One crucial part of postpartum planning is considering your physical healing and wellbeing in the days and weeks after birth. Of course, we know that all of our systems are connect and work together. Thus, the ways you tend to your physical healing can impact your mental and emotional healing and vice versa.
How to Promote Optimal Physical Healing
- Plan on in-home support. We highly recommend in-home support for postpartum families. This support system may include a postpartum doula, friends, family, or a combination of folks. The goal is to allow others to help you carry the load while you focus on yourself and baby.
- Eat nourishing food. We suggest foods that you can eat with one hand,as well as easy to grab snacks. Do your best to eat when baby is eating so that you are replenishing yourself regularly. Check out our article on this topic here!
- Rest. Let yourself nap. Put your feet up. Get some overnight help.
- Take your vitamins. Many physicians recommend that birthing people continue taking prenatal vitamins the first 6-8 weeks (or longer if breastfeeding!). Talk to your care provider about what will be best for you.
- Stay hydrated. You are losing a lot of fluids postpartum regardless of how you are feeding; this is part of the bodies healing process! Drink water, teas, electrolyte mixes and eat plenty of fruits and veggies.
You also might like to check out this blog about how to ask for the help you need during this important and tender time.
Items that Can Support Physical Healing
*This blog post contains affiliate links for products that we think highly of. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). ABG links to these products because of their quality and not because of the commission we receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
Vaginal Birth Products:
- The Frida Mom Recovery Kit: This 11-piece kit covers lots of needs in one package. It includes disposable underwear (people love these, we promise), ice maxi absorbency pads (aka padsicles), cooling witch hazel pad liners, and medicated perineal healing foam.
- A good peri bottle: These ones are so much better than the hospital ones, and ease of use is important during postpartum!
- Hemorrhoid care: Witch hazel pads (seen in the Frida Mom kit) and sitz bath mixes are great for tissue healing and hemorrhoids. You can make your own but this one is really nice! You might want a sitz bath toilet bowl, which makes it easier to soak.
Cesarean Birth Products:
- Postpartum support belt: I recommend this for everyone. It holds the uterus back so that it heals and drops behind the pelvic bone more quickly, but it also provides extra support for the muscles after a cesarean birth. Many hospitals will provide one if asked.
- Soft stretchy high waisted underwear: Hanes get the job done! We also like these ones! You might like the ones from the hospital or the Frida Mom kit as well.
- Scar cream: Consult with your doctor about wound care. When you are ready and advised, you can begin applying scar cream.
Breastfeeding Products:
- Nipple cream: We suggest using this preventatively to keep your nipples from chafing or blistering. Nipple cream Nipple creams come in two basic types- lanolin and plant-based. Both are great for healing. The biggest difference is if you want an animal product or plant based one. They have different textures and smells.Both can be used as a preventive or at the first sign of nipple pain or damage.
- Haakaa: This is a great tool for passively collecting milk. It’s lightweight and portable which makes it easy to take on the go. They now also have passive collection cups that can be worn inside your bra.
- Hydrogel pads: These can be soothing, especially in the first couple of weeks as you adjust to feeding your baby.
- Nursing pads: Use either cloth or disposable absorbent pads for leaking. This helps prevent additional irritation as well.
Remember that you can ask for any of these items on your registry!
ABG is Here for You
Your postpartum experience and physical healing matter deeply to us at Austin Baby Guru. We are here to support you in planning for and navigating your postpartum experience. Please reach out if you’d like to explore these ideas more deeply in a consultation or to book postpartum care.
*Photo credit: Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash
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