Comin at ya from my very own second week postpartum!
I have learned so much in so little time and I want to share with you everything that has made getting to know my new little girl such a wonderful experience. Without Further Ado!
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Me, 40 weeks +3 days pregnant, after my water broke
1) Prepare With the Right Supplies
I included links below to everything I ended up needing or using during these first two weeks and I really cannot recommend these things enough.
Breast feeding:
- Coconut Oil – This is for your nipples instead of nipple butter.
- Spectra S2 Breast Pump- This bad boy is what ultimately saved my nipples and my sanity. Pumping gives my nipples a break from the intensity of a latch when feeding the baby directly and allows my husband to feed her.
- Dr. Brown Baby Bottles- These have slow flow nipples so that she doesn’t get too much milk too quickly
Hygiene:
The Frida mom postpartum kit was highly recommended by a friend and I have to say, I loved it. My Favorite was the ice pack/ peri pads.
- Frida mom Upside down peri bottle
- Frida mom Perineal healing foam
- Frida mom 2- in-1 ice pack peri pads
- Depend disposable underwear- you’ll be bleeding and you’ll want to save your undies
2) Communicate Your Needs
Look, despite all of your planning, you will have needs that you didn’t anticipate.
You may be in pain in places you didn’t expect. You may struggle to move around in ways that you didn’t even at 9 months pregnant! You will be dealing with severe hormone fluctuations and find yourself crying about things that you don’t understand.
It is important to remember that nobody can feel what you’re feeling except you. You have to be responsible for reaching out to those around you to ask for the support you need as you find that you need it.
I have found myself talking to my husband -crying- asking for all kinds of support that I have needed that I didn’t know I would. He has gracefully rolled with everything and I am endlessly grateful for that.
My wonderful husband meeting our beautiful girl
3) Allow People to Help
This seems obvious, but it’s hard to get out of your own way sometimes.
If you’re blessed enough to have more experienced mothers or any friends in your life willing to do things for you, please allow them to.
Your body needs rest, and you need to take the time to bond with the baby.
Other people may offer to do dishes, they might not put them away in the right place- let them
Someone might want to make you dinner- take them up on it
Your husband might see you struggling and offer to hold baby while you shower- DO IT
These gestures from everyone else will allow you to be taken care of while your biggest responsibility has just become taking care of a whole new human.
4) Give Yourself Grace
There are a lot of expectations surrounding the postpartum period. I know I had expectations about how I’d feel, what I’d need, how long it would take to heal etc..
The reality is that every single day feels very long.
This is a blessing when you look at your beautiful baby. And it’s also a curse when you think about how your body feels. Each day I feel better and better, but I understand why women have 6 weeks (at least in New York) out of work to heal after birth.
Drop your expectations, give your body and mind the time you need to adjust.
No single part of you is the same again after the moment your baby comes into the world. Allow yourself to experience the magic of becoming mom without creating frustration around what you think everything should be like.