and complete faith in.

7. Big, cheap, soft maxi pads. Really. You’ll be wearing them for weeks and super absorbent pads will just dry your skin out down there. And there are going to be enough problems down there already.

6. An old plastic sports bottle or peri-bottle. Really, you need to dilute the pee that comes out of your body by pouring water over your perineum for about 5 days after you give birth.

5. Your prenatal vitamins. You may have cursed the things as you choked them down while suffering morning sickness, but you need them while you recover minerals lost while giving birth and in making good breast milk. They may also help to preventpost partum depression. Some doctors are already recommending that all women of childbearing age take prenatal vitamins all the time.

4. Witch Hazel. It’s a cheap, traditional remedy for hemorroids. Take one bottle with you and keep another at home in the fridge. When you need to, soak a cotton pad or some three-ply toilet paper in the liquid and apply directly to the piles.

3. Support hose. To prevent blood clots from lying in bed.

2. Your favourite acid-indigestion relief. While giving birth does improve the indigestion of late pregnancy, it can take a few days to a week for it to go away completely.

1. A list of phone numbers of everyone who ever offered to help you. Have the guts to actually use it. Ask for them to make you dinner, to take your older kids out or to fold some laundry!

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