My Top 5 Postpartum Products Your Lady Parts Will Thank You For!
* This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click through a link and buy something, I earn a small commission. I would never recommend a product I do not fully support.
Pregnancy itself can be an overwhelming experience. Not only are you navigating the rapid body changes and hormonal shifts that come along with each new trimester of pregnancy but you’re also thrust into a new world of planning for a baby. Pregnant women (especially first time moms) can be extremely focused on planning for “the big event” of birth itself, and often are left feeling unprepared for the aftermath of childbirth.
So let’s dive into what you can expect in the first few days and weeks after birth and some of my favourite products to help ease your recovery.
Product Number 1: The Squatty Potty
Listen, this one doesn’t get enough attention in my opinion and it is NECESSARY for those post-baby bowel movements! After you’ve had your baby, regardless if it was a vaginal or a c-section birth, the first time you have a bowel movement can be scary. If you’ve had a vaginal delivery, likely things are swollen and tender. If you’ve had perineum tearing or stitches, then things are likely to be even more sensitive! Meaning the idea of putting more pressure “down there” on the recovering tissue can be uncomfortable. If you’ve had a cesarean birth, you’re also dealing with an abdominal incision that does not respond well to increased pressure or abdominal bracing or straining (often occurs when you’re going number two).
So, how do we manage this situation? Step 1) Keep your bowels soft (with the stool softener your healthcare provider will give you), water and dietary fibre. Step 2) The Squatty Potty! A squatty potty is essentially a branded step stool that tucks underneath your toilet and you pull it out and put your feet on it when you’re having a bowel movement. The benefits of the Squatty Potty are all centred around the position it puts your pelvis and therefore your rectum in, when you’re going to the bathroom. By elevating your feet on the stool (bringing your knees higher than your hips), it changes the position of the rectum, to allow your stool an easier path to exit.
Do you need a Squatty Potty? Nope, any stool will do. Simply keep a small step stool in your bathroom or use something you have around the house that you can use to elevate your feet. Try it. Trust me.
Product Number 2: Earth Mama Organics Herbal Sitz
A Sitz Bath (and the herbal mixture used with it). A sitz bath is literally a tiny bath that is designed to fit on top of your toilet seat. You fill the bath with warm water and mix in the organic herbal remedy (I really like Earth Mama Organics Brand). Then gently ease your bottom and your perineum into the water. Again, this is great for helping with swollen and tender lady parts postpartum and can provide a sense of relief to both the perineum as well as any hemorrhoids you may also be dealing with! Earth Mama organics also makes a great lineup of perineum sprays and balms with a similar purpose. You can see more of their products HERE.
Product Number 3: Frida Mom Peri Bottle
The Frida Mom Peri Bottle. Listen, it is essentially a tiny squirt bottle BUT the magic is in it’s design. Most hospitals will now give you a regular peri bottle (regular squirt bottle) that you are to use when you’re urinating to decrease the stinging and pain felt on your incision (again if you experience perineal trauma). The problem with the ones that the hospital gives you, is that they are not designed to be used upside down, which is unavoidable if you’re aiming at your lady parts. The Frida Mom brand has designed the bottle to be more effective at actually hitting the areas that you need it to, because of its design. So although it may just look like a somewhat expensive piece of plastic, it can make a WORLD of difference when it comes to comforting your lady bits.
Product Number 4: DIY “Padsicle”
This one is kind of a DIY project. The classic “Padsicle”. Again, this is going to be great for any perineal swelling or inflammation down below. Essentially you take a maxi-pad, and spray it with alcohol-free Witch hazel ( or 3-4 tablespoons) and Aloe gel (1-2 tablespoons) and place it in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer. That’s it. Pop it out postpartum and place inside your underwear for instant cooling relief. Note, if you google “padsicle” you can also find much more elaborate recipes but this basic one will do the trick just fine. If this sounds like too much work (because pregnancy exhaustion is REAL) you can also buy pre-made Witch hazel pads at the drugstore. “Tucks” is a popular brand in Ontario. You simply pop one on the surface of your pad or diaper and you’re done.
Product Number 5: Belies Inc. Belly Band
The Belies Inc Belly Band: Postpartum Abdominal Wrap. I’m actually very excited to announce I recently became an affiliate with this specific brand of postpartum abdominal support! Although, let me be clear here, there is little to no scientific evidence that an abdominal wrap “heals” Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation) postpartum, it does provide really amazing support to the abdominal wall and can take pressure off of the pelvic floor muscles during recovery. You can find more about this specific brand HERE. It is important to understand that although the band is supportive in your recovery, it should always be used in addition to an individualized postpartum core rehab program. When looking for a postpartum abdominal wrap it is important NOT to purchase anything that is too restrictive or too tight! This is NOT a waist trainer, so be careful if you’re looking online!