for mama

postpartum must haves

After giving birth, you will likely have a sore pelvic floor. For postpartum recovery, I recommend using bath herbs to soothe wounds, aches, and pains, reduce swelling, and heal tears and perineal bruising. These herbs are also effective for hemorrhoids.

My favorite sitz bath soaks are Herblore Postpartum Sitz Bath, Earth Mama Organic Herbal Sitz Bath, Wish Garden's Afterbirth Sitz Bath, and you can buy locally at The Scarlet Sage Boutique in San Francisco. Simply fill your foldable sitz bathtub, add the soak, and sit for about 20 minutes. Your pelvic floor will thank you!

Tea can be so helpful for many things, especially for a recovering new mama. I recommend Herblore's Red Raspberry Leaf Tea or their Pregnancy Tea. This tea is made to help tone the uterus, which is perfect for healing after giving birth.

 I also love Pink Stork's Postpartum Recovery Tea which helps support physical and emotional recovery.  Oat Mama's Postpartum Healing Tea is another favorite! Their tea helps promote calmness, and hormone balance. I give all three a two thumbs up! 👍🏾👍🏾

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Staying well-hydrated is crucial for maintaining your milk supply, so make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Aim for the standard eight 8-ounce glasses daily, but avoid overdoing it. Drinking more than this won't increase your milk supply and may actually decrease it.

Remember to keep a water bottle you like nearby and refill it throughout the day to stay hydrated. Some favorites are Hydroflask, Bink, and the hospital water bottle you come home with. 

After giving birth, you will experience lochia, which is vaginal bleeding from the shedding of the uterus lining. This can last anywhere from two to six weeks. Please avoid using tampons during this time.

I highly recommend that expectant mothers prepare padsicles to aid in healing once they return home. Additionally, you can purchase herbal-infused postpartum pads for the days when a padsicle or cold compress is no longer necessary. I also suggest getting TUCKS medicated cooling pads. Lining your postpartum pad with these will significantly relieve discomfort.

I had to put something on the list for Dad (they make some for moms too!)

The Lalabu Dad Shirt offers a convenient and comfortable way for dads to bond with their newborns promoting emotional connection and soothing the baby. It features a built-in pouch, making it easy to carry the baby hands-free while providing a secure and cozy environment.

The shirt is stylish and practical, allowing dads to remain active and mobile while keeping their baby close. Additionally, it supports early infant development by encouraging regular, close interaction between father and child.

Tinctures are amazing and fast working since it doesn't depend on the digestive process to work. The alcohol in tinctures means that medicinal plant ingredients get absorbed directly into your bloodstream. In bypassing digestion, tinctures work faster and more efficiently.

These tinctures that I love from Herblore and Wishgarden Herbs help with postpartum baby blues, postpartum depression, after birth contractions, postpartum itchiness, postpartum recovery,  and much more. Check them out!

These products are favorites among postpartum moms! Hot and cold therapy can significantly aid in recovery. Lansinoh offers hot and cold postpartum pads  and breast therapy packs for new mothers, which help with healing and soothing aches and pains. Bamboobies also offers a reheatable microwave version made out of flaxseeds, so no stove required. 

Additionally, the Bümmaa Original Postpartum Pillow provides great perineal pain relief if you're feeling sore from hemorrhoids, episiotomy, lacerations, stitches, etc.

For a disposable option, these postpartum perineal ice maxi-pads are a great option. 

It’s inevitable. Your breasts will undergo many changes during pregnancy and especially postpartum.

Besides comfort, other features to look for when choosing postpartum bras are pumping capabilities, sleeping bras, easy access for nursing, compression, bigger cups sizes, and support level. You will want to make sure it makes you feel sexy! I’m sharing our favorite and the best nursing bras that will work for moms during their postpartum journey. 

My absolute favorites:

Davin & Adley, Sugar Candy, The Dairy Fairy, Bodily, Kindred Braverly, Bravado Designs.

After giving birth, your body undergoes many changes, especially during the first few weeks of recovery. Selecting the best postpartum underwear shouldn’t be overwhelming.

Postpartum underwear is crucial for new mothers as it provides the support and comfort your body needs, along with essential protection during the postpartum period. I have you covered from compression styles, plus size, high waisted, disposable, c section approved. Check these out! 
These are my absolute favorites: 

Davin & Adley, Bodily, Kindred Braverly, Bravado Designs, Nyssa Care, Upspring C Panty, and Always Discreet. 

Discover the best maternity and postpartum clothes, from stylish dresses to cozy robes. These garments provide comfort, support, and practicality for new and expecting moms, ensuring you feel your best throughout pregnancy and beyond.

These are some faves! Angel Maternity have fabulous robes, clothes, and sleepwear that you can also match with your baby! 
Hatch and Pink Blush have beautiful maternity clothes made for nursing and pumping mommies that last. 

Disposable breast pads are convenient but can sometimes be uncomfortable and itchy. I recommend trying Bamboobies and Kindred Braverly, brands that offers soft, organic, washable, and reusable nursing pads — they’re my favorite! Additionally, instead of letting milk from your other breast drip and soak into your nursing pad while nursing, you can use a milk catcher to save it. Those drops add up quickly and can be a valuable addition to your milk collection!

Herbal perineal spray, Sitz Bath Spray  or healing foam is an essential postpartum recovery item for every new mom who has had a vaginal birth. These products offer healing and relief without harsh chemicals, and application is as simple as a quick spray.

And if you need some major relief down there, I also suggest using Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray a few times a day. This postpartum recovery essential can help your pelvic floor heal. It’s slightly numbing, easy to use, and offers instant relief. New moms swear by it!

Do you know the cesarean rate in the United States is at 32.1%? Nearly 1 in 3 births, so it's crucial to have effective products for post-surgical healing.

A highly recommended an all-natural skin and scar balm that can significantly aid in cell regeneration and wound repair. These versatile balms are not only beneficial for C-section scars but also works well on other surgical wounds, old scars, stretch marks, inflamed rashes, and burns.

It's an essential part of postpartum recovery for anyone who has undergone a C-section!
Here are my favorites:
Earth Mama Skin and Scar Balm + Earth Mama Belly Oil +Earth Mama Belly Butter Bundle, Motherlove Pregnant Belly Salve, Motherlove Pregnant Belly Oil,  Motherlove C- section Cream, Pure Shea or Cocoa Butter. 

Facing your first bowel movement after childbirth can be daunting, almost like giving birth again. To ease this process, start taking a stool softener, such as Colace, once your baby is born. Continue this for about a week and focus on consuming easily digestible foods. If you develop postpartum hemorrhoids, applying a soothing balm like Motherlove's Bottom Balm (previously named Rhoid Balm but both names are still in production )or Preparation H Lidocaine Cream can offer significant relief. Additionally, using a Squatty Potty in your bathroom can help reduce strain and make the experience more comfortable.

In the initial days after childbirth, urination can be painful, particularly if you have stitches. Using a peri bottle filled with warm water during bathroom visits can help reduce the sting and maintain cleanliness.

While hospitals typically provide a basic peri bottle to take home, I recommend the one from Frida Mom. Its angled design allows for easier use without the need to lean awkwardly or struggle to aim. This feature makes the process much more convenient. Plus, it can double as a portable bidet for future use!

"Mommy’s wrist" or "mommy’s thumb" is officially known as de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, a type of tendonitis in the wrist common among pregnant women, caregivers of young children and breastfeeding. This condition causes pain on the thumb side of the wrist, which worsens with thumb movement, making activities like opening jars, turning doorknobs, and lifting children difficult.

To alleviate this, you need a splint that supports and immobilizes both the thumb and wrist (thumb spica splint). My favorites are the Armstrong Thumb Spica Splint and the 3pp Ez Fit Thumb Spica Splint.

To check if you have "mommy’s wrist," perform the Finkelstein’s Test. Here’s a link to a YouTube video showing how to do it.

Having a meal delivery service really takes the stress for the first few weeks while baby is here. You get already prepared for snacks, breakfast, and dinners. 

My local favorite meal delivery services: Milky Oat (You will never find any refined sugars, seed oils, gluten, preservatives, peanuts, dairy, or genetically modified ingredients on their menu, ayuverdic-inspired), Kitchen Doula (have gluten free, dairy free, and vegetarian options), The Foodie Doula (mindful of gluten and dairy allergies)

My favorite meal delivery services that are not local: Mama Meals (gluten free, ayuverdic/chinese medicine inspired), Chiyo (curated gluten free and dairy free meals), Spoonful of Comfort (Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available too! Also a great gift to give to another mother), Splendid Spoon (100% plant based and whole foods, and gluten free), Ilana Meals (gluten free, dairy free, and a vegan menu)

Another tip if you want to avoid a meal delivery service, start preparing meals that can be frozen a month or so before baby comes to have food ready to grab for the freezer to reheat!

Use coupon code BRIANA at Mama Meals for $20 off your first order of $200+

Use coupon code BRIANA15 at Kitchen Doula for 15% off your order

For mothers who do not plan on breastfeeding and wish to dry up their milk supply, Cabocreme's Regular and Extra Strength products helps reduce milk production and ease the discomfort associated with weaning.

Together, these products offer comprehensive support for transitioning away from breastfeeding or stopping breastmilk production.