labor prep + postpartum & newborn essentials
i started drafting this post almost a year ago lol but what better time than 39 weeks preg to finally finish + post it! i’m so excited to share a super comprehensive list of all the things i do/buy for labor, postpartum & the newborn stage. i reallyyyy hope this serves as an easy button for you - especially first time moms! one thing to note is everyone’s birth + postpartum can be very different — i will be having my second homebirth so a vaginal birth recovery, plan to pretty much exclusively breastfeed (i work from home & choose to breastfeed on demand simply because it feels easiest for my life), & cosleep with my babies - with a pretty relaxed approach when it comes to newborn sleep. i absolutely like to feel organized & prepared but if there was an opposite of type A….it’s me! so just keep in mind that much of what i’m sharing stems from my own mom-personality (we’ve alllll got one haha).
okay let’s jump in! i included links throughout the post but everythinggggg is linked here in one spot for you too!
labor
prepping for birth/homebirth is a WHOLE nother blog post of it’s own however i do want to touch on a few things. i first learned that homebirth existed when i was 16 & i knew instantly that was the birth plan that would fit my desires best. kyle & i were dating so he had a solid 11 years to warm up to the idea before birthing my first at 27 haha but if you are wanting to learn more, the documentary Business of Being Born is a great one to watch with your boo. i am all for women birthing in the place/way they feel most comfortable 😊
if you are wanting an unmedicated birth (whether at a hospital, birth center or home) my first recommendation is to find a provider that you adore. ask friends, ask instagram, read google reviews…whatever it takes! find a couple options & then meet with them! a lot of midwives do complimentary phone interviews. & with doctors, you can always see someone & then transfer elsewhere if it’s not a good fit. don’t stick around with someone if you know in your gut it is not a good fit & you don’t feel confident they will listen, support & care WELL for you through pregnancy, birth & postpartum. if you’re local to Denver, i highly recommend my midwife, Shari Long Romero!
next up - take some kind of birth course, preferably in-person. kyle & i took a 6 week in-person hypnobirthing course before Foster came & it was AMAZING. hypnobirthing sounds a little woo-woo but think of it as “meditative” or “calm” birthing. it’s a method of birthing/pain management which involves using a mixture of visualization, relaxation & deep breathing techniques. the course was taught by a doula who was VERY experienced. it was so insightful, gave me lots of “homework”/meditations to do at home, & ultimately educated us both on what to expect during labor & delivery. it was really important to me that Kyle had a realistic perspective of what birth at home would be like. this go round i bought an online birth course just as a refresher & it’s been amazing to kinda jumpstart my brain & heart back into birthing mode!
read some birth books and/or listen to podcasts! hypnobirthing & ina may’s guide to childbirth were two of my favorites that i listened to on audio. i don’t go overboard with research but anything to educate yourself + get your mind in birthing mode is helpful in my opinion!
i promise i will do a blog post on my personal must-have items to use DURING labor & birth, including products, music, essential oils, etc. but that will be after this baby comes 😉
okay a few DIYs! these are things you can prep before baby is born, that will help soooo much in & after labor.
midwife tea
in my last pregnancy, i just drank red raspberry leaf tea from 35 weeks on! but this time i switched it up & made this concoction from Ellen Fisher’s birth course. it honestly tastes so good to me both hot or iced, especially with a bit of honey. these ingredients are supposed to help tone & ripen your uterus (sounds funny but i swear they’re effective!) & just overall nutritionally amazing for your pregnant body & growing baby.
i bought the tea ingredients in bulk so i would have a bigggg ole jar on hand. i plan to drink it postpartum as well because it’s an amazing source of nutrients & minerals, as well as whip up a few batches for pregnant friends. everything is linked here, including the weck jar & tea pot!
- 2 parts nettles
- 2 parts red raspberry leaf
- 1 part oat straw
- 1 part alfalfa
- ¼ part red clover
- a little mint or rose to taste. i did rose!
steep 5 tablespoons in a large teapot, then strain. drink up to 1 quart daily starting around 35 weeks and beyond.
padsicles
okay technically this falls under the postpartum category but you’ll need to prep them beforehand. to make prep more fun, invite a couple friends over for a postpartum prep night! i ordered pizza while a couple friends & i made up the tea batch, padsicles & went through a printed off list of birth prep items from my midwife 😊
these are a LIFESAVER for your vagina (& butt lol). i went through so many last time. i prepped enough padsicles to use 3 per day for the first 2-3 weeks!
- feminine pads // choose organic if you can! & go bigggg
- witch hazel // alcohol free, unscented
- aloe vera (just aloe - make sure there’s no other ingredients!)
grab a small spray bottle, add 5-10 drops of each essential oil to it, then top with witch hazel
open a pad, lather it with aloe (i used a small spatula, but you can also just use your clean hands)
spray the pad with the witch hazel mixture (a generous amount of sprays - i sprayed approx. every 1/2 inch all the way down the length of the pad)
fold the pad back up, seal it & place in a plastic gallon-size bag
once your gallon bag is full, put it in the freezer! use 3-4 per day after baby comes, to soothe & heal 👏
word to the wise - don’t leave these in your underwear/diaper for too long or else the moisture can irritate you, especially if you have any stitches!
postpartum
i rest HARD postpartum. i don’t think i left bed for the first 2 weeks, & hardly left the house the 2 weeks after that. this book talks a lot about why it’s important & how/why to plan to rest for the first 40 days. caring for yourself well in the postpartum season is sooooo important for your body & mental health…& honestly the best way you can care for your new baby well too. i am so thankful to have a flexible job where i can take my own kind of maternity leave (i plan to work at no or low capacity the first 3 months!) but i know that’s not the case for everyone so my best advice is to just carve out as much time as you possibly can to lay low, bond with your baby, & let yourself heal.
i have never felt more vulnerable - or leaky out every orifice of my body - than postpartum. i always describe it as beautiful & brutal. but truly i look back on it with so much fondness & cannot wait to experience it again. your whole life just changed & everything else simply can wait.
the most important “must-have” i know for postpartum mamas is a thriving support system. if your partner has leave (or time off), TAKE IT! i’m thankful that kyle’s company has a generous paternity policy so we will have many months at home together as we adjust to being a family of 4. but beyond just your partner - think your community, plus your midwife, lactation consultant, postpartum doula (you might not have all of these & that’s okay; but make sure to connect with who you do have!). truly, i could not have thrived postpartum if it wasn’t for the strong, nurturing, intentional (mostly women) around me! you’ll have so many questions at every stage, & that’s so normal - but if you can go to your trusted humans with them instead of Google, you’ll be wayyyy better off. also, don’t be shy in asking for what you need. if no one’s offered to make you a meal train…go ask a friend! if you’re having an emotional day & just want to watch a movie in bed with a pal, ask them! ideally your support system will know how to support you but it’s also your job to express it.
one way to prepare for more margin is to prep some freezer meals or pre-made smoothie bags for quick, nourishing meals.
now on to product essentials!
absolutelyyyy make yourself a bedside station of essentials! this time i’m using a thrifted vintage nightstand that has drawers (our usual nightstands don’t), & everything i need next to our bed is going in the drawer + baskets underneath. you want things easily reachable for in the middle of the night nursing + when a sleeping baby is on you! some things i recommend:
self care/healing items for yourself
it’s a sweaty, stinky time my friend. treat yourself to some happy little things that make you feel human haha & don’t be afraid to shower twice a day because that’s a MUST for me postpartum 🚿
water bottle - clearly i have a love of water bottles from the pic above lol you will be thirsty as heck postpartum so have a big ole water bottle on hand & filled up! kyle was a saint to fill up my water so many times a day. i love the back two for straight water & the front two smaller ones for fun drinks like liquid IV, ningxia spritzer, etc
snacks - crackers, chomps beef sticks, granola bars, honey packets, & other healthy snacks are great to have in arm’s reach
kindle - much easier to hold than a regular book while nursing or holding a snoozing babe. i put this popsocket on mine to make it even easier!
eye mask for daytime naps!
happy roller of essential oils - i normally make my own but i was gifted this roller & doused myself in it every day last time!
arnica pellets - these + ibuprofen helped my soreness so much! arnica is the more natural option obvi. i used both. & arnica cream is good to have on hand to rub on a sore back!
afterease - after you have the baby, it’s common to get postpartum cramping as your uterus goes back into place! this tincture tastes baddd but helps immensely
cozy, lightweight robe - you will be half naked for a long time haha go the convenient route & live in a robe like the cloud cotton one i love! that link gives you an automatic 10% off
comfy, loose outfits - grab a few loose sweatshirts or sweater sets to lounge around in! i’ve been living in these pants + shirt & plan to postpartum too. size down twice in the pants!!!
everything linked here:
boob stuff 🍒 & lots of it.
a haaka or something similar to catch letdown milk from the boob you’re not nursing on. the haaka always fell off soo easily so i’m trying this other one this time!
loose nursing bras - a handful of my faves are linked below! i tend to just get cozy bralettes VS clip down “nursing” bras. any loose fitting ones from free people, target or urban outfitters are my go to!
nursing pillow - i tried a few & this one from sustainable baby is the GOAT! used it as a bed barrier for cosleeping & as a pregnancy support pillow too (behind my back). i asked if they could give me a discount code for you guys but still waiting to hear back!
nursing pads - reusable is great but i got disposable this time to make things simple
silverettes - oh my these savedddd my nips! silver is super healing to skin so idk how they work but they do. you just add a little breastmilk to them & keep them in your bra between feedings! yes your boobs look pointy & weird but whatever, i promise you won’t care. make sure you rinse them with warm/hot water daily to keep any bacteria from forming
nipple cream - if you’re using the silverettes, you technically don’t need this but i liked having it when i was washing or drying the silverettes in another room
small muslin towels - perfect to wipe down any excess breastmilk ✌️ & spit up if you have a baby that does!
bamboobies - soft lil pillows for your boobs that can be chilled or warmed in the microwave!
sunflower lecithin - super helpful to prevent clogged ducts! especially if you have a really strong milk supply / letdown / more fatty milk. it’s a natural fat emulsifier that can help to reduce the "stickiness" of the milk & deter fats from clumping together. it may also loosen existing fatty clogs & improve milk flow! when your milk first comes in, you can start taking it preventatively if you want!
lactation massager - this doesn’t need to be BEDSIDE because hopefully you don’t need it much, but if you feel a clogged duct coming on…use this on the hard spot while taking a warm shower & it helps break it up before it turns into mastitis
happy ducts tincture - herbal tincture that helps things flow! “keeping your lymph system moving and ducts free and clear. Happy Ducts helps to invigorate lymphatic function in the breasts and support overall breast health.”
everything linked here:
toilet station 🚽
the least glamorous but arguably most imperative section of all. set up a basket (or use a diaper caddy) with alllll these essentials:
peri bottle - using TP to wipe aint the move. fill this with warm water & use it to clean yoself after you pee! i have a basic one & battery powered one & honestly both work great
diapers!!! - expect to bleed for awhile postpartum. many women do for 6 weeks! instead of disposable underwear, i prefer the full on diapers for the first couple weeks. makes it so easy to just pop off & get a fresh one.
tucks pads - tuck one of these witch hazel pads in your diaper for relief! especially post birth hemorrhoids.
dermoplast & claraderm - both these sprays are incredible for healing & relief! i used them multiple times a day
sitz bath herbs - i loved doing these every other day! here’s a super helpful article on how to
one other thing that’s super convenient to have very close by is a diaper changing station or caddy for middle of the night (or any time of day) diaper changes. we moved our gym TV into our room for ultimate lounging & put diapers, wipes, & diaper cream in the tv stand drawer!
everything linked here:
click each image below to shop the product directly! everything is linked here in one spot too 👏
newborn
when i had Foster two years ago, i learned soooo much about what you *actually* need to care for a newborn baby - aka not much. there are so many trendy baby items out there, but you really don’t need much. & the only way to truly figure that out is trial & error. & each baby is different!!! when foster was 2 weeks old we bought a $400 self rocking bassinet & she hated it 😂 so we promptly returned it lol
here is my very small newborn essentials list:
snuggle me infant lounger - helps them feel so snug & secure! technically your baby isn’t supposed to sleep in this?? but foster always did, with supervision
owlet sock - we used this every night from 0-5ish months. it gave us tremendous peace of mind - especially kyle. you just pop it under their PJs & it monitors their oxygen levels so if they dip at all, an alarm goes off to alert you.
couple baby carriers - i like the solly baby wrap for when they’re teeny tiny & then i switch between a few others like sakura bloom, wildbird & i justtt bought the artipoppe so i can’t wait to try that one out. this link gives you $57 off!
soft blankets - saranoni receiving blankets are super soft & cute! & mushie brand has plenty of adorable ones too.
rocker - these just are convenient to put your baby in & move around the house while you’re doing stuff. we had this cute charlie crane one & loved it! but kyle really wanted the baby bjorn one too because the baby’s own weight makes them bounce!
highchair w/newborn attachment - this one isn’t a MUST but it truly is so convenient! we have the stokke high chair & love the newborn attachment to set them in while we eat! eating hands free is one of my great joys/breaks of motherhood so i personally really value being able to do that
portable sound machine - i always had this nearby for those first few months! great for travel too. i’ve heard people rave about this shusher so i got it recently & can’t wait to try it out!
comfyyy rocking chair - foster LOVED being rocked so we splurged & bought a super comfy, linen rocking chair through kyle’s mom who's an interior designer! get something you will be comfortable in for a long time haha
obviously some cute newborn outfits are a must too but my babies tend to stay naked for the first 3 months since they live on my chest day & night 😂
car seat & stroller - there are honestly a lot of good options out there so don’t stress yourself out about the BEST one. & look on marketplace for a deal! we have the nuna pipa lite rx as an infant seat & plan to use that again with this baby! & the nuna revv rotating seat for fostie. for our stroller, we have the uppa baby & LOVE IT! just bought a kickplate for foster to stand on, as well as a second seat for both kids (& we have the bassinet attachment too! foster didn’t love that one but we’ll see how baby 2 feels!)
everything linked here:
& there you have it - my labor, postpartum & newborn must-haves! stay tuned for a comprehensive pregnancy + birth edition.
i genuinely hope this can act as a super thorough guide for you whether it’s your first baby or not! ❤️
& oneeee more round of links for ya just in case i missed anything above: