The high you’ll feel once you hold your baby for the first time is truly amazing. There is nothing like that feeling! Blissful and happy. You will be able to maintain that high every time you look at that baby’s face. But… there will also be pain in your body, everywhere. To maintain that bliss you feel when you hold your baby, we want to help with your post-partum recovery.

Here are some product must-haves to help get over the pain of labor.

Tip: a lot of these products you will use in the hospital. When you leave the hospital, take as many of these products home with you!

1. Perineal Bottle: Fill this bottle with water before you use the restroom, and after each bathroom break, use this to help with any burning you may feel from having to “go.” Some women suggest adding witch hazel to the bottle, as that is an anti-everything!
2. Dermoplast/Preparation H Wipes: Both of these products will help with any burning sensation you have… down there. And, if you have to deal with hemorrhoids, use these to deal with that uncomfortable sensation.
3. Pads: In the hospital, I am sure you had BIG pads with an ice pack or an ice glove inside to help soothe any soreness you experienced. Generally, you only need to use ice for 1-2 days, but if you are feeling pain, continue to ice yourself. If not, skip the ice, but still use maxi pads- and be sure to use a bigger (like the biggest you’ve ever seen) sized pad. You will be surprised as to how much you will continue, and for how long, to bleed after labor.
4. Big Underwear: Yep, you’ll want these. There’s just a lot going on down there and you’ll want as much room as you can to help your body recover.
5. Nursing Accessories: If you’ll be breastfeeding, you’ll want these accessories to keep the motivation to keep going, regardless of the pain:
   1. Lanolin will keep your nipples soothed- be sure to use it after each feeding.
   2. Nursing pads are a great idea- especially when your milk first comes in. You never know when your milk will come in, or how much will come, so keep dry with nursing pads.
   3. Nipple Shields help with sore nipples and latching issues. A great idea to have some on-hand just in case you have to deal with either of these issues.
6. Stool Softener: to ease how uncomfortable you are, take a stool softener to help when you have to go to the bathroom. TRUST US. You don’t want to feel like you are giving birth… again!
7. Belly Girdle: It may sound uncomfortable, but you will want something tight to help your belly get its shape back- especially if you have diastasis recti or had a c-section.
8. Netflix: You’ll want to be entertained while you are up with baby in the middle of the night or during long-feeding sessions. Netflix has many guilty pleasures to keep you entertained!
9. Snacks: You will get hungry from late-night feedings and too tired to make anything. Keep trail mix and granola bars within arm’s reach to keep hunger at bay.
10. Water Bottle: Whether it is the water bottle that the hospital sends home with you or your favorite bottle that you can easily keep by your side, make sure you always have it with you and keep it FULL of ice and water. This will help you drink up easily throughout the day.