Most, if not all, moms spend their pregnancy daydreaming of the day their little one will arrive and how life will be with the newest addition. They plan for the labor and birth and what to pack in the hospital bag and what to have ready for baby, but have you given thought to what YOU need after you get home from the hospital? I have come up with a list of items that you may find helpful to have for your postpartum care:
-Herbal sitz bath or spray
-Soak thickKotexpads(NEVER TAMPONS)inwitch hazeland have them in the freezer to help after (keep in mind most witch hazel you find at super markets and drugstores contain 14% alcohol which can actually cause you more burning pain after birth. I suggest buying fromThayers.comdirectly where the alcohol content is much lower)
-Sanitary napkins for when bleeding is lighter
-Consider encapsulating your placenta to help with helping the uterus shrink back, baby blues or postpartum depression
-Belly binding
-Nursing pads
-Cooking ahead of time to give you a break while you recover
-Have a water bottle handy at all times because you will be very thirsty with all the water you are losing (especially if nursing)
-Pain killers. Your Dr may prescribe you a pain kill but if not or if you run out you may want to have Extra Strength Tylenol or Motrin on hand
-Nursing Tanks/Bras
-Mothers Milk Tea to help with milk production
-Lanolin Breast Creamfor sore nipples
-Breast pump. This one is a maybe depending on your plans after you have had the baby or if you plan to store or increase your milk. (keep in mind you don't have to buy, you can rent. But be sure to get a hospital grade pump)
-Iron Supplements (To replenish iron stores lost during the birth. Some iron supplements can cause constipation, which should be avoided after birth, so be sure to combine any supplements with fiber-rich foods and fluids.)
Things you should have that you will probably get at the hospital
-Numbing spray for the perineum
-A peri bottle to help with going pee so that it doesn't burn
-STOOL SOFTENER... (note that this doesn't make you go. It makes it much less painful.) If your hospital supply runs out be sure to get some at your local pharmacy
-Mesh panties (one size fits all). They are great so that you don't ruin good underwear.
-Perineal ice packs
I found this site that has many items for postpartum care. The whole site is great so browse around.
http://www.supportedbirthazstore.com/servlet/the-Birth-Supplies-cln-Postpartum/Categories
About witch hazel for postpartum care
If you've had stitches or tears, they will hurt while they're healing. Whatever you do, don't wipe over your stitches! Wiping over your stitches is just painful. Don't even think about doing it. You can gently (very gently) blot your stitches dry after cleaning yourself with water. Witch hazel pads can help cut down the sting, but remember to blot instead of wipe. You can also put witch hazel pads directly on your sanitary pad.
Witch hazel is an inexpensive and safe choice for proper perineal care.
-Herbal sitz bath or spray
-Soak thickKotexpads(NEVER TAMPONS)inwitch hazeland have them in the freezer to help after (keep in mind most witch hazel you find at super markets and drugstores contain 14% alcohol which can actually cause you more burning pain after birth. I suggest buying fromThayers.comdirectly where the alcohol content is much lower)
-Sanitary napkins for when bleeding is lighter
-Consider encapsulating your placenta to help with helping the uterus shrink back, baby blues or postpartum depression
-Belly binding
-Nursing pads
-Cooking ahead of time to give you a break while you recover
-Have a water bottle handy at all times because you will be very thirsty with all the water you are losing (especially if nursing)
-Pain killers. Your Dr may prescribe you a pain kill but if not or if you run out you may want to have Extra Strength Tylenol or Motrin on hand
-Nursing Tanks/Bras
-Mothers Milk Tea to help with milk production
-Lanolin Breast Creamfor sore nipples
-Breast pump. This one is a maybe depending on your plans after you have had the baby or if you plan to store or increase your milk. (keep in mind you don't have to buy, you can rent. But be sure to get a hospital grade pump)
-Iron Supplements (To replenish iron stores lost during the birth. Some iron supplements can cause constipation, which should be avoided after birth, so be sure to combine any supplements with fiber-rich foods and fluids.)
Things you should have that you will probably get at the hospital
-Numbing spray for the perineum
-A peri bottle to help with going pee so that it doesn't burn
-STOOL SOFTENER... (note that this doesn't make you go. It makes it much less painful.) If your hospital supply runs out be sure to get some at your local pharmacy
-Mesh panties (one size fits all). They are great so that you don't ruin good underwear.
-Perineal ice packs
I found this site that has many items for postpartum care. The whole site is great so browse around.
http://www.supportedbirthazstore.com/servlet/the-Birth-Supplies-cln-Postpartum/Categories
About witch hazel for postpartum care
If you've had stitches or tears, they will hurt while they're healing. Whatever you do, don't wipe over your stitches! Wiping over your stitches is just painful. Don't even think about doing it. You can gently (very gently) blot your stitches dry after cleaning yourself with water. Witch hazel pads can help cut down the sting, but remember to blot instead of wipe. You can also put witch hazel pads directly on your sanitary pad.
Witch hazel is an inexpensive and safe choice for proper perineal care.
Midwifery Todaynotes that witch hazel can be safely applied directly to the perineum or you can try soaking a cloth in cold water, wringing it out thoroughly and putting witch hazel on it before applying to the perineum.The Mayo Clinicagrees that witch hazel is a safe perineum treatment and suggests placing chilled witch hazel pads on your perineum to aid in the soothing and healing process.
Instead of a commercial peri-care spray you can also simply fill a little spray bottle with witch hazel and spray away. This spray is a healing and safer choice than many store bought sprays.
After you use the bathroom grab that postpartum vaginal perineal bottle the hospital or your midwife gave you. Fill the bottle with warm water and a dash of witch hazel - squirt onto your perineal area to cleanse and help reduce swelling.
Witch hazel pads and sprays can also be used to help treat and soothpostnatal hemorrhoidsas well. Follow the directions above except apply pads and sprays to the hemorrhoids.
WHERE TO GET WITCH HAZEL:
Many commercial witch hazel products contain more alcohol than witch hazel so you need to be careful when choosing a witch hazel product. Good options include…
Witch Hazel Extractfrom Mountain Rose Herbs. This line of witch hazel has been double distilled in only a 14% alcohol base.
Thayers Original Witch Hazel w/Aloe Vera Astringent Pads- Thayers witch hazel products are all made with non-distilled witch hazel extract.(HIGHLY RECOMMEND)
100% Certified Organic Witch Hazel Hydrosol- hand harvested and steam distilled from USDA Certified Wild Crops Forest. Made with simply fresh leaves, twigs and bark
Starwest Botanicals Witch Hazel Extractis a clear, colorless distillate prepared from recently cut and partially dried dormant witch hazel twigs - containing natural oils and 14% alcohol.
NOTE:No matter what perineal care products or treatments you try, always contact your midwife or doctor right away if the pain in this area intensifies, if the area feels very hot, overly swollen or you have pus-like discharge. All of the above may indicate an infection that require immediate treatment.
BONUS TREAT:I know all this talk of hemorrhoids and peri care is not the most fun. With that in mind why not make a treat with witch hazel? Try this superHomemade Organic & Refreshing Herbal Facial Toner recipe.
