When it was finally time to leave the hospital with our first son after a long and difficult labor, I couldn’t believe the nursing staff was just going to let us leave so easily. This was our first child after all; wasn’t there some kind of class we had to take or test to pass before they would allow us to walk out those doors? Nope.
It was such a strange feeling for me to leave that hospital as a little family of 3; I was so unprepared for what to expect from life after baby, both mentally and physically. I laugh at myself now, but I was all ready to jump into my pre-pregnancy jeans only a few days after giving birth and on our way home from the hospital we had to stop at the store to buy maxi pads because I hadn’t even bought any. I was so clueless (and I had even read the what to expect books and had finished my maternity rotation in nursing school only 5 months prior).
Now, after seven babies, I pretty much have my pre-baby routine and prep down pat. And one of the things I prepare before baby arrives is a post partum basket. Well, I actually make two – one for the master bathroom upstairs and one for the bathroom downstairs.
So, what’s a post partum basket?
It’s a basket full of everything you will need to tend to all of vour needs ‘down there’ whenever you use the bathroom after you’ve had a baby. It doesn’t even need to be a basket really – a plastic bin, dishpan, or box will do. And the contents of your post partum basket may be a bit different from mine, but if you are a first-time mom, hopefully this will give you an idea of things to have on hand for after baby’s arrival.
Here are the things I include in my basket –
- Maxi pads (overnight protection, with wings)
- Peril Bottle – you will get one of these at the hospital (ask for one or two extra); fill with warm water and spray on your lady parts as you pee and/or after you pee
- Wash cloths – I buy a couple big packs of wash cloths from Target or WalMart; after having a baby, I prefer wiping (or rather dabbing) with a wash cloth instead of toilet paper after I use the bathroom.
- Plastic grocery bag – to hang on the bathroom door and put the used wash cloths in for easy transport to the washing machine
- First Aid Spray – I have had stitches with each of my births and I use the first aid spray on the area after I use the bathroom
- Tucks pads/Witch hazel pads – I put a layer of these on a clean maxi pad to help soothe the area and help with swelling
- Medicated Wipes – use these interchangeably with the first aid spray
Another helpful postpartum item I highly recommend is a rice heating bag. While you probably won’t have this in your basket in the bathroom, it’s helpful to have this whenever you are in bed or sitting on the couch. Just pop it in the microwave you use it on your lower abdomen or back to help relieve post partum cramping.
Well, I hope this was a bit helpful to the expecting mamas out there. I love the convenience of having all my womanly post partum necessities handy in a bathroom on each floor of our house. And everything is conveniently kept in a basket that I can keep in the bathroom cupboard or on the back of the toilet.
What would be something you would add to your post partum basket that I haven’t listed?
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