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There is nothing more simultaneously wonderful and terrible than being postpartum.
On the one hand, you have this sweet little baby that you now get to snuggle and enjoy. Nothing is better. On the other hand, you are sleep deprived, feel like everything is falling apart, your emotions are going crazy, and did I mention no sleep? Not the best time.
After the birth of my sweet baby, I learned quickly that there were some things that would make my life easier. I had to learn the hard way and am writing my postpartum tips to hopefully help you learn the easy way.
If you are looking for symptom help, you can check out my post on my post-partum symptom tips here.
Period Basket
One of the few things I had prepared ahead of time was what I am calling my period basket. I put on the back of the toilet a basket full of a variety of period supplies so I had options.
Mine included adult diapers, maxi pads, regular pads, perineum cooling wipes, and a peri- bottle.
Baby Things
This is probably a no-brainer, but we were unprepared, so I will mention it. Having all the things we need for our baby in our room really to go would have been a game-changer the first few nights. We did not, and it created a lot more work and stress the first night when we went to sleep and realized we needed diapers, wipes, clothes, and a changing pad in our room so we didn’t have to go to the nursery to change in the night.
If you want to keep that all separate, go for it, but it reduces the amount of night awake time. Our bassinet had a handy hammock underneath to store all his things.
Nursing Station
While you can nurse all over the house, I have found that having a dedicated spot is very nice. That way I know that everything I could need or want is there, ready for me.
We have a nice chair in our room that I put a box next to to use as a table. I keep my nursing pillow and a blanket next to the chair, and a basket on my box with all the essentials. Water, burp cloths, tissues, snacks, a little trash can, and a book.
Midnight Snacks
Something I discovered quickly was that I needed to have snacks on hand for the middle of the night. I would be starving as I was sitting there nursing. Have them next to where you plan to feed your baby at night, so you are not stuck hungry. I would be fine at first, but a few minutes into nursing be starving. This also allows you to eat while the baby eats to minimize awake time.
Hydration
On a similar vein of thought to snacks is water. I discovered the first night that my one water bottle was not going to make it through the night. While I could have gone to refill it, that sounded like more work, so I got a second bottle and made sure both were full before bed.
I highly recommend a straw and handle to make it easier to drink one-handed. A twist-off cap is a challenge to open.
I hope these postpartum tips will help you as you transition into motherhood. I would love to know what advice you have to share to make postpartum easier in a comment below.
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