I sit here writing this post quickly at over 39 weeks pregnant at almost 9pm with my second baby. Usually I’m in bed by 7:30pm but I guess we can call this “nesting” blogging. I had a really rough time postpartum with my first baby physically (had an unplanned C section that resulted in a stubborn 4 month long staph infection), and as someone with autoimmune disease (Hashimotos), I could have taken better care of my body the first time around. BUT, that’s what the second baby is for, right? Trying new things and ‘knowing better’ the second time around! So here is my list of postpartum supplements and healing tools I’m using to make my recovery hopefully a bit easier no matter what happens.
a belly band or belly bind
To start, this is something I had done for me in my hospital with my first baby after my C section, but HIGHLY recommend belly binding of some sort.
In my hospital, they did wrap me in an elastic support band that closed up with velcro and it was so nice to feel that support especially when your organs are just flopping around for a few weeks (months).
It’s even MORE helpful if you have a C section because you have been physically sliced open and really need that help for healing – and just general support to sit up, walk around, etc.
With my first baby, I got this cheaper band from Amazon and it was nice because you can use the different pieces of the bind at different points in your recovery.
For baby #2 coming any day now in late June, I ordered this one from BellyBandit (size Medium). I like it because it’s one piece, seems to come up higher (and since I struggle with rib flare I’ll need to work on correcting postpartum, this is helpful), and says it’s very lightweight material which I’ll hopefully appreciate having a summer baby this time.
I plan on wearing a band at least the first six weeks.
staying in my bed for 5+ days
As someone with FOMO, I spent my days postpartum with my first downstairs on my sofa. Although it’s important to move around with a C section, I 100% would overdo it and paid for it by having a longer recovery.
This time, I’ve told my family that I will be staying in my bed with the baby next to me in her bassinet for a solid FIVE days once we get home.
If I end up in a C section, going up and down stairs is NOT recommended more than once a day, so just staying upstairs in my bed the first five days should give my body time to really recover better than I did the first time.
I want these days so I have a better chance at sleeping/resting and not letting myself feel pressured to tend to things going on downstairs with my older daughter.
using the Birth Recovery Center app
During pregnancy, I used Nancy Anderson‘s Move Your Bump app for pelvic floor related workouts and other prenatal exercises. I’ve been following her for years now, and as a fellow C section mama, she’s been such an inspiration for fitness, nutrition and motherhood.
She has a follow up app called Birth Recovery Center and it’s been recommended to me from former personal trainer friends for it’s amazing pelvic floor healing plan, ab rehab program, access to postpartum nutrition plans, sleep training tips, mental health tips and even lactation consultants. It’s like having a Virtual “Motherhood Village” at your fingertips.
supplements
As someone who struggles with autoimmune issues, I am no stranger to the supplement world and the importance of supporting your body with cleanly formulated, high quality vitamins and minerals.
Here’s the list of supplements I’ll be using for at least three months postpartum to help with recovery, hormones and energy:
shop (some) of the post:
I hope my postpartum supplements and healing tools I’m using help any new mamas on their journeys. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, these tips should help you feel better both physically and emotionally.
-Steffanie
