The postpartum period, also referred to as "the fourth trimester", is a transitional time of major healing. Not only have you gestated a human for several months, then undergone a multi-hour, or multi-day, physical procedure to release them from the womb to the world. Now, you have to heal your body, mind, and spirit, all while providing 24-hour care for said brand-new human.
Luckily, with the proper emotional and hands-on support, time for rest, and postpartum essentials, you can make it through the postpartum recovery period and emerge a strong and prepared new mom. You will need several key products that support perineal care, including lochia care, and healing from soreness, swelling, and stitching; feeding and nursing essentials; postpartum comfort items; pain relief, and mobility aids.
LOLA has you covered with OB/GYN-approved essentials you can trust. Our postpartum collection is formulated with hypoallergenic and non-toxic ingredients, designed to nurture and support, always putting your health and safety first. We'll walk you through everything you need for a comfortable and comprehensive fourth trimester of postpartum healing and recovery.
What Your Body Needs Right After Birth
"The four pillars of postpartum care are rest, hydration, nourishment, and community care," says Foster Wilson, a Certified Full Spectrum Doula based in Los Angeles. Physical and emotional support from friends, family and birth professionals can help immensely as you navigate your postpartum healing journey.
In the days and weeks following birth, you'll need support with perineal care and general physical healing as you care for your newborn. Whether you gave birth vaginally or had a C-Section, you're contending with swelling, soreness, and lochia, postpartum blood and uterine discharge that lasts up to six weeks.
You'll likely come home from the hospital with some supplies to get you started, including disposable postpartum pads or underwear, over-the-counter pain medicine, and a peri bottle. But you'll probably need more to last you over the weeks of postpartum recovery, and what you're given at the hospital "is not always the most comfortable," according to Wilson. It's a good idea to put together a postpartum care kit to make sure you're covered and not scrambling when you get home.
For lochia care, consider LOLA's organic, 100% cotton disposable postpartum pads (similar to period pads, but larger and full coverage), and LOLA's organic, disposable postpartum underwear for bleeding support. (See our guide for more on the pros and cons of the different options.) The amount of lochia can vary depending on if you had a C-Section (usually lighter) or vaginal delivery, but you can generally expect to change pads or underwear every two hours.
For perineal care, it's important to keep the perineal area clean and dry, and to use gentle, fragrance-free products to prevent infections. It will be tender, sensitive, itchy and dry, and you may have stitches if you gave birth vaginally. A peri bottle, a handheld spray, allows you to gently squirt water to clean the area after you go to the bathroom, keeping it hygienic without the discomfort of wiping.
(Remember that medical guidance states that new moms refrain from intercourse, or using internal period products like menstrual cups and tampons, for up to six weeks postpartum, or until clearance from your OB/GYN at your 6-week postnatal appointment, to insure sufficient healing and prevent infection.)
LOLA's Hot & Cold Perineal Gel Pads provide relief for the area as well. To use cold, freeze for two hours, place them in the provided disposable sleeve, and wear them in your underwear. For heat, wrap in a moist towel and microwave for 10-15 seconds. The pads can also feel soothing on your lower abdomen, providing relief from gas pains. Just make sure you use the disposable sleeves or a towel to protect your skin.
Wilson also recommends a sitz bath: essentially a shallow tub you can place on top of the toilet, fill with warm water and Epsom salt or an herb pack, and soak your perineum for 10-15 minutes once a day. Not only does it help soothe and disinfect the area, but ideally, if you have assistance, it's a window of time you can have to yourself, says Wilson.
In these initial weeks, you'll be feeling sore all over, stretched out from labor and the months of pregnancy before it. LOLA's Stretch Mark Prevention Cream is formulated with apricot oil, shea butter and vitamin E, for daily massage of the belly, hips, bust and anywhere else you need relief.
For additional pain relief, over-the-counter NSAIDs like Ibuprofen and Tylenol are recommended. You can also consult with your OB/GYN.
LOLA’s Postpartum Essentials Kit includes all the essentials you need for postpartum recovery.
Comfort and Clothes for the First Few Weeks
As you rest and recover, you're going to want to be as comfortable as possible. Your breasts will be tender; your abdomen, bloated; and skin, extra sensitive. Choose loose, breathable clothing with hypoallergenic fabrics that don't exert pressure or cause chafing. Plus, if you're nursing, you'll likely want to invest in nursing bras, and shirts and dresses that easily open at the breast.
Postpartum-friendly clothing
-Loose, breathable pants
-Soft, wire-free bras
-Grip socks or slippers
-Robes or nursing-friendly tops
Wilson recommends comfortable loungewear. "Just being in pajamas can make people feel a little icky," she says. "Look for something that's a little more elevated, that feels nice and comfortable, but is still high-waisted and stretchy."
Essentials for Breastfeeding or Pumping
There are many approaches to keeping your little one well fed. Whether you're breastfeeding, pumping, formula feeding, or combination feeding (alternating breastfeeding and formula feeding), here's what you'll need to assist you.
Nursing essentials for breastfeeding and pumping
Electric breast pump
-Foster recommends checking with your insurance to see if an electric pump is covered. You can order it in advance to take home from the hospital.
Pro tip: Get your nipples measured for the flanges that come with the pump, to ensure you get the proper size. "A lot of nipple pain can come from using the wrong flange size," says Wilson.
Milk storage bags
You'll need these to store extra milk you've pumped, which you can freeze and then defrost later for bottle-feeding.
Nursing bra
Designed so you can easily pull down the front cup while breastfeeding, nursing bras are a must-have. You can also place a hands-free, wearable breast pump inside of the cup.
Nursing pads
Available as disposable, or reusable cotton options, you place these in your bra to catch and absorb leaks.
Burp cloth
After your newborn feeds, they may spit up or drool. You can place a burp cloth on your shoulder to catch any spills. The brand Natemia makes muslin burp cloths that are especially soft and gentle on your baby's skin.
Nipple cream
To soothe cracked and raw nipples, it helps to apply cream in between feeds. Look for no-fragrance products to support sensitive skin.
Silverettes/nipple covers
These small, silver covers fit over your nipples to soothe them in between feeding or pumping. Keep them in the fridge for cooling relief.
Nursing pillow
Newborns feed every 2-3 hours. You're going to want to be supported and comfortable during all those breastfeeding sessions. A nursing pillow fits around your waist so you have 360 support, and it also provides a pillow for the baby to lay on. It can help you keep a good posture, and not strain your muscles as you nurse.
Not breastfeeding?
If you're formula feeding, or even combination feeding, you'll need a supply of Formula (if exclusively formula-feeding, newborns will need 1-2 ounces every 2-3 hours) plus milk bottles, and bottle brushes for cleaning. You may consider a countertop baby bottle washer, sterilizer, and dryer, like a mini-dishwasher just for bottle cleaning.
"Even if you're not breastfeeding, your milk still may come in," Wilson notes. "You might still need disposable nursing pads for leaking, and to ice your breasts to reduce inflammation and constrict milk flow."
C-Section Postpartum Essentials
C-Section recovery looks a little different from recovery from vaginal delivery. You've essentially undergone major abdominal surgery, which means incision pain, abdominal pressure, and difficulty sitting up (or really any movement that requires engaging your abdominal muscles). Typically, healing takes longer–about 6 weeks for the incision, alone.
But with small adjustments in clothing, posture, and movement, you can reduce discomfort. In addition to vaginal birth supplies we outlined above, invest in a few specifics to support your C-Section recovery:
-Postpartum belly binders: Distinct from belly bands, they provide support for the abdomen and back, and help during nursing or sitting up in bed.
-High-rise, soft underwear and loose, front-opening clothing: You won't want any clothing that constricts or puts pressure on your waist or belly as your incision heals.
-Gentle, fragrance-free cleansers: Your OB/GYN should give you instructions for proper wound care to prevent infection. Always opt for mild soap and warm water when cleaning, and avoid any harsh cleanser or soap with fragrances.
-Silicon scar tape: Nuvadermis makes a silicone scar tape that supports healing, reduces discoloration and smooths skin texture. Ask your OB/GYN for advice on when your incision could benefit from scar tape.
-Heating pad or gel pads for gas pains: A heating pad or LOLA's gel pads (heated) can provide extra pain relief for an already swollen, tender area.
Nice-to-Haves That Make Life Easier
Now that we've gone through the must-haves, what about the fourth trimester nice-to-haves: the little extras and postpartum comfort items that make all the difference, reducing stress, improving sleep and making life with a newborn go a little more smoothly. You can also share these items with your partner or whoever will be supporting you during postpartum, as a cheat sheet that helps them help you–and lightens your load.
Real mom favorites
A rolling cart for snacks and supplies
Wilson recommends having an easily-accessible cart filled with postpartum supplies, snacks, and water so you have everything on hand without having to go to another room or floor. Bonus if your partner keeps it stocked!
Portable charger
The last thing you need is the tech headache of a dead phone and searching around for your charger. Keep powered up with the help of a portable charger on hand.
Nightlight
For middle-of-the-night breastfeeding, a nightlight means you won't be roving around in the dark, or shocking the system with harsh overhead lights.
Sound machine
Helps baby sleep through noisy distractions, and it can be calming for your nerves, too.
Stool softeners
Straining during bowel movements can put undue pressure on your belly and perineal area as you heal (not to mention, cause painful hemorrhoids). Help yourself out with a stool softener.
Easy-latch water bottle
Make staying hydrated a cinch, with a large reusable water bottle with a mouth latch you can open and close with ease.
LOLA Essentials for Your Postpartum Kit
During your postpartum recovery, it's essential that the products you use are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and made with clean ingredients. You're dealing with sensitive, swollen skin, healing wounds and stitches, and shifting hormones, so you need gentle formulations that won't aggravate or put you at risk of infection.
LOLA's postpartum care kit is made up of clinically-tested, OB/GYN-approved products. We take an education-first approach: guiding new moms to choose safe, transparent ingredients that support their postpartum healing. We choose clean ingredients like organic cotton, and our products never contain parabens, toxins, synthetic dyes, phthalates, fragrances, or any other harmful ingredients.
FAQs about Postpartum Essentials
What are the must-haves for postpartum?
Perineal care–peri bottle, hot & cold perineal gel pads, sitz bath
Lochia care–disposable postpartum pads and postpartum underwear
Nursing essentials–nursing pump, nipple cream, nursing pads, nursing pillow, burp cloth, milk storage bags, milk bottles and milk cleaning brush
Pain relief–OTC NSAIDs like Tylenol and Ibuprofen, heating pad
Gentle clothing–nursing bras, robes and front-opening tops, soft, high-waisted underwear, slippers or grip socks
What is the 5-5-5 rule in postpartum?
The 5-5-5 rule serves as a guideline to encourage sufficient postpartum rest in the immediate weeks after giving birth: 5 days in the bed, 5 days on or near the bed, 5 days around the house.
What is the 777 rule for postpartum?
An extended version of the 5-5-5 rule, the 7-7-7 rule extends the timeline to 7 days in the bed, 7 days on or near the bed, 7 days around the house, in cases where new moms require a little extra rest and recovery time.