I’m expecting my first child and keep coming across registry suggestion lists for cute onesies and baby stuff. But what I really need help with is knowing what possibly embarrassing stuff I am going to need after the baby is here.
I’m obviously not going to stick huge maxi pads and granny knickers on my registry so this is more a shopping list for me.
What “embarrassing” postpartum things am I going to need to buy?! — Mich
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Comments on What potentially embarrassing postpartum things will I need?
A lot of people are saying comfy clothes but talking about sweatpants and t shirts. I had a c-section and was really grateful for some granny type house dresses my mom suggested. That way there wasn’t anything against my incision and it unbuttoned to allow breastfeeding.
One of the best pieces of advice I got before giving birth was the friend who told me to go to Target and just buy allllll the cheap black regular cotton panties in my size. I did. I was not sorry.
I’m expecting my second baby. I never, for the first pregnancy, bought different underwear (and never needed it). I used the mesh underwear from the hospital for the three days I was in hospital, then back to my old cotton low rise/hip hugger underwear.
The most frustrating thing for me was figuring out how to order nursing bras, when I knew that for the first week or two my breasts would be biggest and then the size would regulate with the milk production. I ended up wearing an old–but not worn out–sports bra in the hospital, which I learned later was a BAD idea, as nursing bras should be loose; tighter bras (like sports bras) can cause blocked milk ducts. After a couple months of nursing bras, I decided to just start using nursing tanks (my faves are Glamourmom, which are more expensive than, say, Target’s, but waaaay better quality). I’ll have to get a few more of those, too, I think.
And the one new thing (well, two new things) I decided to invest in this time around were cloth pads and cloth milk pads, because after baby#1, wearing disposable pads was ever so uncomfortable. They chafed against my stitches, and I never thought they were comfortable for regular use anyway, and, frankly, I thought they all smelled funny (though I didn’t get scented ones and got a couple different brands). I just ordered a pack of postpartum Lunapads, and I have a couple of heavy flow cloth pads form somewhere else (that velour is sooo much softer than any disposable pad!); I should maybe get another postpartum set, too–if using cloth diapers has taught me anything, it’s that it’s better to have too many than too few. I think I’ll check out Etsy for milk pads. (Baby Too shouldn’t be here till Halloweenish, so I have some time yet.)
I’ve always been terrified of the prospect of pregnancy.. and babies for that matter. Now I am currently 33, 20 weeks pregnant and freaked by these comments. This can all be tightly stored within the “stuff I never thought about” tin.
The best baby shower gift I got (which I smiled politely at at the time but later called the giver with tears of thanks), was a basket filled with depends, pads, witch hazel, preperation h, lanolin, coconut oil (for every bodies sore spots and sex the first time afterwards!), and those puppy pads. Brilliant.
I can only speak about breastfeeding, that’s all I have experience with.
I got lucky with a relatively easy vaginal birth (epidural was fine, tear that required stitches but only second degree), so I was able to use mostly what the hosptial provided for me (and also were willing to give me extra of) – bottles for squirting water over everything, mesh underwear, giant pads. I heal fast and easy, so I never needed the fabric-y ice packs they gave me too, and I dropped down to regular period pads pretty quick.
Sitting on stitches is super uncomfortable, but I’m not sure what could have made it any better.
I spent most of the first month or so just topless with the baby, but nursing pads were invaluable during the beginning of breastfeeding. Also, I wish I had gotten nursing bras earlier. I personally was able to just buy my usual size, I haven’t had growth so much as fullness. (also I recommend Leading Lady brand of nursing bras. I was able to get a 2-pack of 42D for like $10 on amazon and they are still going strong at 10 months.)
My personal best suggestion if you are breastfeeding is booking a session with a lactation consultant, or going to a local support group if there’s one around, like La Leche League.
Also, pads (big hospital ones or regular period ones) were a lifesaver while I got my continence back. I had to pee all the time and having a pad to leak into while I got my pants off saved a lot of laundry.
The first post-birth poop was scary (mine was while I was in the hospital still), but more mentally that physically. I was sure everything would be covered and I would die of poop on my stitches somehow.
It all seems scary as you come close to birth, but once the baby is born, everything immediately after is just another thing you do and get through because it’s life. It goes away. The only remaining weirdness for me that I wasn’t expecting is that now that I am back to having cycles, I can’t wear tampons – they hurt to put in! I asked my obgyn about it and he said that dryness is a factor, and that sometimes the nerves and things get moved around and can take up to a year to settle back in.
None of mine are super embarrassing but they are all things I had to ask people to buy me afterwards:
-breasfeeding pillow
-breast pump and bottles (thought bubba would be with me 24/7 and wouldn’t need it. That’s not how it works it seems. Bubba was still with me 24/7 and I had to do lots of pumping anyway.)
-huge night gowns
-the biggest knickers possible for my unexpected c-section
-3 months worth of massive maternity pads (I only needed them for six weekend though)
-lollies! sugar of some kind!
The other thing I did was that I packed an extra bag. At my hospital in Australia, mums and bubs are supposed to only have an overnight stay, unless there is a c-section. Well, lo and behold I had a c-section, so the extra bag was very well used, but as you can see, I didn’t pack things I actually needed. We then had to be readmitted a few days later, and the bag hadn’t been unpacked so it helped my usually forgetfulhead husband a lot.
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A lot of people are saying comfy clothes but talking about sweatpants and t shirts. I had a c-section and was really grateful for some granny type house dresses my mom suggested. That way there wasn’t anything against my incision and it unbuttoned to allow breastfeeding.
One of the best pieces of advice I got before giving birth was the friend who told me to go to Target and just buy allllll the cheap black regular cotton panties in my size. I did. I was not sorry.
I’m expecting my second baby. I never, for the first pregnancy, bought different underwear (and never needed it). I used the mesh underwear from the hospital for the three days I was in hospital, then back to my old cotton low rise/hip hugger underwear.
The most frustrating thing for me was figuring out how to order nursing bras, when I knew that for the first week or two my breasts would be biggest and then the size would regulate with the milk production. I ended up wearing an old–but not worn out–sports bra in the hospital, which I learned later was a BAD idea, as nursing bras should be loose; tighter bras (like sports bras) can cause blocked milk ducts. After a couple months of nursing bras, I decided to just start using nursing tanks (my faves are Glamourmom, which are more expensive than, say, Target’s, but waaaay better quality). I’ll have to get a few more of those, too, I think.
And the one new thing (well, two new things) I decided to invest in this time around were cloth pads and cloth milk pads, because after baby#1, wearing disposable pads was ever so uncomfortable. They chafed against my stitches, and I never thought they were comfortable for regular use anyway, and, frankly, I thought they all smelled funny (though I didn’t get scented ones and got a couple different brands). I just ordered a pack of postpartum Lunapads, and I have a couple of heavy flow cloth pads form somewhere else (that velour is sooo much softer than any disposable pad!); I should maybe get another postpartum set, too–if using cloth diapers has taught me anything, it’s that it’s better to have too many than too few. I think I’ll check out Etsy for milk pads. (Baby Too shouldn’t be here till Halloweenish, so I have some time yet.)
A pelvic floor physiotherapist.
I’ve always been terrified of the prospect of pregnancy.. and babies for that matter. Now I am currently 33, 20 weeks pregnant and freaked by these comments. This can all be tightly stored within the “stuff I never thought about” tin.
The best baby shower gift I got (which I smiled politely at at the time but later called the giver with tears of thanks), was a basket filled with depends, pads, witch hazel, preperation h, lanolin, coconut oil (for every bodies sore spots and sex the first time afterwards!), and those puppy pads. Brilliant.
I can only speak about breastfeeding, that’s all I have experience with.
I got lucky with a relatively easy vaginal birth (epidural was fine, tear that required stitches but only second degree), so I was able to use mostly what the hosptial provided for me (and also were willing to give me extra of) – bottles for squirting water over everything, mesh underwear, giant pads. I heal fast and easy, so I never needed the fabric-y ice packs they gave me too, and I dropped down to regular period pads pretty quick.
Sitting on stitches is super uncomfortable, but I’m not sure what could have made it any better.
I spent most of the first month or so just topless with the baby, but nursing pads were invaluable during the beginning of breastfeeding. Also, I wish I had gotten nursing bras earlier. I personally was able to just buy my usual size, I haven’t had growth so much as fullness. (also I recommend Leading Lady brand of nursing bras. I was able to get a 2-pack of 42D for like $10 on amazon and they are still going strong at 10 months.)
My personal best suggestion if you are breastfeeding is booking a session with a lactation consultant, or going to a local support group if there’s one around, like La Leche League.
Also, pads (big hospital ones or regular period ones) were a lifesaver while I got my continence back. I had to pee all the time and having a pad to leak into while I got my pants off saved a lot of laundry.
The first post-birth poop was scary (mine was while I was in the hospital still), but more mentally that physically. I was sure everything would be covered and I would die of poop on my stitches somehow.
It all seems scary as you come close to birth, but once the baby is born, everything immediately after is just another thing you do and get through because it’s life. It goes away. The only remaining weirdness for me that I wasn’t expecting is that now that I am back to having cycles, I can’t wear tampons – they hurt to put in! I asked my obgyn about it and he said that dryness is a factor, and that sometimes the nerves and things get moved around and can take up to a year to settle back in.
None of mine are super embarrassing but they are all things I had to ask people to buy me afterwards:
-breasfeeding pillow
-breast pump and bottles (thought bubba would be with me 24/7 and wouldn’t need it. That’s not how it works it seems. Bubba was still with me 24/7 and I had to do lots of pumping anyway.)
-huge night gowns
-the biggest knickers possible for my unexpected c-section
-3 months worth of massive maternity pads (I only needed them for six weekend though)
-lollies! sugar of some kind!
The other thing I did was that I packed an extra bag. At my hospital in Australia, mums and bubs are supposed to only have an overnight stay, unless there is a c-section. Well, lo and behold I had a c-section, so the extra bag was very well used, but as you can see, I didn’t pack things I actually needed. We then had to be readmitted a few days later, and the bag hadn’t been unpacked so it helped my usually forgetfulhead husband a lot.