Credit: Liberty Mills, Fertility / Wellbeing Coach and Author and expert speaker at The Baby Show which returns to NEC Birmingham from 8th – 10th May. For more information, please visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk/nec
As a fertility coach and postnatal doula, I’m often asked the same question: “What are the things I really need when the baby arrives?”
We live in a world of high-tech gear where it’s easy to get swept up in the hunt for the latest pram or the most ergonomic baby carrier. But once you’re home, it isn’t the expensive wheels that save your sanity, nope, it’s the little things. The day-to-day essentials are the true “saving grace” of the postnatal period.
Here is my “un-glamorous” but essential survival list for those first few weeks of motherhood.
- Hydration is Your Best Friend
Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, you will be awake through the night. Sleep deprivation leads to deep dehydration. You need to replenish your body not just for milk supply, but for your own physical recovery.
I recommend a clean electrolyte mix like Ancient + Brave, they do sachets too, which are handy to leave in different rooms, as you won’t always want to go to the kitchen. It helps you stay alert when your body is under a lot of pressure and trying to recover from any kind of birth.
- The Power of Bicarbonate of Soda
Bicarb is a secret postnatal weapon.
As a Dry Shampoo: On those days (or weeks!) where a shower feels impossible, I don’t think I washed my hair for the first 4 weeks after my last birth. This is especially helpful if you’ve had a C-section and movement is limited. A tiny bit of bicarb ( tiny, not lots, hand to dust on your hair brush and then brush through the hair) works wonders to freshen up your hair.
For a Sitz Bath: To soothe haemorrhoids or perineal discomfort, a sitz bath is vital.
Expert Tip: For a sitz bath, add about 1/2 cup of bicarb to shallow, warm water. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes. It provides incredible relief and aids healing, great for constipation too.
- “Mothering the Mother” with Nutrition
Many women take a prenatal and pregnancy vitamin and then stop once the baby is born. This is when you need your vitamins and minerals too! Your hormones have just “dropped off a cliff,” and you are now the life guardian of a brand-new human.
You need a high-quality postnatal supplement containing:
Vitamin D & B12
Omega-3s (DHA/EPA)
Zinc, Choline, and Iron
- The One-Handed Meal Strategy
Invest in a slow cooker. You need warming, nutrient-dense soups, stews, and casseroles. My favourite tip for new moms is “Mug Food.” If you can’t eat it with one hand while holding a baby, it’s too complicated. A hearty stew in a mug is a lifesaver.
- Mood-Boosting Hair Oils
Postnatal hair loss is real and can be demoralising. Using a beautiful oil like those from Mauli Rituals or Fushi Hair oil (with uplifting essential oils) does double duty: it treats your scalp and provides a moment of aromatherapy to lift your spirits.
- The “Old PJs” and Disposable Undies Rule
No matter how great your postpartum underwear is, you may still leak. Don’t trash your favourite white pyjamas. Stock up on cotton disposable undies for the first week.
I once had to run out and buy a stash for my neighbour because her husband had to return to work five days after the birth, and she was home with a newborn and two toddlers. You can never have enough. I wore mine for the first three weeks, and they were so comfortable too, as the higher waist supported my still larger belly.
- Gentle “Stool Softeners”
Haemorrhoids and constipation are common but painful. Stock up on:
Flaxseeds, Chia seeds, Prunes, and Dates.
- Multi-purpose creams: Find a clean, non-toxic, balm-like Weleda that will be great for “softening your bottom” and for soothing nipples under stress from pumping or cluster feeding.
- The Practical Kit: Snot and Temps
Get a nasal aspirator, like NoseFrida and a reliable digital thermometer. When it’s your first baby, you might not recognise a slight temperature change. Being able to clear a baby’s nose is essential for their feeding and sleeping, and your peace of mind.
- The “Do Not Disturb” Sign (I saved the best for last)
This was the biggest gift I ever gave myself. Hang a sign on your door that says: “Baby and Mummy are resting. Please leave packages in [designated spot] and do not knock/ring bell.”
Those 20 or 30-minute snippets of sleep are precious. After being up for six hours in the night, the last thing you need is a delivery driver waking the house. This time is sacred; protect it.
The ‘big stuff” doesn’t make the mother, but the little support makes the mothering.
@mills.liberty
