Postpartum Essentials

Postpartum refers to the first six-eight weeks of your baby’s life, and lasts until most of the major physical and hormonal changes that happen to your body because of pregnancy have gone back to how they were before you were pregnant. You can also read our post about what is postpartum to find out how to have a gentle postpartum recovery.

Postpartum essentials are items you will need when you’ve just had a baby, to help you recover. These include items to help with your physical recovery from childbirth, as well as things that can help when you are breastfeeding or as a new mum.

It can help to have all your postpartum essentials ready when you are in the third trimester, so you are prepared for when the baby arrives.

Here is our list of postpartum essentials:

Disposable Pants Or Maxi Pads for Postpartum

Once you have given birth, you will experience vaginal bleeding, known as lochia, which is the vaginal discharge after childbirth that contains blood, mucus, and uterine tissue.

A postpartum essential is maxi pads or disposable pants to help with lochia. You will need a supply of padded, thick maxi pads combined with big, comfortable pants, or disposable pants that contain a pad that you can throw away once you’ve used them. It is not advised that you use tampons during this time because they could increase your chance of getting an infection.

The bleeding will start as soon as you have given birth, even if you have had a c-section, so make sure you pack maxi pads or disposable pads in your hospital bag. It will carry on for up to a few weeks in the postpartum period, so you will need a large amount of pads to hand at home.

Comfortable Clothes

Your body will change once you have a baby, and it might look and feel different to how you’d imagined. Comfort is key during this time! Don’t try and wear your pre-baby outfits just yet – opt for postpartum apparel that is soft and easy to wear.

If you don’t want to wear your pyjamas in the day, go for comfortable separates you can relax around the house and feed your baby in. Items you can wash easily are a must.

Breastfeeding Items

If you’re thinking about breastfeeding, there are items – such as breastfeeding bras, nipple cream and a feeding pillow – that will offer you support and comfort in the postpartum period.

To help you stock up ahead of time, read our guide to breastfeeding essentials.

Water Bottle

It is important for all new mums to stay hydrated in the postpartum period. If you are breastfeeding, you will need to stay hydrated to produce breastmilk and you will find you get dehydrated very quickly. Carry a water bottle around with you, and make sure you have a drink to hand when you sit down to feed the baby.

Healthy, Balanced Meals

While it can be tricky to find the time to prepare and cook proper meals when you have a new baby, try and eat well if you can – not just toast! Try and make sure you eat balanced meals in your postpartum period, with lots of fruit and veg, and keep the fridge stocked with healthy snacks.

Read our post on a healthy diet when breastfeeding.

Postpartum Vitamins & Supplements

If you’re looking for the best postpartum vitamins and supplements, our Pregnacare postnatal supplements range from our pregnancy collection are a postpartum essential that will help to support you and your baby in the postpartum period, during breastfeeding, as well as helping to support your skin and hair after childbirth.

Pregnacare Breast-feeding Supplements - If You’re Breastfeeding

A healthy, varied diet is vital for new mothers, to help produce nutritious breast milk and maintain their own health during the demanding postnatal period.

Many women choose to continue taking multivitamin and mineral supplement after their pregnancy that is suitable for breast-feeding to support their diet and for peace of mind that they are safeguarding their diet with all the nutrients they need.

Pregnacare Breast-feeding contains essential vitamins and minerals including calcium which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Plus, 10µg vitamin D, which is recommended by the Department of Health during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It also includes an Omega-3 capsule which provides DHA. Maternal intake of DHA contributes to the normal brain and eye development in breast-fed infants*.

If you have taken Pregnacare in pregnancy, then Pregnacare Breast-feeding is an ideal follow-on once your baby has arrived.

To find out more about the Pregnacare Breast-feeding, visit the Pregnacare page on our website.

* A beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 200mg DHA in addition to the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids for adults.

Pregnacare New Mum Supplements - For New Mums

A healthy, varied diet is vital for new mothers, to help maintain their own health during the postnatal period. Pregnacare New Mum contains vitamins B6 and B12 which contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It also contains biotin which contributes to normal skin & hair.

If you’ve taken Pregnacare in pregnancy, then this is an ideal follow-on to help safeguard intake of nutrients following pregnancy. Pregnacare New Mum also contains calcium which is needed for the maintenance of normal teeth and bones.

To find out more about Pregnacare New Mum, visit the Pregnacare New Mum page on our website.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional regarding any medical condition. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in the blog and to describe best generally accepted current practices we cannot accept any liability for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information given.