Healing After Baby. AKA: The Vagina Repair Kit

You can thank my husband for the title. 

 

When I was coming to the end of my pregnancy I did A LOT of research about all the things that happens to your body after you push a person out of it that NOBODY tells you about. I'm the kind of person that prefers to be completely informed so I can prepare. Did I mention, nobody tells you about this stuff? This is one of my favorite blog posts from www.pregnantchicken.com it totally lays it all out. I found it incredibly helpful, terrifying, but helpful. So I read and read and read about tearing, stitches, lochia and diastasis recti...If you don't know what those terms are and you are currently pregnant, you may want to look them up so you're not surprised. If you're not currently pregnant you probably don't want to know. And taking the wise advice of those who have given birth before me, I started buying and stashing items to make my recovery easier.

Here are my favorites. These items in a nice reusable container have become one of my go-to baby shower gifts. The recipient usually thinks I'm being funny... until they end up using it all.

Always Infinity Heavy Flow Pads : Because Lochia ain't no joke. These are super absorbent and thin. Much more comfortable than the ones the hospital sends home with you. 

Tucks Pads: Put them on top of your always pad for cooling relief. 

Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray (in the blue can): Heaven in a spray can. One spray takes the pain away. 

Lavender Essential Oil: Put a few drops in your peri bottle with some warm water to help keep things clean and speed up healing. And it smells nice to boot.

Epsom Salt: Super cheap and wonderful. Put some in your bath tub filled with a few inches of warm water or a sitz bath. Add some lavender oil and sit in it. Fantastic.

Cheap undies: Don't ruin your nice undies! Spend $8 on a pack of cheap-o's and just throw them away when you don't need them anymore.

Laxative: I personally didn't need this but I had it on hand just in case. Pooing after birth can be scary so unless you eat lots of fruit and veggies like I did, keep some in the medicine cabinet.

And MOST IMPORTANTLY: REST! With the steady stream of visitors you may feel pressure to get up and clean or cook or tidy up. Don't. The more you push yourself the longer it takes to heal. Seriously. Everybody will be so enamored with the baby no one will notice if there are dirty dishes in the sink or laundry piling up. Just rest and cuddle your baby. You deserve it and your body will thank you.

I can only tell you what I personally found helpful after my birth experience. Got any other suggestions? Bring 'em on!

Pin It