birthEDucated - The Ultimate Postpartum List

I love smart people. Smart people are the coolest. I had a super smart person take my class and they came up with the ultimate postpartum list - Meet Erin and her husband Dan!

Erin is a project manager by day and is used to being an epic planner. When she was taking her birthED class she asked a lot of smart questions and built the most amazing list of things needed after her baby Eleanor was born. She graciously shared her list with all of YOU! So here goes...

 

 

The ULTIMATE Postpartum List!

Hospital Birth - Helpful Items:

Rachel Farganis Photography. 

• Cooler with perishable items (string cheese, beverages, yogurt, fruit)
• Big bag of granola bars, candy, nuts, snacks
• Slippers (for both of YOU!)
• Comfy clothes + Sweatpants for BOTH of you (multiple sets, because postpartum is SWEATY and birth is well... birth)
• Essential oils you like for the bath or just to smell
• Blanket from home
• Spray for your bottom! I like Motherlove Organic Sitz Bath Spray and if somebody is wants to treat you, or you want to really pamper - go for the Motherlove Nurturing Life Gift Box
• IF INDUCTION: Eye Mask, ear plugs, and a big sweatshirt or cardigan that your monitors will fit under while you sleep. 

Post Baby - Helpful Items

• Newborn Kimono Shirt to protect their umbilical cord
• Vaseline or Aquafor or Coconut Oil for dry baby skin (and you too!)
• Nursing Tanks - make sure they are not constricting to promote milk supply!
• Extra changing table liners for those early blow outs
• Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play
• White Noise Sound Machine
• Salt Lamp for those night-time feedings where you don't want to have a full light on but need enough light to see your latch when you're nursing
• Woolino 4 Season Baby Sleep Bag - especially for those colder Minnesota winter nights.
• Burp Cloths... more than you think. Cloth prefold diapers work great too!
• Nail File and Clippers

Breastfeeding and Self Care - Helpful Items

• Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump - this magical device is the perfect thing to help relieve engorgement while still collecting the breastmilk or if you are particularly leaky while nursing on the other breast. Catches up to 4-5 oz! 
• Reuseable Breast Pads - Soft!
• Motherlove Nipple Cream
• Lasinoh Soothies - get multiple so one can be in the fridge while one set is being used. 
• Hot/Cold Packs
• Lots of pads or depends are great too - more than you think
• Extra Tucks pads - the fridge is good!
• Make some herbal sitz bath before hand and follow THESE INSTRUCTIONS on how to use.
• Epsom salts for baths and/or Pine Tar soap if you get really itchy
• Breastfeeding tops and jammies - treat yourself! Gap has really good options
• Brestfriend pillow or the organic Nook Sleep Feeding Pillow - the boppy really is only good for sitting on if you have some stitches or healing bottom, but most moms I know aren't thrilled with its functionality for breastfeeding support.
• Make a "breastfeeding basket" that is right next to your bed that includes
  • Haakaa
  • Burp Cloths
  • Diapers
  • Baby Thermometer
  • Phone Charger
  • Pen & Paper
  • SNACKS!
  • Receiving Blanket

• Multiple nursing bras - milk gets on EVERYTHING. Make sure you aren't using any wired bras, especially in the first month of breastfeeding. Milk needs to be able to flow freely and plugged ducts can be a problem when wires are involved.