Just days ago, when I was being discharged from the hospital with my little one, I packed my bags full of goodies. These items truly helped me recover from pushing a human out of my nether region. When it’s your time, moms-to-be, I recommend taking this “shopping list” with you. Disposable Underwear Heavy-Duty Sanitary Pads Set those tampons aside. You won’t be needing those for a while. Instead, you’ll use the thickest maxi pads the world has ever seen. Luckily, you won’t be going out much, so who cares that you’re practically wearing an adult diaper? Perineal Irrigation Bottle Sounds sexy, right? Yup, model and new mom Chrissy Teigen thought so too. In fact, she made headlines for tweeting her discovery and appreciation for the squirt bottle after giving birth to baby Luna. The nurse probably will give you one or two of these at the hospital, but try to score a third if you can. No, you won’t be stocking up for rainy days — let’s hope you’ll only need to use this cleaning method for six weeks after delivery. You’ll want to have a couple at home (in different bathrooms if you have ’em) and one in your purse for when you pee when you’re out and about. I have one in our downstairs bathroom, one in our upstairs bathroom, and one for travel. I never leave home without it! More from The Stir: What No One Tells You About Your First Period After Baby And in case you don’t know what this bottle is for: You can use it (filled with warm water) to give your sensitive area a quick rinse during or after urinating. It’ll make peeing less painful and cleaning after the fact less invasive (even toilet paper can feel harsh). Cloth Wipes Unless you’re buying the softest toilet paper around, thin cloth wipes are the next best thing for wiping your “front” and “back.” Rinse with the irrigation bottle first, then use dry cloth wipes in a “dab-dab-dab” motion. Your nurse will show you how immediately after your first bonding session with baby. Yup, your nurse will take you to the bathroom and show you how you will relieve and clean yourself during your recovery. Fun stuff. Witch Hazel Pads No surprise here … If you deliver vaginally, expect pain — ranging from a lot (sorry!) to a little (if you’re just that lucky) where you tear. Witch Hazel pads will give you some relief. Merely line three up on those heavy-duty pads for the appropriate coverage. Tip: They won’t stick there, so you’ll have to strategically and carefully (like a balancing act!) bring your bottoms up so the pads stay in place. More from The Stir: 8 Celeb Moms Who Embraced Their Postpartum Bodies Numbing Spray If you’re especially uncomfortable down there, you can also numb it completely — though only temporarily — with a numbing spray. Don’t worry about the fact that it comes out of an aerosol can; it won’t sting at all. You may want to spray after you go number one for a quick fix while you’re healing. Receiving Blanket My husband and I bought dozens of receiving and swaddle blankets for our baby, but so far, none have been better than the ones from the hospital. They might not be made of the most luxurious fabric, but the baby seems to love them. Plus, they grip really well, making swaddling easier for beginners like us. We don’t know what we’ll do when our baby grows out of hers! Disposable Diaper Changing Pads Once baby is home, you’ll find that he or she might pee or poop during a diaper changing session. Those fancy cloth changing table covers you bought with the fab pattern probably need to be washed, and these disposable pads will be a great alternative until you’ve got any “free time” to do laundry. NON-FREEBIE: Commercial-Grade Breast Pump So, okay, you won’t get this for free, but I recommend renting one if you’re planning to breastfeed. Hospital pumps are more powerful than the store-bought ones and can get the job done faster. Once baby is home with you, every extra minute free counts! Ask the nurses or lactation consultants at the hospital about renting one of theirs. Also, call your health insurance because the rental fee may be fully or partially covered under your plan. Image via Ysolt Usigan
title: “8 Freebies Every New Mom Should Take Home From The Hospital” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-21” author: “Sandra Macintyre”
Just days ago, when I was being discharged from the hospital with my little one, I packed my bags full of goodies. These items truly helped me recover from pushing a human out of my nether region. When it’s your time, moms-to-be, I recommend taking this “shopping list” with you. Disposable Underwear Heavy-Duty Sanitary Pads Set those tampons aside. You won’t be needing those for a while. Instead, you’ll use the thickest maxi pads the world has ever seen. Luckily, you won’t be going out much, so who cares that you’re practically wearing an adult diaper? Perineal Irrigation Bottle Sounds sexy, right? Yup, model and new mom Chrissy Teigen thought so too. In fact, she made headlines for tweeting her discovery and appreciation for the squirt bottle after giving birth to baby Luna. The nurse probably will give you one or two of these at the hospital, but try to score a third if you can. No, you won’t be stocking up for rainy days — let’s hope you’ll only need to use this cleaning method for six weeks after delivery. You’ll want to have a couple at home (in different bathrooms if you have ’em) and one in your purse for when you pee when you’re out and about. I have one in our downstairs bathroom, one in our upstairs bathroom, and one for travel. I never leave home without it! More from The Stir: What No One Tells You About Your First Period After Baby And in case you don’t know what this bottle is for: You can use it (filled with warm water) to give your sensitive area a quick rinse during or after urinating. It’ll make peeing less painful and cleaning after the fact less invasive (even toilet paper can feel harsh). Cloth Wipes Unless you’re buying the softest toilet paper around, thin cloth wipes are the next best thing for wiping your “front” and “back.” Rinse with the irrigation bottle first, then use dry cloth wipes in a “dab-dab-dab” motion. Your nurse will show you how immediately after your first bonding session with baby. Yup, your nurse will take you to the bathroom and show you how you will relieve and clean yourself during your recovery. Fun stuff. Witch Hazel Pads No surprise here … If you deliver vaginally, expect pain — ranging from a lot (sorry!) to a little (if you’re just that lucky) where you tear. Witch Hazel pads will give you some relief. Merely line three up on those heavy-duty pads for the appropriate coverage. Tip: They won’t stick there, so you’ll have to strategically and carefully (like a balancing act!) bring your bottoms up so the pads stay in place. More from The Stir: 8 Celeb Moms Who Embraced Their Postpartum Bodies Numbing Spray If you’re especially uncomfortable down there, you can also numb it completely — though only temporarily — with a numbing spray. Don’t worry about the fact that it comes out of an aerosol can; it won’t sting at all. You may want to spray after you go number one for a quick fix while you’re healing. Receiving Blanket My husband and I bought dozens of receiving and swaddle blankets for our baby, but so far, none have been better than the ones from the hospital. They might not be made of the most luxurious fabric, but the baby seems to love them. Plus, they grip really well, making swaddling easier for beginners like us. We don’t know what we’ll do when our baby grows out of hers! Disposable Diaper Changing Pads Once baby is home, you’ll find that he or she might pee or poop during a diaper changing session. Those fancy cloth changing table covers you bought with the fab pattern probably need to be washed, and these disposable pads will be a great alternative until you’ve got any “free time” to do laundry. NON-FREEBIE: Commercial-Grade Breast Pump So, okay, you won’t get this for free, but I recommend renting one if you’re planning to breastfeed. Hospital pumps are more powerful than the store-bought ones and can get the job done faster. Once baby is home with you, every extra minute free counts! Ask the nurses or lactation consultants at the hospital about renting one of theirs. Also, call your health insurance because the rental fee may be fully or partially covered under your plan. Image via Ysolt Usigan
title: “8 Freebies Every New Mom Should Take Home From The Hospital” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-02” author: “Connie Mauffray”
Just days ago, when I was being discharged from the hospital with my little one, I packed my bags full of goodies. These items truly helped me recover from pushing a human out of my nether region. When it’s your time, moms-to-be, I recommend taking this “shopping list” with you. Disposable Underwear Heavy-Duty Sanitary Pads Set those tampons aside. You won’t be needing those for a while. Instead, you’ll use the thickest maxi pads the world has ever seen. Luckily, you won’t be going out much, so who cares that you’re practically wearing an adult diaper? Perineal Irrigation Bottle Sounds sexy, right? Yup, model and new mom Chrissy Teigen thought so too. In fact, she made headlines for tweeting her discovery and appreciation for the squirt bottle after giving birth to baby Luna. The nurse probably will give you one or two of these at the hospital, but try to score a third if you can. No, you won’t be stocking up for rainy days — let’s hope you’ll only need to use this cleaning method for six weeks after delivery. You’ll want to have a couple at home (in different bathrooms if you have ’em) and one in your purse for when you pee when you’re out and about. I have one in our downstairs bathroom, one in our upstairs bathroom, and one for travel. I never leave home without it! More from The Stir: What No One Tells You About Your First Period After Baby And in case you don’t know what this bottle is for: You can use it (filled with warm water) to give your sensitive area a quick rinse during or after urinating. It’ll make peeing less painful and cleaning after the fact less invasive (even toilet paper can feel harsh). Cloth Wipes Unless you’re buying the softest toilet paper around, thin cloth wipes are the next best thing for wiping your “front” and “back.” Rinse with the irrigation bottle first, then use dry cloth wipes in a “dab-dab-dab” motion. Your nurse will show you how immediately after your first bonding session with baby. Yup, your nurse will take you to the bathroom and show you how you will relieve and clean yourself during your recovery. Fun stuff. Witch Hazel Pads No surprise here … If you deliver vaginally, expect pain — ranging from a lot (sorry!) to a little (if you’re just that lucky) where you tear. Witch Hazel pads will give you some relief. Merely line three up on those heavy-duty pads for the appropriate coverage. Tip: They won’t stick there, so you’ll have to strategically and carefully (like a balancing act!) bring your bottoms up so the pads stay in place. More from The Stir: 8 Celeb Moms Who Embraced Their Postpartum Bodies Numbing Spray If you’re especially uncomfortable down there, you can also numb it completely — though only temporarily — with a numbing spray. Don’t worry about the fact that it comes out of an aerosol can; it won’t sting at all. You may want to spray after you go number one for a quick fix while you’re healing. Receiving Blanket My husband and I bought dozens of receiving and swaddle blankets for our baby, but so far, none have been better than the ones from the hospital. They might not be made of the most luxurious fabric, but the baby seems to love them. Plus, they grip really well, making swaddling easier for beginners like us. We don’t know what we’ll do when our baby grows out of hers! Disposable Diaper Changing Pads Once baby is home, you’ll find that he or she might pee or poop during a diaper changing session. Those fancy cloth changing table covers you bought with the fab pattern probably need to be washed, and these disposable pads will be a great alternative until you’ve got any “free time” to do laundry. NON-FREEBIE: Commercial-Grade Breast Pump So, okay, you won’t get this for free, but I recommend renting one if you’re planning to breastfeed. Hospital pumps are more powerful than the store-bought ones and can get the job done faster. Once baby is home with you, every extra minute free counts! Ask the nurses or lactation consultants at the hospital about renting one of theirs. Also, call your health insurance because the rental fee may be fully or partially covered under your plan. Image via Ysolt Usigan
title: “8 Freebies Every New Mom Should Take Home From The Hospital” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-23” author: “Ilene Edelman”
Just days ago, when I was being discharged from the hospital with my little one, I packed my bags full of goodies. These items truly helped me recover from pushing a human out of my nether region. When it’s your time, moms-to-be, I recommend taking this “shopping list” with you. Disposable Underwear Heavy-Duty Sanitary Pads Set those tampons aside. You won’t be needing those for a while. Instead, you’ll use the thickest maxi pads the world has ever seen. Luckily, you won’t be going out much, so who cares that you’re practically wearing an adult diaper? Perineal Irrigation Bottle Sounds sexy, right? Yup, model and new mom Chrissy Teigen thought so too. In fact, she made headlines for tweeting her discovery and appreciation for the squirt bottle after giving birth to baby Luna. The nurse probably will give you one or two of these at the hospital, but try to score a third if you can. No, you won’t be stocking up for rainy days — let’s hope you’ll only need to use this cleaning method for six weeks after delivery. You’ll want to have a couple at home (in different bathrooms if you have ’em) and one in your purse for when you pee when you’re out and about. I have one in our downstairs bathroom, one in our upstairs bathroom, and one for travel. I never leave home without it! More from The Stir: What No One Tells You About Your First Period After Baby And in case you don’t know what this bottle is for: You can use it (filled with warm water) to give your sensitive area a quick rinse during or after urinating. It’ll make peeing less painful and cleaning after the fact less invasive (even toilet paper can feel harsh). Cloth Wipes Unless you’re buying the softest toilet paper around, thin cloth wipes are the next best thing for wiping your “front” and “back.” Rinse with the irrigation bottle first, then use dry cloth wipes in a “dab-dab-dab” motion. Your nurse will show you how immediately after your first bonding session with baby. Yup, your nurse will take you to the bathroom and show you how you will relieve and clean yourself during your recovery. Fun stuff. Witch Hazel Pads No surprise here … If you deliver vaginally, expect pain — ranging from a lot (sorry!) to a little (if you’re just that lucky) where you tear. Witch Hazel pads will give you some relief. Merely line three up on those heavy-duty pads for the appropriate coverage. Tip: They won’t stick there, so you’ll have to strategically and carefully (like a balancing act!) bring your bottoms up so the pads stay in place. More from The Stir: 8 Celeb Moms Who Embraced Their Postpartum Bodies Numbing Spray If you’re especially uncomfortable down there, you can also numb it completely — though only temporarily — with a numbing spray. Don’t worry about the fact that it comes out of an aerosol can; it won’t sting at all. You may want to spray after you go number one for a quick fix while you’re healing. Receiving Blanket My husband and I bought dozens of receiving and swaddle blankets for our baby, but so far, none have been better than the ones from the hospital. They might not be made of the most luxurious fabric, but the baby seems to love them. Plus, they grip really well, making swaddling easier for beginners like us. We don’t know what we’ll do when our baby grows out of hers! Disposable Diaper Changing Pads Once baby is home, you’ll find that he or she might pee or poop during a diaper changing session. Those fancy cloth changing table covers you bought with the fab pattern probably need to be washed, and these disposable pads will be a great alternative until you’ve got any “free time” to do laundry. NON-FREEBIE: Commercial-Grade Breast Pump So, okay, you won’t get this for free, but I recommend renting one if you’re planning to breastfeed. Hospital pumps are more powerful than the store-bought ones and can get the job done faster. Once baby is home with you, every extra minute free counts! Ask the nurses or lactation consultants at the hospital about renting one of theirs. Also, call your health insurance because the rental fee may be fully or partially covered under your plan. Image via Ysolt Usigan
