My Top 5 Postpartum Essentials

There are lots of different recommendations when it comes to postpartum care. During my pregnancy, I started to become consumed and overwhelmed by all the different posts about what I should get for after having my baby. I ended up with things that I didn't need or even use. Keep in mind that every person's body is unique and different, but I'm here to share 5 items with you that I believe are absolutely essential to making life after giving birth a lot easier.

Can you say, "Ahhhhhh"?! After giving birth, it might not be so comfortable "down there" - especially when going to the bathroom. Not only does the peri bottle make it easier to clean yourself, I actually found that it helped to ease some lingering throbbing pain. I would find myself going to the bathroom just to use it! Unfortunately these bottles can be hard to find. I'm so glad that my hospital included it in my birthing package! If yours doesn't come with one, I have seen them for sale on Amazon.

There are two things that I'm so grateful I had after giving birth: the Peri Bottle and Depend Night Defense. I know what you're thinking, "I don't want to wear a diaper - that's so embarrassing!" But let me tell you, I would have been miserable without them. The worst part is just purchasing them from the store (if you have the option of self-checkout, then do that). Don't even waste your money on those gigantic maternity pads. Depend will give you all the protection you need without feeling bulky or sliding out of place. I recommend getting Night Defense because it adds another level of protection. I wore these day and night; like I said, they aren't bulky so you pretty much feel like you're wearing normal underwear. You can go out in public without feeling paranoid that people can tell you're wearing a diaper! I also tried Tena Overnights, which I do not recommend; Tenas are extremely bulky and nowhere near as comfortable as Depend. So do yourself a favor and try Depend! You can find this product in any big-box store.

Ok this is for all of you breastfeeding mothers out there. Replace your coffee with this tea to help increase your milk supply. As always, results will vary from person to person, but I did notice a bit of a difference while using this tea! I also tried lactation cookies, but the only thing that increased from them was my waistline! It is recommended to drink this tea 3-5 times a day for best results. I also recommend starting to use this product right after giving birth, not after you start noticing your supply dropping like I did. I couldn't find Mother's Milk Tea in stores and found it best to buy it on Amazon. I have provided a link to make it easier for you to check it out!

This is something that I never really considered getting in advance. I only thought about it after my nipples became sore and cracked, but if you are planning on breastfeeding then go stock up. You are bound to get sore and cracked, and you don't want to have to make a run to the store while trying to take care of your newborn. Thankfully I was able to get my mom to go and get some nipple cream for me, and she returned with Lansinoh's Lanolin Nipple Cream. This stuff is amazing! I felt instant relief and healed very quickly. This cream is available in most stores in the baby aisle!

Water, water, water! You can never get enough of it! Or at least I can't - it's my preferred drink. I drink water ALL the time! Not only is water important for your healing process, it's also important to keep hydrated. Even more so when you're breastfeeding, as it's very easy to become dehydrated. It will also help to provide you with the energy you need to take care and keep up with your precious little one. And the great thing is that water is free and it's everywhere! So make sure you are drinking plenty of it.

There you have it - my top 5 postpartum essentials for taking care of your body. Please take the time to comment below! I'd love to hear about your experiences with these products, as well as some of your own recommendations.