Postpartum Supplies and Support to Ease Your Recovery

Welcoming a new baby into the world is a beautiful, life-changing experience, but it’s also physically and emotionally demanding. Along with gathering all the baby gear you’ll need, it’s just as important to prepare for your own recovery after birth.

In this post, we’ll walk through key postpartum supplies that can ease your physical recovery and comfort. Then, we’ll explore the vital non-material supports that help you heal and thrive after childbirth.

Supplies to Support Your Physical Comfort and Recovery

No matter if you gave birth vaginally or via cesarean, your body needs time to heal. These postpartum supplies, many of which can be found at your local grocery or drugstore, can help you feel more comfortable as you heal.

• Postpartum Pads and Underwear: Whether you had a vaginal birth or a cesarean delivery, you can expect postpartum bleeding for several weeks. Comfortable, disposable underwear and maxi-pads can help manage this flow. For cesarean deliveries, high-waisted underwear can prevent discomfort around the incision site. A supportive postpartum bra can also help you feel more comfortable.
• Ice Packs or Cooling Gel Pads: Soreness in the perineal area is common after childbirth. Applying ice packs or using specially designed pads with built-in cooling features can provide relief from swelling and pain.
• Witch Hazel Pads: Witch hazel pads can help soothe hemorrhoids and perineal discomfort.
• Peri Rinse Bottle: Filling a peri rinse bottle with warm water and squirting it at your perineal area from front to back while urinating can help with any stinging by diluting your urine. It can also be used to clean the area as using toilet paper can be uncomfortable during this time. If you deliver in a hospital, a peri bottle may be sent home with you.
• Heating Pad: After your placenta is delivered, your uterus slowly shrinks back to its pre-pregnancy size. As the uterus contracts, it can cause cramping. Applying a heating pad to your abdomen can help soothe these cramps.
• Belly Band: A belly band can help give you some extra support and stability after birth. For cesarean births, it can provide support as your incision heals.
• Sitz Bath: A sitz bath is a shallow basin filled with warm water. Sitting in a sitz bath can help reduce pain and swelling in the perineal area.

Feeding Supplies

You'll spend a lot of time feeding your baby! These supplies can help you stay comfortable and supported during feeding sessions.

• Nursing Pillow: A nursing pillow provides support for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or simply holding your baby. It helps position your baby at the right height, reducing strain on your arms, neck, and back.
• Nursing and/or Pumping Bras and Clothing: Regardless of your feeding method, a supportive bra can provide relief from breast tenderness. Because your breast size changes throughout pregnancy and postpartum, remember to measure yourself to make sure you get items that will feel comfortable for you.
• Nipple Balm or Cream: Dry, chapped, or sore nipples are common during breastfeeding. Using nipple cream can soothe and nourish your skin. If you're breastfeeding or pumping, your baby may ingest a small amount, so be sure to check for natural and food-grade ingredients.
• Breast Pads: Regardless of your feeding method, breast leakage is common, especially overnight. Breast pads, also known as nursing pads, are absorbent pads placed inside a nursing bra to help manage breast milk leakage and keep your clothes dry. They come in different levels of absorbency to accommodate varying milk flow.
• Breast Pump: If you plan to pump, the right type of pump for you may depend on how often you’ll be using it. Manual breast pumps are helpful for occasional use to relieve engorged breasts. They are operated by hand and don't require any power source. Electric breast pumps are powered by electricity or batteries, providing automatic pumping. You may be able to get a breast pump through your insurance. Ask your provider or visit 1naturalway.com to learn more about what’s covered.
• Breastmilk Catcher: While a breastmilk catcher won't replace a breast pump, it is a helpful item to catch milk that naturally lets down from your breasts.

Including postpartum supplies on your registry is a great way to gather what you’ll need during your recovery. If you’re looking for support as you create your registry, we invite you to try the Creating a Registry Stress-Free Journey in the Moment for Parents app. You’ll explore ways to make registry decisions that align with your values, prioritize both your baby’s needs and your own, and ease the stress of preparing for postpartum life.

Establishing Your Support Systems

While postpartum supplies can make you more comfortable, they’re only part of the picture. To fully recover after birth, you need support from other people. Resting, healing, and adjusting to life with a newborn takes time, and it’s much easier when you’re not doing it alone.

Not everyone has family nearby or a built-in support system. If that’s the case for you, it might take a little planning to establish a support system. Friends, neighbors, your faith community, local parent groups, or community-based resources can all play a role. People are born helpers. They often just need to be invited in!

Practical Support

To support your body’s healing, rest is not optional; it’s essential. Your body is recovering from a major event, and that takes time. Asking for support from others can help you create space for rest and make your healing a priority.

When making your list of postpartum and baby supplies, consider also listing the kinds of help you might want from others. Could someone pick up groceries, walk your dog, help with laundry, or care for your older kids for a few hours?

Ask yourself:

• What practical tasks will be difficult for me to keep up with during recovery?
• Who can help care for my baby while I get some rest?
• Who can I ask for help with meals, errands, laundry, or caring for my older children?
• How can I plan ahead so that support is easier to accept or organize when I need it?

If you’re creating a registry, consider what you might add that could take some things off your plate and create space for rest. This might include things such as a link to a meal train, a subscription for a meal delivery service, gift cards to local restaurants, or home cleaning services.

Emotional Support

Supporting your well-being in postpartum is about more than just physical recovery. Surrounding yourself with a support network that understands and uplifts you can help you feel connected and seen as you navigate the many emotions that come with new parenthood.

Ask yourself:

• Who do I feel safe talking to about how I’m really doing?
• What kind of emotional support feels most comforting to me? Do I need someone to listen, offer reassurance, talk things through, or just sit with me?
• Are there friends or family members I want to ask to check in with me regularly?
• What boundaries might I want to set to protect my emotional space during this time?

Professional Support

Your network of support can expand beyond friends and family to include professionals trained to help with the many aspects of postpartum recovery. This might include lactation consultants who can assist with breastfeeding challenges, postpartum doulas who provide hands-on newborn care and emotional support, pelvic floor therapists who help with physical healing, and mental health counselors who specialize in perinatal care. Many communities also offer parenting classes and support groups that can provide education and connection during this transition.

If you think you might want to access professional support, it’s helpful to research what services are available in your area and what your insurance or Medicaid might cover. If you’re creating a registry, consider asking for funds to put toward hiring a postpartum doula, night nanny, newborn care specialist, or other professional as part of your registry.

Ask yourself:

• What types of professional support do I think I might need during postpartum?
• Have I looked into what services are available in my community or online?
• What support does my insurance or Medicaid cover, and how can I find out more?
• Are there professionals I want to connect with before my baby arrives?
• Who can help me find or access these services if I’m not sure where to start?
• Are there specific professionals I’d like to include on my registry to help with postpartum needs?

Preparing for postpartum isn’t just about what you buy; it’s also about building the support you need to feel grounded and cared for in this major transition.

If you don’t have a village yet, you can lean on us at Moment for Parents. We’re here for you 24/7. In the Building Your Community of Support Journey, we’ll help you build a support system that will help you feel cared for, so you can focus on healing, bonding, and adjusting to life with your baby. Download the app and start your Journey today.