Postpartum tips for mom
Read this article first. It’s pretty hilarious, and pretty accurate.
Things you need:
A good pump. A
hand pump will do in a pinch, but let your insurance cover a quality electric
pump from specialty brands like Medela and Hygeia
A giant water bottle. And lots of snack food. You will be dying of thirst and hunger
for the next three months. Start
your stockpile now.
Bookmark Kellymom and the Dr. Sears website. That way, when you have questions, you
can get good, legitimate advice and not the horror stories you will see on your
due date club boards. Also, the Baby Book by Dr. Sears is a great resource.
Family and friends.
Not for visiting; for helping.
Let family and friends bring you food, do some laundry and run the
vacuum for you. Now is the time
for you to bond with and get to know your baby, not try to be wonder woman.
Nursing supplies: get some cotton leak pads, or try Lily
Pads to help with the leaking.
Nursing tanks are better than bras because you can throw a shirt over
them and then not have to worry about exposing yourself every time you feed the
baby. Or just go topless for the
first couple of weeks; lots of skin to skin and easy access to the breast are
great for the baby. Put your La
Leche League Leader and Lactation Consultant numbers on the fridge or by your
phone so you will be able to get nursing assistance right away. And finally,
learn how to hand express. This
will help SO MUCH with engorgement.
For your recovery, there are a few things that might help
make you a little more comfortable.
Put witch hazel on cut-up pads and keep them in the fridge. That way, you can place a witch hazel
pad on top of your lochia pad for some cool comfort. If it doesn’t freak you out too much, you might want to try
cloth pads for your postpartum recovery.
Yes, it is more laundry, but they tend to smell less and breath more,
and they feel a whole lot less like diapers than megapads do. Dermaplast or bottom balms/sprays are
great for relieving discomfort on your perineum. Ibuprofen will help with pain and swelling, and is safe to
take while breastfeeding. A good
postpartum tea will help you relax and speed healing. By far, my favorite postpartum tea is Earth Mama Angel Baby
Monthly Comfort tea. I promise I
don’t work for them; I just love their stuff to death.
As you are recovering, keep tabs on your mood. Postpartum mood disorders can manifest
any time in the baby’s first year of life. If you need something to gauge your mood, I highly recommend
the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as a great quick quiz to assess your
mental health.
Some things that will help you adjust to motherhood: EAT. I mean it, you will forget to eat. Just keep shoving food in your mouth, or have friends sign
up to bring you meals. And SLEEP
WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS. You will
hear this a million times, and you will still try to throw in a load of laundry
or clean up the kitchen while your baby naps. For the whole first year, it is simply a good idea to take
naps and rest when your baby does, so you have the energy to get through the
rest of the day. And take at least 30 minutes a day for yourself. Have your partner hold the baby so you
can take a nap, read a magazine, go to the store, whatever. Regular mama time is vital to keeping
your sanity!
When you finally feel up to it, don’t forget to get back
into a fitness routine. No, your body won’t zip back in 8 weeks like Heidi
Klum. But exercise does release
endorphins and help you lose weight and keep postpartum mood disorders at bay.
And if anyone asks you what you need or want, tell them to
get you a gift certificate for a massage.
You probably will only be thinking of things the baby needs, but don’t
be afraid to ask people to help take care of you. You won’t believe how sore you get from rocking the baby all
the time.
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