1 Month Postpartum: What Made Life Easier
When describing the first month of newborn life, it’s not surprising to hear it described as “in the trenches” or “survival mode.” The first couple weeks are rough. Sleep deprivation, hormones, and physical healing all come together in one super hot mess. I took note of what helped make this month easier and I put together a quick rundown of it all.
A couple things to note:
This is a list primarily for the comfort of the person who gave birth. This isn’t really a list for what to have on hand for baby in the first month. There are some baby items, but again, it’s about what provided comfort and ease to the parent.
It’s also worth noting that I have not had a cesarean, and because of that, I’m not going to act as if I know what makes life more comfortable after such a procedure. So, this will be a list focused on recovery from vaginal birth.
Finally, it’ll be separated by weeks because — let’s face it — each week feels like a new phase in both recovery and newborn care. That being said, products listed are not limited to that week only. Things helpful in week 1 can be just as helpful in week 4+.
Week 1:
Depends Silhouette: an upgrade from those maxi pads
Dwell & Slumber Gowns (or any house dress)
Bath Pillow(s): Pro tip: I bought two of these and used one for my neck but also one to sit on.
Butt Pillow: helps with that mom posture and (obviously) comfort
Hot/Cold Eye Mask: for headaches/migraines
Week 2
Solly Baby Wrap: my favorite carrier for under 25lbs. Bonus is that Solly doesn’t use sizing meaning both parents can wear it without sizing concerns.
Baby Shusher: this little device recreates the sound of “shhhh"-ing that we instinctively do to comfort.
Postpartum Girdle: to help shift back all of those things that moved around during pregnancy
Sleeping Eye Mask: When it’s time to rest, block out the light and allow yourself to fully rest.
Ear Plugs: If I hear a baby make a noise, there’s no way I can rest. When your partner tells you to rest, go hard and block out the sound and any distractions.
30z Stainless Steel Tumbler: upgrade from the hospital mug
Dockatot Deluxe: we’ve used it with all our kids and in my opinion, it’s a holy grail product for those early days
A Comfortable Pair of Slippers: gotta have that grip when stumbling out of bed
Week 3
Lollipop Camera: super easy to install and helps watch the baby while getting used to being in another room/sleeping
Body Armor Drinks/Liquid IV: gotta stay hydrated!
Brewer’s Yeast Powder: sprinkle it onto your food here and there but fair warning, it tastes awful.
Airpods/Wireless Earbuds: to keep the world around baby silent while you can still consume content/stay awake
A Soft Robe: this probably appeals to my physical touch love language but it just feels great to have something soft on.
Week 4
Thinx Period Panties: they’re fantastic for postpartum bleeding, too. Shoutout to the sleep shorts.
Apple Watch: mainly to keep track of the amount of sleep you’re getting
Baby Swing: hands-free parents and a happy baby.
Moms on Call Books: for implementing a schedule and finding a routine
A well implemented parental leave program.
