Your list of ‘lifesavers’ after birth for you and baby

[croft85]

Hello,
I’d love to read your lists of ‘lifesavers’ that helped you during the first few weeks after birth? For you and for baby.
I am pregnant with my first and won’t have much support once the baby is born - I am trying to put together a list of things big and small that might help make things a little easier (I’m sure no one would describe that stage as easy but you know what I mean)
Apart from the obvious vitals (milk/boobs/muslins etc) what really helped you?
Thank you xx

Small table by the sofa with remote control, very large drinking cup with lid, wet wipes, phone charger.

Batch cook your ass off now, fill the freezer with nice meals that just need a ping in the microwave and you have healthy, filling meals.

Get a slow cooker that you can sling stuff in and a meal is ready at dinner. Better still, google “dump bags” fill the freezer with theses, easy meals.

Buy a packet of nappies each time you go shopping now, stick up.

Baby grows, oh my god, I can’t state it enough, just buy loads of bsnygriws. Don’t bother yourself with little outfits, honestly. Baby grows, cheep as chips, multipacks, they can be chucked in the washer, dry in no time, no bloody ironing, no bloody buttons, they don’t ride up, they don’t fall off, they don’t mark the baby’s skin, you can chuck them away when liberally coated in poo/vom as they are so cheep.

Congratulations op.

I would say

Lanolin nipple cream.

An angel care bath seat.

A good sling, I wasn't comfy post c section initially but love my ergo.

Big box of snacks like flap jacks, porridge bars, fruit bars.

Thermos.

Kindle and light.

Nice food in the freezer. The kind of food that makes your heart sing.
Second baby grows and wet wipes.

The biggest water bottle possible and one handed snacks. I did quite like a midwife spray for down there but mum brain I cant remember it’s name!!
Freezer food / pre made food frozen is ideal for a quick dinner

Lansinoh if you're planning to breast feed. A stock of paracetamol. Loads of baby grows. And a "uniform" - maybe leggings a vest and a long cardi or loungewear etc that you can put on every day clean and not have to think about what goes with what.

Oh second the lanolin nipple cream, it’s the best compared to cheaper ones!!

If you have lots of stairs, a decent sling or baby carrier. We were in a second floor flat, no lift. Being able to carry baby hands free was a godsend. The carrier I had with my second (a connecta) was a lot better than the one I had with my first. So do research now.

Lots of filling snacks and yummy meals
A cosy pram suit if you are having a winter baby for walk in the pram
A sling
I found a 'fake candle' light thing I could have on overnight was great for feeding without having to turn the light on
Big pants and soft leggings for me!

I was one of the unlucky ones in that my DD was irritated by multiple brands of wet wipes/nappies so for that reason i never stocked up for DD2 - just in case!

A storage box in each room we have the small fabric cube ones. Thay have wipes, cream and nappies in. Saves carrying it from room to room. You're going to be tired so just roll with it. Fancy a 20 minute power nap at 3PM even though dishes etc arent done? They will still be there when you wake up so dont stress yourself out thinking about what needs to be done, it all gets done in the end. I realise that isnt actually a hack but still, its important.

A decent sling. I’ve been using a ring sling with my 10 day old DD. DS lived in a wrap sling for pretty much the first 6 months of his life.

A nightlight with variable brightness for nappy changes and feeds.

Stock up on painkillers and pads!

I honestly could do without everything else mentioned so I do think it’s really personal and will vary massively depending on you and your baby.

I knew you ladies would tell it to me straight ☺️☺️ These are all brilliant, so many I didn’t think of but I can see would be so helpful to have ready in place before.

Kit boxes in each room you’ll tend to be in, big water bottle, one handed snacks, lanolin, a ‘uniform’ to throw on without thinking, thermos, fake candle light for night etc etc - amazing.

Thank you thank you!
Keep them coming xxxxx

I would say get a few clothes that are nice and cosy (h&m were good)
Lots of dinners in the freezer
Painkillers and arnica
Get your hair done etc now in a style you can keep

Arnica for bruising.

Lavender oil and tea tree oil to mix with milk to put in the bath (works like spritz for bits). Witch hazel oil to put on pads (again to soothe bits).

A good box set or five to watch during night feeds (so I didn't fall asleep and roll onto baby). Too tired to read...

Planned meals ahead of time (husband always asked the night before what I was planning to eat next day, made a sandwich for me if I needed one, etc).

Water bottles everywhere.

Yes to nipple cream, freezer food/snacks, nightlight and nappy caddy or similar in different rooms. Buy saline nasal spray, infacol, Calpol and a little kit with nail scissors/clippers/thermometer/nasal syringe before they’re born (we got one from tommee tippee for about £8) so you are all set for when they are needed. Bendy straws and lip balm in your hospital bag. Also suggest reading a book about the baby befor birth (as no time after!) - I liked Your Baby Week By Week

Oh yeah, hair cut before birth, also pedicure if that’s your thing!

Not really something you can prep in advance, but for quite a while I set up essentially my own salad bar in the fridge. Just a bunch of plastic tubs of stuff, and every day I'd make something new to replace whatever got used up. Like, pasta salad, egg salad, grated carrot with hummous, spicy homemade coleslaw, couscous, grilled peppers with almonds, tomatoes with olives... It took like ten minutes a day, and meant I had an amazing mezze of different things to eat every day. And I could box up my meal and have it next to me on the sofa, so when I got trapped by a sleeping baby I'd just grab it and dig in.

Lactulose and senna! I ended up with an episiotomy and on iron tablets and the constipation and pain when trying to go was a nightmare!

Amazon Prime.

Fybogel. My mother in law bought them for me after my 1st was born and I was mortified but honestly, after the fact I could’ve kissed her

If you plan to bf a big comfy feeding pillow. I spent most of my days on the sofa wrapped in mine. Also second tea tree and lavender oils to add to water for healing.

• If you end up with C section, big pants which sit well above your bikini line is a must. I had section 3 weeks ago and I am still wearing my pregnancy over the bump pants.
• Nappy caddies/baskets in all the rooms
• If you are planning on breastfeeding, tops with easy boob access. I got few dress type nursing PJ on Amazon, and honestly, I've been living in those.
• Good sling
• I second big comfy breastfeeding pillow (if you are planning to BF). It will save your back.

@croft85 Great thread OP 😊 My first little one was born 11 days ago and there are definitely some things that have been super useful!! Everyone will be different I guess but here’s my list 😊

• Nappy caddies in lounge/bedroom etc - stock with nappies, cream, lots of muslins, a fresh vest and babygrow, cotton wool/wipes
• Spritz For Bits spray from My Expert Midwife is amazing for spraying on maternity pads for a bit of cooling
• Stock up on maternity pads and big pants
• Comfy pjs/loungewear! I got really soft black button down night shirts from Primark and have been practically living in them! I get really cold during the night when I’m breastfeeding so having something long sleeved that I can just unbutton at the front has been great.
• Definitely prep some meals for the freezer!

• If you’re planning on breastfeeding - pillow at the side of every chair 😂 I find it much easier feeding my little one when he’s proper up on a pillow. Lansinoh nipple cream is amazing!! MultiMam nipple compresses (bought in Boots) have been amazing when my nipples got really sore. As others have said, huge cup or water bottle with straw.

And my main one...learn now how to say No 🙈 we absolutely love our family and friends but my gosh, the texts and calls and visits can be quite overwhelming at the start! We had explained to everyone that due to covid etc we were going to be quite strict with visitors and everyone was very accepting until the baby was actually here 🙈 Make sure you get lots of time as a new little family 😊

Thanks so much everyone! And congratulations on your little bundles ❤️

And if your an absolute paranoid reck like I was, a baby monitor with a camera so you can leave the baby to sleep while you go to the toilet or nip out of the room for a few minutes. I think I would have taken him to the toilet if I didn’t have that monitor in my hand to watch him breathing. I look back now and see how crazy that actually sounds, but at the time, that was my reality.

Nipple cream
Nipple shields
Amazon prime
Huge cellular blanket for me (i co slept)
My supportive DP and Mum