Postpartum Prep

Meals to have prepared: Don't forget to prep breakfasts & snacks since friends & family will typically help with dinners. It's also hard to want to make something to eat in the morning after being up all night with a newborn so it is nice to have options ready to go. With my daughter, I kept lactation balls in the freezer and then pulled out one bag at a time to keep in my nightstand for when I was starving in the middle of the night. I also tried to prep foods that are nourishing and high in protein to help with healing & breastfeeding.

• Breakfast

  • Protein muffins - inspired by the Wake Up Muffin recipe from @mindfullymademotherhood (I doubled the recipe below and it made 3 dozen muffins)

    • ½ cup melted coconut oil (or butter)

    • ⅓ cup maple syrup

    • ½ cup peanut butter (I didn’t quite have enough, so added a ripe banana as well)

    • 1 tsp vanilla extract

    • 1 cup cottage cheese

    • ¼ cup plain greek yogurt

    • 2 eggs

    • 1.5 cups flour

    • 1 tsp baking soda

    • ¼ tsp salt

    • ⅔ - ¾ cup chocolate chips 

  • Breakfast sandwiches - I did sausage, egg, and cheese on english muffins 

• Dinner 

  • White Chicken Chili 

  • Ham Bone & Bean Soup

  • Thai Peanut Chicken (I have a bag of frozen stir-fry veggies in the freezer to go with this as well)

• Snacks

  • Lactation/Protein Balls

Self-care supplies to have on-hand:

• Padsicles - I made these during my first pregnancy but have since heard that heat might be better for healing after a vaginal birth. I plan to make a few for the first couple days postpartum this time, but to not use them as long.

  • Pads (I like Rael)

  • Witch hazel

  • Aloe vera

  • Lavender essential oil (I get mine from Revive - the most cost effective yet high quality brand I’ve found)

• Adult diapers - for heavier bleeding

• Period underwear - once bleeding has slowed down

• Perineal spray - the hospital will also usually give you Tucks and Dermaplast to take home

• Peri bottle - I just used the one the hospital gave me last time around but am excited to use this upside down one this time

• Puppy pads - for bed/couch protection against all sorts of bodily fluids, also bringing in the car for the 50 minute ride to the hospital just in case 

• Nipple cream

• Lansinoh Soothies - the BEST

• Silver nursing cups - haven’t tried these yet, but I’ve heard great things and a friend got me some that I’m excited to try

• Nursing pads - I like the reusable ones better than the disposables that stick inside your bra

• Nursing bras - I like these ones for all-day and these ones for nighttime

Things to have cleaned/sanitized and ready to go:

• Pump parts - also make sure your pump is charged and you know how to use it so it’s not so intimidating when the time comes

• Haakaa/milk collector

• Bottles

• Binkies