Top 10 Essentials for a Healthy New Mama
Giving birth – and recovering from it – is a real pain…especially once you’re home without a bedside button to call for the nurse. The inspiration for today’s topic comes from two friends due this month with their first and second babies, respectively. Nothing but friendship would motivate me to dredge up memories of my postpartum recovery! (There’s a reason it’s rarely discussed..) Thankfully, I don’t have any pictures to illustrate, but will entertain you with a few family photos instead. Here are the ten essentials items you will need to care for your body post delivery, where to purchase them, and why. After your bathro0m is stocked, you are equipped to heal and to focus on your newborn baby!
What to buy
#1 Enormous Maxi Pads |
#2 Dermoplast – topical anesthetic spray |
#3 Sitz Bath |
#4 Perineal Warm & Cold Pads |
#5 Perineal Irrigation Bottle |
#6 Tucks Medicated Pads |
#7 Preparation H with hydrocortisone |
#8 Waterproof Sheet Protector |
#9 Inflatable Donut |
#10 Disposable underwear (hospital) |
#11 stool softener (generic drug store brand) |
Where to buy
For the items in today’s list, I shopped at Amazon.com, soap.com, my local drugstore, and the goodie bag sent home with me from the hospital. See Where to buy for more information about online shopping.
Why to buy
Some hospitals will send you home with written instructions and extra “product” so you will already have and know why you need many of these items. This was the case with the birth of my second son. NOT the first. After 40 hours of labor followed by delivering a baby with a very large head, I was ill prepared both physically and emotionally for the toll on my body. And the hospital staff was “hands off” to say the least. Apparently choosing the hospital because Suri Cruise was born there and it had wi-fi shouldn’t have weighed so heavy in my where to deliver decision. If you find yourself in similar circumstances, here is WHY you need these items.
*NONE of the opinions stated here are in lieu of direction given by a medical professional*
#1 Enormous maxi pads for the initial excessive bleeding (“lochia”) post delivery. Did I mention excessive? Tampons are not to be used while your body heals.
#2 Dermoplast – topical anesthetic spray will numb the perineal pain A LITTLE BIT. At the very least, makes you feel like you’re doing something. I went through 2 cans.
#3 The sitz bath saved me after the birth of my first son. I literally would not have been able to go to the bathroom without it. Fill it with the warmest water you can tolerate. Don’t bother with the natural oil sprays like Motherlove.
#4 Instant cold pads are another simple yet effective invention to ease perineal pain. The hospital may give you an adequate supply.
#5 Fill the perineal irrigation bottle (little plastic squirt bottle) with hot water and use before/during/after you go to the bathroom. The water soothes and cleans.
#6 Whether or not you have hemorrhoids, use Tucks pads in lieu of toilet paper and line the Enormous maxi pad with them. An invaluable piece of advice from a mom of 3.
#7 If you didn’t get hemorrhoids while pregnant, giving birth might do the trick. Use Preparation H with cortisone as directed. If that doesn’t work, ask your OB/GYN for a prescription strength medication.
#8 A waterproof sheet protector will save your bedding from your leaking postpartum body. I awoke countless times drenched in sweat and leaking breast milk.
#9 An inflatable donut cushion will ease the discomfort of sitting and take the pressure off hemorrhoids. Carry it around the house with you or buy a couple.
#10 Disposable underwear. Yes, they are hideous. And try not to feel depressed that these large unsightly underwear actually fit your body. They are the only ones to also fit the Enormous maxi pads. I haven’t seen the hospital style ones anywhere but the hospital. Perhaps a medical supply store, but this is something you should ask for when you’re discharged from the hospital.
#11 Use stool softener if needed. Pushing too hard can rip your stitches, ouch.
One last thing – Fill the pain medication prescriptions given by your doctor even if you don’t think you’ll need them. Things change when you get home. And if okay’d by your doctor, have OTC pain meds on hand too – I rotated between acetaminophen (“Tylenol”) and naproxen (“Aleve “). Consult your doctor and all medication labels if breastfeeding. Breastfeeding requires a list of its own.
*NONE of the opinions stated here are in lieu of direction given by a medical professional*
Ahhhh!! I had no idea this is what women endure post-labor! Why doesn’t anybody ever talk about this? News to me…I think every new mother deserves a medal of honor for what they suffer through…and men, THIS is the reason for “push” presents! -Grace
5 Items for Feeding and Changing Baby
I made some impulsive baby product purchases over the weekend. Nothing terribly significant like a stroller..there’s already 5 of those in the garage..but am still annoyed with myself for getting caught up in the hype of this new store opening, and buying baby items based on brand and packaging. The fun way to shop! Versus my usual obsessively researched method. This is what I brought home, where (else) you can get it, and why it just might work for your little one.
What to buy (or not)
#1 Boon Snack Ball |
| #2 Skip Hop Zoo Bib |
| #3 Boon Gnaw |
| #4 Hoppop Drinking Cup |
| #5 Diapees & Wipees Waterproof Carrier |
Where to buy
For today’s items, I shopped at Wonder!, a brand new higher end children’s megastore in Deerfield, IL. But it all can be found at Amazon.com too. Check out Where to Buy for more information.
Why to buy
#1 The Boon Snack Ball is advertised for children 9 months and older. Ha! My 2.5 yr old son cannot open this thing! So, it is true that it won’t spill. Because YOU will be opening it and handing your child his snack. Ours is filled with rocks and used as a “musical” instrument. Try Munchkin Snack Catchers
#2 The Skip Hop Zoo bib is great! It meets my bib criteria for Feeding Baby on the Go, and then some. It folds up into a built-in pouch, perfect for transporting a dirty bib.
#3 I truly had no idea what the Boon Gnaw was when I picked it off the shelf. And didn’t bother to read the directions on the box, so me and my 7 month old struggled with it for a few days. Now that I’ve figured out it’s a clip-on teether with retractable mesh to insert food, I like it and so does my son. But it takes just the right size slice of banana, not too big, not too small, to actually work. Meaning fit inside the mesh and also not fall out. I use a little bottle nipple brush to clean it which is a lot of work for something intended for the modern dishwasher using family. This is entirely too messy for anywhere but a high chair, but the Sassy Teething Feeder
#4 The age appropriateness of this cup per the labeling of the Hoppop Drinking Cup is waaaay off. It says 4 months, but has no valve so the liquid literally pours out of a small hole like a to-go coffee cup. Any sippy cup is better than this one. My 7 month old likes his NUK Learner Sippy Cup
#5 I received an original cotton Diapees and Wipees carrier as a gift and used it all the time after transitioning from a diaper bag to a large purse. It carries a couple of diapers depending on the size and a travel case of wipes. The patterns are modern and the latest versions are even more functional, constructed in waterproof fabrics. When you aren’t carrying a bag or purse, the Kalencom Quick Change Kit
Back to my trusted research before you buy method!
Top 10 Essentials for Feeding Baby on the Go
Taking your solid food eating baby out to eat for the first time – or even contemplating such an event – can seem daunting, even to a seasoned parent. And rightfully so, just feeding baby in a controlled environment at home is a mess; imagine taking that show on the road! Here are the ten essentials items you will need for a successful lunchtime outing with baby, where to purchase them, and why. After your diaper bag is stocked, enjoy this milestone with your little one!
WHAT to buy
#1 Phil & Teds Metoo Portable Highchair |
#2 Bumkins Waterproof SuperBib |
#3 Table Topper Disposable Placemat |
#4 Clorox Disinfecting Wipes,To Go Pack |
#5 Earth’s Best TenderCare Baby Wipes Travel Pack |
#6 cloth lunch box by L.L. Bean |
#7 HAPPYBABY Organic Baby Food Pouches |
#8 Boon Dispensing Spoon |
#9 Reusable or plastic gallon bag |
#10 Change of Clothes |
#11 NUK Learner Cup BPA Free Silicone Spout |
WHERE to buy
For the items in today’s list, I shopped at Amazon.com, Diapers.com, Giggle, L.L. Bean, Target, and my son’s closet.
After about a year of comparing prices at big box stores like Target to such sites as Amazon.com and Diapers.com, shopping online is the clear winner FOR MOST ITEMS in terms of price and convenience, as long as shipping is free. The downside is the wasteful packaging – please recycle! Free shipping is available with an Amazon Prime membership ($79 annual fee) and better yet through the new free Amazon Mom membership. I recently switched from Amazon Prime to Amazon Mom and received a prorated credit for my unused months. Signing up for Amazon Mom entitles you to 3 months of free 2-day shipping on Prime-eligible items, and you earn an additional month each time you spend more than $25. Select diapers and wipes are 20% off. I also tried the Subscribe & Save program for additional savings, but it did not work for me as it is standard versus 2-day shipping. That requires knowing too far in advance when you’re going to run out of diapers!
WHY to buy
For those of you who have not read About Me, I am a mom of two boys, 2 ½ yrs and 7 months. Mr. 7 months was a pleasant surprise, and I had given his big brother’s baby gear away when he arrived on the scene. That afforded me with the opportunity to research and re-research, test and retest nearly everything twice for the 2 and under set!
#1 The MeToo portable high chair definitely makes it in my Top Five Most Practical purchases. I bought it for my first son intending to only use it in lieu of the dirty wooden high chairs with one strap missing at restaurants. It worked so well having him right at the table that I started using
it at home instead of his regular stand alone high chair. It’s great to just clean off the table as I already do at mealtimes vs. the additional tray. One less step! And there are far fewer parts and crevices to clean than in a typical high chair. Yes, I am aware of the recent voluntary Recall to Repair, installed the new part, and like it even more! (Update: I just saw Phil&Teds Lobster portable high chair in action, it’s great!, but probably not worth the extra $30 price tag.)
#2 Bumpkins bibs are waterproof and thin so they dry fast. And are machine washable unlike some other similarly styled bibs. Disposable bibs were a waste of money; my son ripped the paper at the adhesive tab on every try. Same with the Kiipis Bib Clips that turn “anything” into a bib. I wanted them to work, but they don’t.
#3 These disposable placemats are a must once baby is around 8 months and eating finger food. I use them even before that stage as a sanitary play surface for toys and feeding utensils. Yes, I tried the more environmentally friendly Kiddopotamus Tinydiner reusable placemat, but constantly forgot to take it out of my bag to clean. Pureed peas are even more disgusting a week later.
#4 On the rarest of occasions, my favorite portable high chair does not work with a restaurant’s table. It’s either too thick to accept the chair clamps or sits on a single post vs. four legs making it too unstable. In those cases, I thoroughly sanitize the restaurant’s high chair with Clorox wipes. Baby wipes won’t do as they do not disinfect. And cloth seat covers are as useful as the reusable placemats; caked with food sitting in the trunk of my SUV until the next dinner out.
#5 Earth’s Best, Huggies Natural Care, Nature Baby, and Seventh Generation travel wipes all clean baby’s hands and face without harsh chemicals. Sometimes I throw in a baby wash cloth and clean up my son’s face intermittently throughout the meal with that dipped in my water glass. Save hand sanitizer for yourself and your child once he keeps his hands out of his mouth.
#6 L.L. Bean’s lunch boxes are the perfect size to transport everything for a meal out less the high chair and wipes. Both the inside and out clean up easily. They come in a variety of kid-friendly but not adult averse prints and are relatively inexpensive.
#7 HAPPYBABY Organic baby food pouches win out over similar products because they are the most economical per case. And over traditional glass jars or plastic containers for sheer convenience. No bowls required, just squeeze directly onto screwed on dispensing spoon. No dripping baby food on your lap or baby swatting the spoon out of your hand mid-air. I keep the pouch/spoon contraption right at baby’s mouth and just keep squeezing! Take home whatever baby does not eat by unscrewing the spoon and replacing the cap. Great for babies who crave continuous feeding as if they are drinking from a bottle.
#8 What a fantastic simple little tool! These dispensing spoons by Boon are branded to only be compatible with the pricier Plum Organics line, but work equally as well with the less expensive HAPPYBABY pouches. They screw directly on to the pouch and are reusable.
#9 Bring the mess home in a gallon size plastic bag or try a trendy reusable bag from etsy.com. This Bumkins Zippered Wet Bag looks useful too. I use plastic; if anyone has experience with a reusable gallon size zipper bag, please leave a comment!
#10 A change of clothes. In case the meal doesn’t go as planned..
#11 Here is an extra item that both entertains baby and is great practice for graduating from a bottle to a sippy cup – the NUK Learner Cup. My son uses the soft silicone spout as a teether too.
Notes from the Crib 