International Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
S/o postpartum "supplies"
What, in your experience, should I stock up on before the baby comes to care for my "lady parts" after I deliver? I know about colace, witch hazel and giant diaper-style pads. What else do you recommend? I'm planning/hoping for a vaginal delivery.
Re: S/o postpartum "supplies"
Big frumpy pants, both of the outer and under variety. Apparently in polite society its rude to greet people who come over to see your new baby only wearing oversized granny panties and a nursing tank. (Or so my H told me).
Seriously though, It's nice to have a few pairs of loose pants around because all kinds of stuff comes oozing out newborns and you might be changing outfits several times a day. An extra pair of old sweatpants or track pants laying around is good because regardless of what kind of birth you have you are not going to want anything rubbing up to much on your lady business those first few weeks after.
I second the nursing pads, I still have to wear them and I'm with LO 24/7! I go through a box of 30 in a week!
Oh and the girl I told you about that BFed after a reduction, well she recently hand DS #2 and she's doing SUPER, she doesn't need to pump and has to hold a cup up to her other breast because she's got such a great supply now!
Other than the big hospital pads and mesh undies and extra pads, I didn't have much of what the people below mentioned (if any of it). This probably explains my lengthy recovery. I also recommend nice, comfy slippers. I did get those and it helped me tremendously.
I had a kindle with a light and I read a lot when I nursed in the middle of the night. I enjoyed that a lot.
*takes notes*
Thanks for asking MrsBini! My mom is thankfully bringing me tucks since I can't get them here, but I wouldn't have thought of stocking up the kindle for reading during night feedings...or podcasts or something. That makes a lot of sense.
I needed the extra long pads for about a week, then switched to my normal ultra thins. Lots and lots of breast pads. I think I went through almost 1 box per week until my milk dried up.
The hospital gave me a couple packages of disposable wash cloths. Those were a lifesaver! I didn't have to worry about lint from a normal wash cloth, or my mesh body pouf irritating sensitive areas. We also used them for bathing D for the first few weeks.
I never liked the mesh panties, so I just bought some cheap black underwear. I also put a dark towel underneath me when I slept in case of leaks. Definitely stock up on Tylenol. I had an easy labor with no tearing and I still needed it for awhile.
Movies. Lots and lots of movies. D was up every two hours for feedings so DH and I took shifts. I was up with D at night while DH slept. I just watched movies and had all of the bottles pre-measured full of water with a canister of formula next to me. It was helpful not to have to get off the couch much for the first few days.
A squirt bottle. I put 2-3 tablespoons of witch hazel in it then topped off with water. Used that to clean after going to the bathroom (then gently dab with toilet paper).
2-ply toilet paper. Most hospitals will not supply that.
Comfy socks
Do you have maternity pants that have the demi panel? Just the elastic band at the top, not the huge over-belly panel. I wore those for a while after delivery.
Pre-portioned snacks. I would be starving at different points with nursing. Even it if was just crackers with peanut butter, an apple, or a mini-meal of leftovers in a little tupperware.
Water, lots and lots of water.
I was able to take a lot of the stuff people are mentioning from the hospital in the US. Tucks were a life saver for me and some kind of numbing spray that I can't think of the name of. Gigantic pads that doubled as ice packs. I took about 20 pairs of mesh panties from the hospital. They are huge but comfortable.
It's crazy after all of that I'm considering TTC again soon.
For me it did, yes. Night sweats were the least of my discomforts though.
Luckily, you will have these great hormones to take you through it. I really don't remember ever being so increadibly happy as those first 1-2 weeks (before the lack of sleep kicks in
) with both DD and DS.
I second or third nursing pads. I needed them for the first 6 months or so?
I had a long, difficult first labour with some stitches and a fast, easy second one and did not need any meds afterwards, it just wasn't that painful. So you never know.