Healing with a Baby Postpartum: Tips for New Parents
Healing postpartum with a baby on you can be challenging!
For the first few weeks, it often seems like your baby spends days attached to your side especially if you’re breastfeeding. Handing your baby to a trusted caregiver isn’t always an option nor a desire. You worked hard to grow and birth that baby and it’s okay to want to soak up every snuggle you can. Experience tells us that you’ll need some tips to take care of yourself with a newborn attached to you.
Getting more rest is key.
No matter how your baby was born, there will always be healing that needs to happen. Vaginal deliveries may come with tears and Cesarean or C-section births come with an incision. All types of birth require your uterus to return back to its normal size (which is only about 7cm long outside of pregnancy!) and the wound from your placenta to heal (about the size of a dinner plate). The best thing you can do for yourself, your mental wellness, and your baby is REST. This will prove challenging since it can get boring just resting in bed but do your best. We love to recommend making sure that everything you need is all on one level, especially if you’ve given birth via Cesarean. Encourage yourself to rest by avoiding the stairs altogether and setting up your feeding, bathing, and resting stations close by.
Keep the baby in a bassinet next to your bed or couch (wherever you’re recovering) so you can quickly and easily bring them to you for feeding and snuggles.
Another clever tip is to have a diaper caddy! Stocking a movable diaper caddy allows you to have access to anything your baby may need. A great idea is to grab a rolling cart (we like this one) and have the top stocked with snacks, water bottles, breast pads, and anything mom may need. Pack the lower ones full of diapers, wipes, extra clothes, burp rags, and anything baby may need.
Sometimes feedings can be challenging.
When feeding your baby it’s common for their little legs to stretch and move. This can be uncomfortable on your newly shapeshifting midsection, especially if you have an incision. Hold your baby in the football hold with their legs to keep tiny kicking legs at bay. This works well for both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Having a bottle warmer nearby where you’re recovering alongside premeasured, filtered water and formula can make feeding bottles easier.
Tip: Filling bottles with safe water is a great task to hand off when visitors ask how they can help.
A few helpful essentials purchased from Amazon or Target (hello, gift cards!) can also make your healing a bit more comfortable.
Remind yourself to stay hydrated with a refillable water bottle that will keep your water cold.
If belly binding isn’t your thing, a helpful item to grab for recovery is a Postpartum support band. This helps support your muscles as they begin to knit themselves back together post-birth.
A few nursing tank tops are great for immediate recovery and through breastfeeding. Allow your baby access to their meals with one hand!
A nursing pillow can offer a bit of additional support around your midsection as well.
Hiring help can be the ultimate essential!
For us, the support and helping hands of a Postpartum Doula are necessary! While not available on Amazon Prime, we can definitely assist you with finding one to be on your doorstep within days. Contact us to find your expert who will help you as you ease into your new normal.
You’ll often only have one visit with your doctor postpartum at 6 weeks to make sure everything is going well. For about 6 weeks, you’ll be responsible for your healing and recovery! Healing with a baby postpartum can prove tricky. With some helpful items, all hands on deck, and a setup that works for you, you can maximize rest and minimize discomfort as you heal and bond with your brand new addition.
