Post birth treats

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Hi all, I hope this is an appropriate thread for the childbirth section.

I am currently 31w with my first dc. While I am still earning, I thought I would treat myself to a few things which might be considered a treat or luxury post birth, for me. I have already got myself the 'spritz for bits' spray from expert midwife as it sounds very soothing, and a couple of nice nursing bras, but wondering if there is anything you can recommend for the immediate days and weeks after birth when I will be sleep deprived and possibly pinned to the sofa please? I am considering a Netflix subscription and will buy plenty chocolate, but otherwise I'd welcome suggestions on anything and everything that made post birth a bit more bearable for you!

Thank you in advance

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Hi @UnicornRainbowRain so pleased you think a boppy pillow is a good one as I have actually just bought a really similar style one from Ikea, which will hopefully work as well:

www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50400246/?query=50400246&cid=a1%3Asm%7Ca2%3Agb%7Ca3%3Aappshare%7Ca4%3Astore_app%7Ca5%3Aandroid%7Ca6%3Ashare%7Ca7%3Aikeaglobal%7Ccc%3A216

I have put flip flops in my hospital bag pile as I can't bear the thought of using a shower without them! I had an overnight hospital stay about a decade ago and the only thing I can remember was the poo in the shower (not mine)!! 💩

Selection of various pads now purchased! Thank you x

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Great shout, @Thesnobbymiddleclass one! I haven't missed the alcohol at all, despite me being an absolute gin fiend usually. However, yesterday, my colleagues were talking about Friday night prosecco and for the first time I thought "can't wait for one of them". Some of those mini proseccos now added to this week's online shop! Thank you!

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Hi @legalseagull! That's a great idea and I think you definitely deserve a gorgeous new boden coat! Good luck for next week. I hope all goes well with the arrival of your new addition. Your suggestion has inspired me to go through my John Lewis wishlist and delete anything maternity related. Think I have plenty to see me through the next 9 weeks or so. I have replaced them with some nice things I will look forward to post dc. Although 3x my usual coat budget, I saw this one and you never know, it might go into the sale before I need to buy it. I will be keeping my eye on it!

You might like this on johnlewis.com:
www.johnlewis.com/brora-spring-tweed-coat-anthracite/p3999560?s_share=jlappdroid

[riotlady]

It’s not exactly luxurious but I would highly recommend a squatty potty

[Nat6999]

Some really good body moisturiser, I ended up in high dependency & was confined to bed for 3 days after having DS, as well as being stuck in bed for 24 hours before EMCS because I'd had an epidural. When I moved on to the post natal ward I found the skin on my bum & backs of my legs had dried up to the state of being like a crust, I don't know if it was being sat on incontinence sheets instead of wearing maternity pads but I left a trail of dead skin wherever I went for weeks after. Something like Aveeno or Clinique Body butter. Also something nice to drink, I'm really funny about eating & drinking in hospital, I avoid it if I can, every day I was in hospital, my mum brought me a bottle of fruit smoothie & a couple of bottles of Lucozade all really well chilled ( she used to partially freeze them so they stayed cool for ages & take some straws so you can drink laid down if need be.

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Hello @YourEggnogisBetterThanMine (love your username!). That's a great tip re sizing up with PJs and getting some new ones. My current PJ drawer is basically full of worn out rags which are only fit to go in the charity rag recycling bag. New pyjamas now on my list! I love fluffy and cosy stuff too . I didn't realise lavender oil could help with stitches. I knew it was healing but thought it may be too harsh for postnatal baths but I bloody love bath oils etc so will definitely get some. I shall prepare for fruit-a-geddon too! Thank you very much for your recommendations.

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Got one, @moreismore! I have now put it in the pile for the hospital bag. After pains were not on my radar so thank you for the heads up. Mine hasn't had much use recently as it's my usual go to for period pain. Thank you x

[MeadowHay]

We were broke really so couldn't really invest in much, I wish I could have though! Great idea. DD is 9 months so that time is all fresh in my head (was mostly a bad time for me though I'm afraid, hope it goes better for you.)

Things that did really help me get through it all though:

• Netflix. I watched sooo much in the first 12 weeks of her life while I was still breastfeeding. She would spend most of each day (and a fair bit of each night) attached to me or she would be crying, so I was stuck on the sofa under her most of those first 12 weeks.
• Lots of snack foods. Chocolate but also biscuits and also savoury things like crackers and stuff. I was always hungry while I was breastfeeding and in the night feeds I didn't want to eat sugary snacks because of my teeth so I would eat crackers then.
• Lansinoh nipple cream.
• Multi-mam nipple compresses.
• a family member bought me a 'This Works' sleep set which was really helpful for me, the pillow sprays helped me relax as I struggled to sleep even when DD was asleep due to anxiety. She also bought me some special tea to help me sleep which was great.
• Lilets maternity pads were by far the best ones I used, MASSIVE but I didn't leak once and they were the only ones that were properly comfortable against my episiotomy stitches.
• Nursing cushion, I had a Boppy that was a hand me down that was really helpful for the first few weeks as I got to grips with positions for breastfeeding.
• Bit of alcohol now and again!
• Fancy chilled cakes and desserts.
• Fancy juices and fizzy drinks.

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Hello @Wavingwhiledrowning, thank you! I have just added some Thomas J Fudge dark choc Florentines and their Blisscuits to my online shop. Never heard of them but they look and sound fancy. My mouth is watering! Think I will go with Netflix as there's a couple of things on there I fancy. We already have Now TV but it's mainly for things me and dh enjoy watching together. I will see what Amazon has to offer first though. Thank you x

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Congratulations @burritofan, I hope you are feeling well. Cushion cocoon sounds immense. I got myself the V shaped pillow from Ikea the other day and I am loving it for sitting up in bed. I'm going to get another for dh too!

www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80236103/?query=80236103&cid=a1%3Asm%7Ca2%3Agb%7Ca3%3Aappshare%7Ca4%3Astore_app%7Ca5%3Aandroid%7Ca6%3Ashare%7Ca7%3Aikeaglobal%7Ccc%3A216

Your friend's idea of a feeding basket is genius. I am definitely going to get one set up! Thank you for your tips and good luck for the arrival of your dc.

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Hello @TheSheepofWallSt, thank you very much. I have a load of Boots advantage points to spend so all those things are going on my list. I love a trip to the spa so will try to channel spa vibes (and hopefully the bewilderment is something I can embrace!). The headband is a brilliant suggestion, thank you. I have literally masses of hair and I would be sad to lose it. I found 'silke' wraps via Google but £50 seems steep. I will look for some alternatives as they sound marvellous.

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Hello @ShinyRuby, thank you! Top tips there. I am definitely going to ringfence some cash, hopefully to buy some nice things in the summer and January sales. As I mentioned earlier, I have updated my John Lewis wishlist and hoping I can pounce on things, if and when they slip into bargain territory!

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Hello @Pushpull, that's a really good point, thanks. My own mum said her hands actually cracked because they were in water so much. I am not naturally a hand cream person as I have found them a bit greasy or sticky in the past, which is something I struggle with on my hands. I normally pass on any hand creams from gift sets to my mum! However, on your suggestion, I got myself the Body Shop Shea Handcream yesterday and I like it! It smells lovely too. Thank you x

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Thank you @whitehalleve, nice lounge wear and pyjamas has been a popular suggestion here. A definite for the list! A thermal mug is a great idea. I'll be sure to use one x

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@CallMeCarolDanvers wow, you've got me drooling with talk of your brie and mango chutney delight. What a super lovely thing to receive from your dp! DH is good at that kind of thing luckily. Ah brie.

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Glad you are enjoying the thread @kmammamalta! I am too and thank you to everyone for their suggestions. I may well do a round up list at the end so that any future visitors can have it as a handy reference in one post. It's my first ever mn thread and you've all been brilliant

[Florencenotflo]

@blitzen the contigo thermal cups are great. It honestly keeps your drink hot enough to drink about 6 hours later. Plus it locks so I've carried on using it now Dd is/was a toddler she can't knock it over.

[Bobbiepin]

Some decent nursing sleep bras are good. Hold the breast pads if you need them but a bit of support is nice even for the smaller of boob like me.

Also a telling dressing gown. Not totally perfect in the first few weeks as you'll want to get dry straight away to get a pad back on but after that it's perfect to stick on after a shower and get back to baby (who will inevitably wake up from their nap as soon as you get in the shower) and not have to hold a towel up.

[Bobbiepin]

Whoops. A towelling dressing gown.

[FirstTimeBumps]

Rather than Netflix have you thought of an Amazon prime subscription, TV on demand plus next (and in some cases same) day delivery which has saved our backsides on a couple of occasions, we just renewed our membership yesterday for th third year and I'm somehow still getting the student rate of £39 rather than £79 somehow so if you know a student get them to let you use their email account. You can usually get a six month free trial as well so may turn out to be a treat for free x

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Hi @ninecoronas! A fluffy towel is a great suggestion. I've sorted out some old ones for the hospital in case they are destroyed or nicked but I will treat myself so something extra fluffy for making things extra lovely at home. A sippy water thing is also great. Thank you very much. Not sure I am going to go for a kindle but will pop it on the master list when I get round to compiling it!

Ps your username has given me an ear worm!

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Hello @bitchfromhell, thanks very much for all those suggestions which will all be going on the list. Great shout on the toiletries bag for around the house which seconds the idea of having a nursing basket. I have not heard of Happy Mama PJs but will check them out, thank you. I hadn't heard about excess chocolate making breast milk go funny. I'll have to have it in moderation so that dc does not get used to nesquik on tap!

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Thanks, @bamboo15! Yes to big fluffy towel which seems to be a popular suggestion. I may well even get a bamboo one!

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Ooh sounds lovely, @egremontrusset. I have recently done a bit of sorting in my long life cupboard, now known as brexit cupboard, and I have bought some dried apricots and tropical mix, on your recommendation. I will be stock piling some more in the coming weeks. Many thanks.

[CrunchyCrumpet]

Some brilliant ideas here OP! I'm going to add a practical one, sprayable lidocaine for the ladies bits for when you're back home and can't sit down properly because of the pain/stitches. Good luck and don't forget the part cooked brownie stash in the freezer