Portpartum Survival Kit - Vaginal Birth

Let me start this post by saying that I am literally LIVING with this survival kit right now - I gave birth six days ago and the list of "goodies" below have saved me from a lot of discomfort.  Every woman is different and every delivery is different, so if you've found other ways to assist in the postpartum healing process, definitely let me know!

For an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, there's really not a whole lot that us ladies can do to limit some of the pain and discomfort - your uterus is contracting back to it's pre-baby size, your breasts are sore, and the pain "down there" is super uncomfortable.  One of the side-effects of an uncomplicated delivery is also that most doctor's won't prescribe you any super "cray cray" pain medications either (which I consider a GOOD thing).  So what can we do to help our bodies?  Here's my super short list of easy to find and super affordable "postpartum survival kit" goodies:

Breast Care

1. Nursing Sports Bra: I purchased several bras for nursing prior to delivery, but the two that I have on a constant wash/use cycle right now are my two nursing sports bras.  They are much more comfortable than the under-wire options I have, and they are easier to shove to the side for the super frequent feedings you'll have with your newborn.  I bought mine at Motherhood Maternity during a bra sale - if you have one of these stores (or one like it) in your area, ask them when their next sale will be and plan to buy in bulk before baby is born - My bras, sports and otherwise, averaged $10-$15 each - super cheap!
2. Nursing Pads: Your nipples WILL hurt.  You can try going without a bra, but you'll quickly find that the friction from your shirt hurts too much.  Putting a nursing pad inside of your bra will protect the bra from leakage and limit friction on your nipples.  These are available in cloth and disposable options - Cloth is a little harder to find, but the disposable ones are pretty much available anywhere that sells baby or maternity gear.  I opted to buy cloth ones (I'm a cloth mom, what can I say?) and use one pair each day, one pair overnight.  In total I bought 10 pairs for less than $5 each, but I'm sure that you can find cheaper options on EBay if you're super interested in cloth.  Disposable pads typically come in packs of 30-50 for less than $10.
3. Lanolin Cream: I use lanolin cream twice daily on my nipples to sooth the ache from having an infant that is still learning to latch properly.  This is a miracle cream!  It will keep your nipples from cracking, will calm pain, and it doesn't need to be washed off before breastfeeding, as it is completely safe for baby.  Depending on the brand, you can get lanolin for $10-$20 per tube.  I opted for Lansinoh because it is a truly "one ingredient" cream - check your cream's ingredients for additives!

Prescribed Medications

1. Stool Softener: My doctors for both of my pregnancies prescribed Colace (Docusate Sodium) as a stool softener following my vaginal births.  Because you are so sensitive, and many women have stitches to deal with, a stool softener helps to limit pain and pressure when you're "taking care of business."
2. Pain Medication: This will vary from woman to woman (allergies may also play a factor) and may also vary depending on your doctor.  I have had two unmedicated deliveries with mild to moderate tearing and I was given 600mg Motrin after both.  Talk with your doctor about your options - I preferred any option that would limit my intake of medication - some women don't really care and just want to be comfortable.  Be sure to educate yourself on your options. 

Care for "Down There"

1. Super Absorbency Feminine Pads: You'll be bleeding for several weeks following delivery - the first week, this flow is will likely mimic a heavy period.  I opted to get the largest pads I could find to cover this first few weeks because I didn't want to worry about staining on my clothing and I would also be using witch hazel pads (see below) so I wanted to get a pad that would absorb that liquid too.  You can get cloth pads if you like, though I've never been able to wrap my head around the idea of a reusable feminine hygiene product (I guess I just lost my "crunchy mom" card).  Disposable pads should be available at any drug or grocery store.
2. Witch Hazel Pads: Pre-moistened witch hazel pads act as a natural, cooling and relieving astringent during your first week(s) postpartum.  If you give birth in a hospital, this should be something that you get sent home with, but I found that the amount you get for free typically only lasts a day.  I wasn't able to find pre-moistened pads in any stores, so I bought witch hazel on it's own (this is available nearly everywhere - try CVS or stores like it) and large circular cotton pads (try your local store's makeup section for these - just do NOT get the exfoliating kind!).  Witch hazel and the cotton pads are only a few dollars each.
3. Peri Bottle: This is another freebie for hospital moms - if you don't give birth in a hospital, peri bottle's are actually kind of hard to find - but any drug store will have travel sized squeeze bottles, which work just as well.  You aren't able to wipe yourself down there at first (pleasant thought, I know), so you'll use the peri bottle to squeeze warm water to cleanse yourself. 
4. Anesthetic Spray: This is totally optional, but something I've totally bought into.  Some moms say they don't work, others swear by them.  I use the Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray, which is simply a no-touch benzocaine spray.  Benzocaine is an over the counter topical pain reliever that has no proven negative impact on the environment and is considered safe for use by most women - there is the potential to be allergic to it though, so talk to your doctor before use.

Have anything to add?  

I'd love to hear what worked for you during your recovery from a vaginal delivery!  Every woman is different, so I'd love to hear your thoughts.  If there's a desire for it, I can also write a post on C-Section recovery - just let me know if you'd like to see that.

Ready for Baby - Hospital Bag Edition

Time for something a bit fun, but also important for those of us moms getting ready to welcome a new baby into the family - What to include in your hospital bag!  Whether you're giving birth in a hospital or a birth center, you'll want to pack a bag in advance so that you have everything you need during labor and delivery.  Here's what I'm bringing for my hospital birth:

With my first delivery, I had no clue what to pack and ended up bringing a lot of what I didn't need, plus none of what I actually needed.  This time, I've taken a rather logical approach - everything has a purpose.  If it doesn't serve a purpose, it's not coming.

Beauty Bag

My plan for my "beauty bag" is basic and simple.  I want to be able to wash my makeup off, brush my hair and tie it back, throw on some lotion, some lip gloss, and be able to brush my teeth.  My boss was joking with me the other day that she went with a full makeup bag for her second delivery because she was mortified at how awful she looked in the photos when her first child was born... I honestly could care less and don't plan on having makeup with me.  However, I can definitely see where having some foundation and mascara could help with those photos!

Technology

My choices for my technology serve a few purposes.  My husband will be staying with me during and after delivery, and a lot of this is for him more than me - We'll be bringing our iPad, laptop, and cellphones - don't forget to bring chargers for any devices you have with you - especially your cellphone!  It's hard to announce to family that your baby has arrived without one (and who doesn't want to post a birth announcement on Facebook?).  We aren't big on fancy cameras, so we'll be using our iPhone's for photos - If you are into photography, then remember to bring your battery charger and extra memory cards for photo storage.  My husband and I also do NOT agree on music or television, so headphones are going to go a long way in keeping our sanity intact.

Comfort

This is a BIG one - Us moms need to focus on our comfort during labor - If we just pack for our baby, we run the risk of being miserable ourselves... and that's not fair.  So to prepare for ME, I have a birthing ball ready, nice fluffy pillows to cover up those limp excuses for pillows at the hospital, baggy button-up pajamas, fluffy socks and comfortable house slippers, and a nursing sports bra.

For Baby

Last time around, I had EVERYTHING my son could possibly need... and used none of it.  My hospital will be providing us with bottles if needed, diapers, wipes, etc.  They even will provide a diaper bag, a blanket, and an outfit for our little one.  There's no need to bring any of that and it's impossible to cloth diaper while in the recovery room anyway, so I never considered actually bringing my cloth diapers with me - That will start once we're at home.  All I'm bringing is a cute "coming home" outfit (both a newborn & 0-3 month outfit just in case she's big baby), a nice fluffy blanket to drape over the car seat while we're transporting her to the car and home, and her car seat with base.  That's it.  Nothing else.

What About Everyone Else?

My husband is bringing his own bag as well with a change of clothes, toiletries, snacks, and a pillow.  We have another child who will be staying with family while I'm in labor, so we've also prepared a similar bag for him to take to their house.  If you have older children who are in school, be sure that whoever is taking care of them while you are in labor have been added to their "Approved" list for pick up and drop off.  I've also given my son and my son's teacher a head's up, so it's not a shock to either of them when my family picks him up from school.

Creating a Birth Plan - Part One: Labor

Once Cozy Baby #2 became a reality, I was determined to develop a plan for my labor and delivery.  This has been such an important element of my pregnancy that I wanted to share the information with all of you!  With my first child, I had nothing planned - Zero.  This resulted in a stressful birth where I had no clue what was going on and how to answer even the most basic of questions.  I had known that a lot women had "birth plans," but I didn't even know where to start on creating one - I hope that this can help anyone going through a similar situation.

So WHY am I even bothering with this after successfully navigating an unmedicated birth last time without one - Surely I'm better prepared and know what to expect, right?  I don't think so.  First of all, I gave birth to my son six years ago - that's a long time and I've changed a lot since then.  Second, while I was overjoyed at having my son, labor and delivery wasn't a happy experience for me.  Third, I want to make the most of what will likely be my last time giving birth.

Also, just to clarify, this isn't a series that will push "natural birth versus medicated birth" - I support all birth options, even if you choose to go a different route than me.  What's important about giving birth is that YOU are comfortable with what's happening... and that changes from woman to woman.

So let's get started!

• Who?  This is an easy question for me, but might be a hard one for those with large families, or family members planning to fly in from out of town for the delivery - Are those family members expecting to be in the delivery room with you?  Do you WANT them in the delivery room with you?  Do you have older children that you want in the delivery room?  My hospital doesn't allow siblings under the age of 12 - Do you know the policies of your hospital or birthing center?
• Induction: What happens if your labor stalls, or if your labor just DOESN'T start at all?  Have  a plan in place for induction - Do you want to try natural approaches to inducing labor, or are you comfortable starting with medications like Pitocin?  Are you even aware of the natural methods available to you?  Do your research on things like homeopathic/herbal interventions, nipple stimulation, and even acupuncture.
• Hydration: IV's are typical in hospital labors - But what if you'd feel more comfortable eating and drinking during labor?  Talk with you healthcare provider about how they handle hydration during labor so that you know what to expect - and so that you can request alternatives if you aren't satisfied with their normal procedures.
• Contractions and Birth Aids: Have you taken birthing classes that taught you a specific method to "ride through" your contractions?  Do have a preferred approach to handling the pain of contractions - like breathing methods, a birthing ball (my personal favorite), a stool, specific positioning, etc?   Be sure you know how you want to approach your contractions so that the people around you can support you as you work through your labor.
• Monitoring the Baby: I mention this one because it was the MOST frustrating part of my labor experience with my son.  Do you know how your healthcare provider is planning to monitor your baby's heart rate and how often?  Are you comfortable with continuous external monitoring?  What about a scalp monitor?
• Medication: This is the BIG one.  Most conversations about the labor experience start with "medication or no medication?"  Definitely have this planned out - I didn't with my first and it was really confusing to feel pressure from healthcare staff and family to do one or the other without really knowing what I wanted.  Talk to your healthcare provider about the different medication options for pain, how they may impact the progression of your labor, will the medications effect your baby, and what (if any) is the recovery time associated with each option.  Epidurals aren't the only options out there, so educate yourself!
• Episiotomies and Tearing: This was another reality from my first labor - Have you thought about whether you would like to try alternatives like perineal massage before resorting to an episiotomy?  Would you rather tear naturally than have the incision?  Talk to your healthcare provider about their approach to tearing as well so that you're prepared for their advice during labor.
• The Unspeakables: Labor can come with some really unappealing experiences - like urinary catheters, enemas, etc.  Yuck, but sometimes a labor reality, depending on your healthcare provider.  Would you prefer to set the ground rules from the beginning that you don't want either?  Do you not care?  Do you even know when they might be needed?
• Atmosphere: Is the environment in the delivery room really important to you?  Maybe your birthing center has specific options available for lighting, music, and aromatherapy?  If you're giving birth at home, do you know how you want the room set-up?  If you're giving birth in the hospital, what options are available to limit noise? 
• C-Sections: Some women know going into labor that they are having a c-section - you've been advised against a VBAC, your child is deemed too large for vaginal delivery, health concerns, etc.  If you are one of those women, have a very long and detailed conversation with your healthcare provider on what to expect - Length of the procedure, what happens to the baby afterward, what the recovery time is like, etc.  Be educated - this is a major surgery and there is a lot that comes with it, despite the current culture that c-sections are "normal."

This is only the first post in my "Birth Plan Series" - this series will also cover Delivery, Postpartum, Emergencies, and Composing your Birth Plan.  This isn't, of course, going to include every possible consideration - but it'll hit the bigger topics and touch on alternative interventions.