Postpartum essentials

So far I’ve got maternity pads, disposable underwear, frida mom healing foam thingy, and one of these peri bottles I think. Also some breast pads. Oh also which Hazel liners. I’ve heard about ice pads - I’m unsure if I should get them. All in my hospital bag just in case :)

Spritz for bits, really chunky maternity pads, perineal wash bottle x

Honestly prepare for everything but don’t scare yourself into thinking it will be awful. I was so nervous after giving birth that my first toilet trip would be as painful as labour but I felt nothing. The only thing I will say is it aches. The only things I really used were disposable underwear and maternity pads x

Not necessarily something for down there but I had nothing to wear postpartum. I got some giant high rise undies from m&s as last thing you'll want is small skivvies. And then I found nothing fit, either too big and maternity or too small for swollen belly. Just have something new and nice to wear for those first few weeks when you just want to feel nice. Oh and stock up on bigger/various pads ready for your first period after baby. Nobody talks about it and I was woefully unprepared thinking it would just be a normal period. It was not!

When I had my first back in Oct 2021, I only used cheap big black granny pants from tesco and maternity pads. After a while (I think about 3weeks PP) I was bleeding light enough that I could just wear panty liners/sanitary pads.

When you have your first wee, it is going to sting, but change your position, change the angle, tilt your pelvis until until you find the position that doesn't sting for you.
For me it was having one knee up and one knee down so that I was tilted to one of the sides.

You'll find that you could go crazy and waste a lot of money on all these gimmicks that you barely or never use.

Maternity pads and underwear - you might not need many. I didn’t bleed heavily for more than a week or so first time then switched to regular pads. A peri bottle. Breast pads, cooling breast pads, nipple cream and a haakaa for let down if breastfeeding. You’ll probably want some breast care either way though as milk might still come in initially even if formula feeding and engorgement can be painful.

I used arnica cream for any swelling and tea tree oil in the bath after the go ahead. I used a donut ring to sit on. 😅 I had an episiotomy and forceps though so hopefully you won't need that 🙏🏻 but be prepared for anything because I wasn't 😆

@Tori ohh yes i agree with this. Definitely something for the nips!

A ring cushion and anusol cream. I was not expecting the piles to be so bad 🙈
Plus more maternity pads than you think you’ll need - you get through a lot! The spongy ones are best from my experience especially if you have stitches too.

Comfy and loose fitting clothes/pjs tea-tree oil mixed with water for down there while you pee and when you shower it really helped to take the sting out