If you’re a new mom, the idea of postpartum recovery might seem a little intimidating. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get through those first six weeks! Whether this is your first baby or your last, we hope you find something useful in today’s post.
Hospital
Let baby sleep in the nursery. During your hospital stay, the nurses will offer to keep your baby in the nursery over night, only bringing them in for feedings. Take them up on that offer! It will be a while before you sleep well again, and you’ll need all the sleep you can get while you recover.
Take all the supplies you can from the hospital. Your nurses will gladly stock you up with supplies (Tuck’s pads, numbing spray, etc.), so don’t be afraid to ask! You won’t have to worry about going out and buying your own, allowing you to just focus on your recovery.
Recovery
Get Depends for the first few days postpartum. It may sound silly, but this hack is a lifesaver! You will bleed a lot, and regular pads can be a pain. Depends are so easy to slip on and off, and they keep you from ruining your underwear.
Use witch hazel. Witch hazel has a cooling effect and helps with swelling! Tuck’s pads have witch hazel in them, which you can get from the hospital or at a local grocery store. They also make sprays you can purchase on Amazon.
Use a numbing spray. Numbing sprays, such as Dermoplast, will give you more instant relief. Like witch hazel, they can also have a cooling effect! Purchase some at your local grocery store, or stock up before you leave the hospital.
Take your laxatives. You’ve probably heard that the first bowel movement after giving birth can be pretty rough. While that’s true, laxatives will make it so much better! Your doctor will probably prescribe some to you, so just make sure you keep taking them regularly.
Take a sitz bath. Put some epsom salt in warm water and soak your perineum and bottom. You can do this in the tub or in a basin over the toilet seat. It will help with the healing process, especially if you have stitches or hemorrhoids. You can also add essential oils to the bath if that’s your thing!
Breastfeeding
Treat engorgement with heat, massage, or pumping. When your milk comes in, your breasts will be full, tender, and hard. To help with engorgement, try taking a hot shower, massaging your breasts, or using a breast pump to get relief.
Use nipple cream before you get cracked nipples. By regularly using nipple cream, you can keep them moisturized and help prevent dryness and cracking.
Pump in the morning. You produce more milk in the mornings, so if you are trying to build a freezer stash, morning pump sessions are the best. We also suggest pumping right after your baby feeds, so you don’t take away from their next feeding. Don’t worry if you don’t get as much milk at first; by pumping every morning, your body will start producing more milk at that time!
Personal Care
Keep applying creams to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Check out one of our older posts for a great DIY Belly Balm!
Avoid heat and tight hairstyles to help with hair loss. Postpartum hair loss is a real thing. While you can’t prevent it, you can keep it from getting worse by avoiding curling irons or straighteners. We also suggest using scrunchies instead of regular hair bands to avoid unnecessarily pulling out hair!
Ask for help. This is probably the most important tip of all! Accept help when it’s offered, and don’t be afraid to ask for it when you need it. Give your baby to your partner so you can go take a nap. Let your family members cook or clean. There’s no shame in getting help, and it will make recovery so much easier!
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