What was useful after birth.

[qazxc]

hoping for a vaginal birth. What tips/tricks/items did you find useful post birth for the dealing with stitches/bruising/soreness etc....
People tell you a lot of symptoms of labour and what to expect during birth but not really after. Please be frank, nothing is TMI.

I used the Always wings pads as first layer ie they were against my pants and Kotex black for top. They were very similar to maternity pads but I hated the fact they didn't have wings and found they moved and I leaked on my first night with just a hospital maternity pad.

What I found most useful were chemical ice packs and a Lavette or perineal bottle, both supplied by the US hospitals where I delivered.

The ice packs can be bought on Amazon but you may have to order from a US retailer. This looks like them. You bend and snap them to activate them. They have a cover that absorbs a certain amount of lochia.

The perineal bottles were incredibly useful for cleaning up after both peeing and pooing when I was worried about interfering with stitches, and they also stimulated peeing or restimulated my bladder to completely empty in the first few days of numbness and being all out of whack.

I had five episiotomies and stitch care was a subject close to my heart. I also bled for about five weeks afterwards each time.

I used super/ maxi /overnight size sanitary pads for bleeding once I came home from the hospital. They were about an inch shorter than the hospital issue maternity pads.

Advice from the hospitals I delivered in in the US was no baths until healed unless the bath was completely disinfected beforehand.

I showered anyway as I hate baths. I found leaning over in the shower and letting the water hit my nether regions for a few minutes every day did wonders.

Also really useful was cheap, cheap, cheap towels in size extra large that I used to line my bed and pillow. Saved the sheets from blood and leaking milk when my milk came in. They also helped greatly when I had night sweats in the first week.

OP I hope none of this is scaring you - it's not THAT bad really

I disagree - it's WAY WORSE than I expected (so that could happen too!). Sorry, but I wish I'd been warned...

A travel neck pillow to sit on
Lavendar drops for the bath
Lots of maternity pads and about 10 x packs of sanitary towels
If you're unlucky, anusol for the piles

Remember, this can all be bought after the birth but...

Breastfeeding clothes. If you've got time, buy them now, as you won't have much time for shopping after. Also, breastpads and bras to keep them in at night (cheap stretchy ones from Peacocks are good).

I really wish someone had told me I could feel quite flu-y the day my milk came in. I felt quite unwell and was really worried by feeling so poorly with a new baby.

soft bum wipes for poos - I ate lots of fruit cake and dried fruit because of the fabled poos of doom but it wasn't too bad.

travel mug so you don't have to be up and down all the time (esp if bf).
glove to cover cannula (?) in my arm cos I had an infection so needed a drip and kept knocking it with baby, feeding etc.

strong fresh smelling shower gel so you smell and feel fresh.

primark vests instead of pj top cos its boiling hot in hospital and they are cheap enough to have a few in case you leak, feel sweaty etc.
pjs bottoms in dark colour or patterned to hide any leaks

warm hospital water tastes not so nice so cordial to put in it (if in a few days)

people told me you don't get afterpains with the first but I did so paracetamol before car journeys (this made me have after pains but that might be just me).

facial wet wipes for freshening up if you have to be up in middle of night with baby.

I second the hairdryer for your bits, suggestion. To be honest I was doing it from about 8mo pg as I have short arms and couldn't reach round my bump to dry myself, properly. DM suggested it. It was a godsend after stitches and forceps.

I wish I'd stocked up on some breastfeeding-friendly laxatives before I had him - I came home on the Sunday afternoon, all the shops were shut, and my tummy was in agony! I think the painkillers made me a bit constipated, but it hurt to push at first and by the time I desperately needed to go I couldn't. It made me feel really ill, I think I would have recovered much more quickly!

About the maternity pads thing, I was told that normal sanitary towels like Always are made to suck moisture away from your skin, but this can be bad for your stitches if you have them and the pad can stick to them. Maternity pads are better.

Definitely agree on the big black pants. Can I go one further and say some nice thick black joggers/yoga pants? Made me feel a bit more dressed than pyjamas but still soft and comfy, and black in case of leaks.

Pelvic floor exercises - do them now! Keep doing them...

Night 2 with the baby is super difficult. All baby wants to do is feed. Don't do what I did and gaze at the baby all through night 1, thereby rendering yourself exhausted.

Earplugs and an eye mask for hospital.

Big bottle for water in hospital rather than the titchy little plastic glasses they have in hospital.

Painkillers stocked up and in at home for before and after birth. Have maternity mat things - had one under my sheets in case my waters broke at home as I didn't want to ruin the mattress. And put a towel or maternity mat in your car so you can sit on it on the way to hospital when you go in.

The glamour...

Well stocked fruit bowl and lots of nice snacks for when you are stuck to the sofa feeding.
I was glad to have a soft nightlight in my room for the night feeds.
Some very soft feeding bras to wear a night to support swollen boobs!

To avoid running up and downstairs to change the baby, have a changing mat with a box of nappies, cotton wool/wipes, nappy bags, cream, spare clothes both up and downstairs.

Lots of maternity pads - I actually used the tena lady pants for a few days. Paracetamol. Lanisih cream.

And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.

I took arnica tablets starting a few days before due date and continued post birth along with calendula, I also kept up with drinking raspberry leaf tea post birth too. Completely agree with cheap cotton pants as opposed to paper disposable ones. Breast pads, breast pads and more breast pads!

Oh and a mars bar in your labour bag... It was the best thing ever after I had given birth and I left the tea and toast to my DH!

Hold a pad against your perineum when pooing, it really helps!

Thank you for all of these! And keep them coming!
Am compiling a shopping list as we speak.
Do not worry none of this is freaking me out or TMI. I'd far rather be prepared for the worse/hard bit rather than thinking "WTF is that! Why did I not know?"

The best thing is daily baths with tee tree oil and lavender oil. Absolute bliss.

If you're planning on breastfeeding, I used to go without a bra if I was at home alone with baby or DH. It was so much easier and more comfortable than fussing with a maternity bra. But do have a maternity bra handy to pull on if visitors appear!

Don't wipe! Every time you wee pour warm slightly salted water over your foo. Have salty baths with lavender oil. Use padded maternity pads not the slim ones. Have paracetemol as much as allowed. Don't try to sit on bed to feed if you have a firm mattress.

It's not as bad as you imagine it will be, enjoy baby x

Lansolin for nipples is a must and put a savoy cabbage in the fridge, if your breasts feel at all warm or uncomfortable put a leaf in your bra, shape it like a cup

A pillow to sit on, for the first few days, especially useful if you have stitches! I had episiotomy so there were quite a lot - but strangely it didn't sting when I went to the toilet.

An insulated, plastic, lidded cup, for your hot drinks. Expect to be trapped under a sleeping child for a couple of weeks at least, so if you want any hot drinks at all this is the safest way to hold them, and will ensure they stay hot for long enough for you to drink them.

not read the whole thread so these may have already been suggested
number 1 on the list would be a blow up swim ring - sitting down with stitches is horrible
washable breast pads - the flimsy paper ones just fall to pieces and stick
one of those tupperware christmas pudding bowls for soaking a sore boob in warm water - was lovely and doubled up as an overflow bucket for the non feeding leaky boob
disposable pants - the netting ones were best but most supermarkets will do a version

Yy to lavender oil in the bath, lovely!

Lots of maternity pads

Glycerine suppository for your first post natal poop, it just glides out effortlessly

Freezer food

Freezer cake

Lansinoh nipple cream and pads, all the others are shite

Travel mug so you can keep your brew hot for longer

Lots of big soft dark-coloured flannels for drying your bits with after baths/showers - much easier to wash than a whole bath towel if you bleed on them! Put them through a few washes and tumble-dries in advance to soften them up a bit.

Lansinoh. Lansinoh. Lansinoh!

I found normal (non-scented) sanitary towels much more comfortable than maternity thunderpads. I also took arnica straight after the delivery and several times over the next day or two and my grazing and bruising healed really quickly. It will all look and feel like a babboon's arse for a few days though - I was a bit shocked by that but it went down within a week.

big black pants!
whichever you prefer maternity pads or liners, just lots of them.
waterproof mats - for the bed, car and sofa (just in case)
boxset's to keep you sane!
and most importantly a friend or family member that you can call at any time of the day just to chat to, ask questions.........(or mumsnet!!)
keep things to hand both downstairs and by the bed - nappies, wipes