03/12/2025
It ain’t pretty, but here’s what a midwife keeps by the bed for postpartum care. I am super strict about bed rest - it’s day 5 and I’ve only been up to go to the bathroom, take two showers, wander into the kitchen once, and sat on the front porch for 5 minutes. Everything I need has to be easy to grab.
Everything in arm’s reach. See the green cabbage leaves in the trash? 😄 They actually do work for engorged breasts! And I’m a enthusiast.
In my basket I have easy snacks - beef sticks (I eat probably 2-3 a day), protein balls and bars, dried fruit bars.
LMNT, Ibuprofen and Tylenol (I had an unmedicated birth, no need for an unmedicated postpartum 😂), and my tinctures. I take Motherwort and Lavender for mood stabilization and Afterease for afterpains. Homeopathic Calms Forte if my mind starts to race at bedtime.
Tons of reusable ni**le pads (I like bamboo and wool). A portable, dim breastfeeding light. My favorite lip balm, and lanolin. I really like the super thick consistency of lanolin but a thinner ni**le butter works well, too.
My supplement box - I take a magnesium complex, cod liver oil, probiotics, sometimes beef liver, and my placenta pills.
Both my postpartum experiences so far have felt really successful, but following Remy’s birth I’ve been feeling particularly good. I have family support intermittently, a husband who is completely on board with doing every diaper change, all my meals taken care of and brought to me, probably 30 frozen meals and a meal train. I am so privileged to be able to have a postpartum like this, but it was also completely intentional and planned out. You can create a nurtured postpartum experience by having a plan in place and making sure everyone knows their roles.
And mamas - be open to receiving help and being taken care of. Everything else can wait. Stay in bed, let yourself heal.
