Because my recovery has been a long one (3 weeks and counting and yes, I've come close to buying stock in Poise) and quite painful, I thought to let you all know what I've found essential during the process. The hospital will send you home with any "left overs" but, it's always good to be prepared!
A Peri Bottle: this was the BEST thing I got from the hospital and the good news? I got two! Trust me, the doctors will tell you to "take it easy" for a long time...but there were times where I just had to leave the house. And if you have to use the bathroom while you're out, you NEED that peri bottle. I found it to be extremely helpful and had no shame filling that sucker up in public restrooms right in front of everyone!
Dermoplast spray: This was an item they gave me in the hospital but I also picked up an extra can at Walgreens. I stopped using it after the second week because I found it wasn't 100% necessary anymore. It helps prevent and stop itching which you'll be thankful for!
Dermoplast spray: This was an item they gave me in the hospital but I also picked up an extra can at Walgreens. I stopped using it after the second week because I found it wasn't 100% necessary anymore. It helps prevent and stop itching which you'll be thankful for!
Poise Pads: trust me when I say, you will WANT a heavy flow pad. I ended up buying Poise overnight pads and have been wearing them since we came home from the hospital (of course, I left with a few of the hospital pads as well and loved them. They were thinner than poise pads and ultimately, more comfortable). These come in especially handy if you have a postpartum hemmorhage. I know this from experience. You'll want to be able to tell the nurse EXACTLY how many pads (and what kind) you filled and how long it took you to fill them.
The knowledge to make an "ice diaper": if you tear or have an episiotomy, here is the most helpful lesson you'll EVER learn: take a newborn diaper, cut the end off, fill it with ice, tape it back up, place it on top of your pad, place a few tucks pads in there (you know, hemmerhoids are a bitch. If you think they're bad during pregnancy, you have NO idea), pull up your pants (slowly. The ice will hurt at first), walk waddle slowly back to the bed/couch/chair, sit down and enjoy the cool feeling you just created. Seriously, it is easily the best lesson the nurses could have taught me.
TWO boppy's: yes, I had two. One that I bought second hand for $3 and one that was brand new. Obviously I let Layla use the brand new one and I used the second hand one in lieu of a donut. OMG it was heaven while I was at home. I even slept on it!
Tucks Pads: need I say more? Buy several tubs of them. You will need them. Probably for the rest of your life.
A helper: My husband was FANTASTIC while during recovery. He helped with Layla, he cooked me meals, brought me water, he even helped me use the bathroom once. He was amazing. I recommend getting a helper you trust and one that you know will actually HELP and not just ooooh and aaahhh over the baby. There are two parts to coming home: your health and the baby's.
Tinfoil dinners: when you're pregnant, I recommend cooking ahead some "freezer" meals. Casseroles, left overs- ANYTHING to get you through at least the first week of recovery. Neither you, nor your spouse, will want to leave your baby's side (and you will likely have a hard time cooking!). Matt and I didn't prepare ANY meals ahead and it was a total pain to cook our own :(.
Good, soft (but not pill-y) toilette paper: as I've said, hemmerhoids after delivery are a bitch. You'll want the softness of a good toilette paper. Cottenelle is my favorite, even when not in recovery. Unfortunately, I let my husband do the grocery shopping and we ended up with whatever was "cheapest". AKA a roll of sandpaper that never runs out. PLEASE take my advice and buy good toilette paper. Nothing that will "collect" down there. You may consider using a hand towel at some point. Don't. Not that I know from experience but really, who wants all that extra laundry?
A Sitz bath: Let me tell you how I don't love a sitz bath. I don't love it. In fact, I hated it. During my recovery, I've used it a total of 3 times. I don't like the way it feels, it's a pain in the ass (pun intended) to use and to clean up and, quite frankly, I feel that I'm adequately able to clean myself without needing a bag of water hanging over my head. But, to the credit of the sitz bath, it did help clean me when I couldn't. It only feels gross when you're done. It's fairly easy to use. It's still sitting in the bathroom for now and, we'll probably end up keeping it for a while. Who knows, it could come in handy during my next pregnancy!
Something to keep ice cold water in: I really don't feel like this warrants an explanation. I drink water like it's going out of style. I like ice in mine. SUPER ice cold is how I like it. Even when pregnant, I couldn't get enough. It's part of anemia to crave ice and guess what? I crave it big time!
Good, soft (but not pill-y) toilette paper: as I've said, hemmerhoids after delivery are a bitch. You'll want the softness of a good toilette paper. Cottenelle is my favorite, even when not in recovery. Unfortunately, I let my husband do the grocery shopping and we ended up with whatever was "cheapest". AKA a roll of sandpaper that never runs out. PLEASE take my advice and buy good toilette paper. Nothing that will "collect" down there. You may consider using a hand towel at some point. Don't. Not that I know from experience but really, who wants all that extra laundry?
A Sitz bath: Let me tell you how I don't love a sitz bath. I don't love it. In fact, I hated it. During my recovery, I've used it a total of 3 times. I don't like the way it feels, it's a pain in the ass (pun intended) to use and to clean up and, quite frankly, I feel that I'm adequately able to clean myself without needing a bag of water hanging over my head. But, to the credit of the sitz bath, it did help clean me when I couldn't. It only feels gross when you're done. It's fairly easy to use. It's still sitting in the bathroom for now and, we'll probably end up keeping it for a while. Who knows, it could come in handy during my next pregnancy!
Something to keep ice cold water in: I really don't feel like this warrants an explanation. I drink water like it's going out of style. I like ice in mine. SUPER ice cold is how I like it. Even when pregnant, I couldn't get enough. It's part of anemia to crave ice and guess what? I crave it big time!
These are things I found useful during my recovery. The only other suggestion I have for you is to take the hospital up on other drink options they may have. Normally, I'm not an apple juice fan but while in recovery, I opted to try it. I don't know what they put in that apple juice (Matt says it's just Motts over ice) but I'm convinced it's some sort of magic. If they would let me, I would have drank gallons of that apple juice. It was the best tasting thing I'd ever had. Most likely because it was the FIRST drink I had in 12 hours that wasn't water. It was the first thing that covered up the nasty taste of vomit in my mouth from labor. It was the first bit of flavor I had after having Layla. And it was fantastic. But, I digress. You know how they say that every pregnancy is different? Well, the same goes for labor, delivery and recovery. EVERY one is different. How do I know? The day after I delivered, there was another woman who delivered. Let me describe MY delivery to you in one word: loud. I screamed and screamed for probably 2.5 hours of the 4.5 that I pushed. This woman grunted about 3 times and the baby was out. WHAT?! oh man, she obviously has a higher tolerance to pain than me! My point is that, while these recovery products worked for me, they may not work for you OR you may need other products that I didn't.
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