Baby Almost Here? We've Got Your Free Postpartum Care Checklist

If your due date is right around the corner, you've probably packed, triple-checked, and re-packed your hospital bag. But... have you thought about what you'll need once you bring baby home?

If you haven't, no worries! You can throw your postpartum care bag together in no time. We've compiled a postpartum care checklist of some of our essentials for those first few days (and weeks!) after birth, so you'll be (a little be more) prepared after your little one arrives — plus our top 10 postpartum care must-haves, as recommended by real Baby2Body mamas!

P.s. Keep reading for a very special Baby2Body giveaway!

Baby2Body’s Free Postpartum Care Checklist:

And just like in our hospital bag post, we've created a downloadable checklist that you can use to keep track of everything you need -- because #mombrain is real. Most importantly, knowing you’re prepared will help you relax, and that's so important as you prepare for the big day.

Download a PDF of our postpartum care checklist for free here.

Here are our top 10 postpartum care must-haves:

These are all recommended with input from Baby2Body mamas!

Postpartum care essential #1: Only the comfiest clothes

So this is a no-brainer – but have a few snuggly outfits freshly washed and set out so you don’t have to worry about what to wear your first few days home with baby. And this includes underwear! Slip into some breathable cottony softness – comfort is key right now. Amongst our community’s top after-hospital bag items were comfy clothes, and she packed leggings, a big T-shirt, and a fuzzy robe to wear home after giving birth.

Postpartum care essential #2: Pads, pads, and more pads

Invest in some maxi pads, disposable bed pads, and nipple pads – trust us, you'll be glad you did. Over the next few weeks, you will pass excess blood and mucus, and being prepared will save your clothes, sheets, mattress, and even better – your time and energy. Oh, and one more thing – you will likely experience a fair amount of leaking breast milk, even if it’s not feeding time. Yet again, pads to the rescue!

Postpartum care essential #3: Ice, Ice baby

We wish we could tell you it won’t hurt down there, but pain is definitely part of the process.

Help any soreness by applying an icepack to your perineum, though not directly to the skin. Here’s a quick trick for an easy ice pack: take some of your maxi pads (following that last tip, your supply should be ample), soak them in cold water, and place them in the freezer. Once sufficiently frozen, you have your own DIY peri-icepack!

Postpartum care essential #4: Donuts!

Well, not the kind for your sweet tooth, the one to sit on! A donut pillow will come in handy when simply sitting proves painful. Your perineal area has been through a lot – and if you’ve had an episiotomy or experienced tearing you'll want to take this pillow everywhere with you. (p.s. there's nothing wrong with having a sweet treat donut as well).

Postpartum care essential #5: Breast care & nipple cream

The cabbage cure: You may only have to go as far as your fridge for this after-hospital need: two large green cabbage leaves. Engorged breasts are common, and surprisingly uncomfortable, after giving birth – but you can reduce excess tissue swelling by regularly feeding and/or expressing and placing chilled cabbage leaves directly on the skin of your breasts. Reduction of this swelling can help your milk flow more easily and minimize your discomfort as well.

Hot & cold compress: You can also try this hot or cold compress from Lansinoh, the therapy tool is said to help relieve engorgement, plugged ducts, and mastitis, and encourage milk letdown.

Nipple cream: Use Lansinoh HPA Nipple Cream to soothe and heal skin around the nipples.

If you need to express milk to relieve some pressure, then store the breastmilk in these bags, which can be frozen.

Postpartum care essential #6: Love for your legs with compression stockings

You still have plenty of hormones whizzing around your body and if you're not as active as you normally would be (because you're recovering from a serious thing!) you may find edema (swelling in the legs) starts to set in, even if it didn't during your pregnancy. This can be uncomfortable and increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis but there are ways to help alleviate the symptoms. Invest in some compression stockings (flight socks) to wear during the day, drink plenty of water and keep your feet elevated when you can. Once you're up and about you'll find the swelling should subside naturally.

Postpartum care essential #7: A gentle body wash

‘The simpler, the better’ should be your mantra when it comes to body washes and skincare in these first few weeks. You'll want to avoid products that contain fragrances or dyes, as they could further irritate your sensitive skin.

Try to keep all lotions and potions away from ‘down below’ as they are likely to irritate any cuts or tears that are trying to heal. The most important thing to remember is to keep the area as dry and well-ventilated as possible so after showering pat dry with a clean towel to prevent infection and help the skin to heal more quickly.

Postpartum care essential #8: A bowl of warm water (yes, it’s essential)

Using the toilet may prove more painful than expected – but there are ways to help. Take a bowl of warm water to the toilet with you and pour over your perineum whilst you pee to take the edge off, don’t forget to dry well after.

Constipation and trapped gas can also be the bane of many new mothers, and though you should consult with your doctor first, stool softeners and peppermint water can be very helpful at this time.

Postpartum care essential #9: Warmth for baby

Most of this list is all about you — but we want to mention some essentials for baby, too! If you're due in winter, you'll want to have some warm, snuggly items prepared at home to keep your baby warm. Ambassador Alyssa gave birth to her son in February, so snuggly PJs, easy-access swaddles, warm beanies, and mittens were must-haves for her little one once he came home. She also used a space heater and a wipe warmer to keep the baby comfortable — so keep those in mind if you'll be giving birth in the colder months!

Postpartum care essential #10: Supportive sneakers

Your body's been through a lot, so having comfortable and supportive shoes is a must for when you start moving around again. Ambassador Amanda says that her sneakers and stroller were her best friends post-birth, and because she had both of her boys via C-section, she wasn't able to carry much, so a stroller for walks was a must-have. "It felt really empowering after feeling so helpless post-surgery to throw on my sneakers and be able to take my babies out in the stroller, get fresh air, and start truly recovering and connecting with this new little person in my life!"

For step-by-step guidance on staying healthy before and after baby, check out the Baby2Body app.

What item was essential for your postpartum care? Let us know in the comments!

Baby2Body Christmas Giveaway - Perfect for Postpartum Care!

To round off an amazing year with all of our Baby2Body mamas, we’re doing a HUGE giveaway over on our Instagram @baby2bodyofficial! Head over there now to enter.

The Baby2Body giveaway bundle features:

1 x Annual Premium Membership for the Baby2Body app⁠
1 x Baby2Body sweater and cap⁠
2 x @bloomandblossom Stretch Mark Oil⁠
1 x @renskincare Global Collection Day Cream⁠
2 x @babymoriofficial Sleepsuit ⁠
1 x @calenodrinks Dark and Spicy Non Alcoholic Spirit⁠
1x @calenodrinks Non Alcoholic Tropical Party Starter Kit⁠

To win all you have to do is:⁠

Follow @baby2bodyofficial⁠ on Instagram
Like and comment on the giveaway post on the Baby2Body Instagram page🎄 ⁠
For extra entries, share the giveaway post on your stories & save it

The competition closes December 30th at 11:59pm! The winner will be chosen at random and contacted via DM on Instagram. Good luck! ⁠