Postpartum Healing

Nov 12

Once you have given birth there will be a lot of healing time and this is often overlooked when planning for baby.

Many women will bleed (heavy period) for 1-2 weeks and will be all the way up to that 6-week visit. During this time the uterus is continuing to contract (you will feel them intensify if you are breastfeeding due to the spike in oxytocin) which closes the blood vessels, slowly healing the uterine lining and bringing it back to its original size. Blood clots up to the size of your fist is normal to pass during the first 6 weeks postpartum. Bleeding will start heaving and taper off ending with brownish discharge.

This process remains the same whether or not you birthed baby vaginally or had a cesarean birth. However, with a cesarean birth, you will also have additional healing from the incision. Your nurses during the hospital stay will help you change the dressing and will give you instructions on the healing process. The hospital will often have belly binders to take home if you ask.

Majority of women will also experience tearing during birth. There are 4 degrees of tearing and the first degree may not require stitching. Having these items listed on-hand is very helpful. A Lidocaine spray is going to help ease that healing (some hospitals provide this and others don’t). Stitches will dissolve on their own, but during that process you may experience itching and some pain as they heal. Nurses will have clear instructions on what to look out for with the healing process.

What do you really need?

Do NOT use postpartum:
✕ Tampons, Menstrual Disc or Cup

Products you WILL need:

✓ Heavy Flow Pads
✓ Briefs / Postpartum Underwear *
✓ Healing Spray or Foam
✓ Peri Bottle *

Things to prioritize:

✓ Time to REST
✓ Nutrient dense meals
✓ Hydration
✓ Emotional & Physical Support

*Optional: Most hospitals provide these. Check with your hospital on what is provided.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED POSTPARTUM

Pads

The first and most important thing to note is you will be bleeding postpartum. Due to the dinner plate sized wound inside your uterus where the placenta lived, you won’t be using a tampon, disc or menstrual cup. Any overnight pads or heavy flow pads will work. The winged pads may not work with the briefs but you may need them once you start to wear regular underwear again.

FRIDA MOM — $11 (HSA/FSA Eligible)
LOLA POSTPARTUM PADS — $13 (HSA/FSA Eligible)

You may not need a huge pack. Start with a small pack and get more as needed.

Postpartum Underwear

The hospital will provide these! They are not something you need to buy.

If you want to buy some, I recommend the Frida Mom underwear. You may not need a huge pack, you don’t have to dispose of them after each time you change your pads only once a day if they are clean. They are soft, stretchy and have more structure than the traditional mesh hospital underwear they will put you in. Once you are done with the larger pads, make sure to have a pair of 100% cotton underwear that are stretchy or a size larger than you usually wear to wear with a pad.

FRIDA MOM — $14 (HSA/FSA Eligible)

Healing Foam / Spray

For perineal healing support, a foam or spray can be so good to have one hand. In the first week (or more!) you can use this after every time you use the bathroom. Many of these will be almost only witch hazel.

Most hopsital will provide TUKS pads and Dermoplast. I like the foam because it can disperse and have a cooling effect to soothe the perineum. If you would also like a spray to spray directly on your perineum (great for stitches), I recommend the Earth Mama herbal spray or Dermoplast. Ask your hospital what they provide for perineal healing postpartum.

FRIDA MOM FOAM — $12 (HSA/FSA Eligible)
EARTH MAMA SPRAY — $14

DERMOPLAST — $8

Peri Bottle

Postpartum you will want to use a peri bottle instead of wiping with toilet paper. This is not something that is required to buy since the hospital will give you a peri bottle (image 1). What makes the Frida Mom ones so popular is the position of the spout. They bring ease to the postpartum period.

I recommend adding warm water to the peri bottle before you sit on the toilet. Use the water as you urinate if you are experiencing any stinging from stitches.

FRIDA MOM — $12