POSTPARTUM MUST HAVES - THE FOURTH TRIMESTER
This post is probably not relevant for most people but might be a good one to share with anyone in, or approaching, their 4th trimester. Focusing on the recovery of a mother who’s just given birth in this post, this initial postpartum period of 12 weeks is a time of great physical and emotional change - and this on top of all the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy!
I'm often asked what I reached for post Mahi and more recently post Dash, and I’ve been sharing my recommendations with friends, friends of friends and also via Instagram, so thought it’s time to give it space on the blog. This list of recommendations is by no means exhaustive but can help when you’re postpartum exhausted!
If you caught my ‘Products which saw me through pregnancy’ post, I continued to use most of these from pregnancy into postpartum; the pregnancy pillow, the maternity leggings and bras etc. Here I’m sharing additional things I reached for in my postpartum journey.
FOR HELPING YOUR BODY RECOVER
Herbal body oils and tonics
I regularly oiled my body during pregnancy and continued (still doing so now) to after the babies were here. When it comes to the nourishing body oils, Earthen Living does an Ayurvedic postpartum kit called ‘Janani - caring for the newborn mother’ with four holistic remedies. These include, Strengthen, a polyherbal postnatal tonic that helps to enhance strength and immunity while also giving you a gentle energy to sustain the day. The primary ingredient is “Dashamoola” i.e. ten roots which combines with over fifty other herbs and spices to help improve digestion and metabolism to create better balance and support lactation. Restore is a herbal jam or a “lehyam” in Ayurveda, that is used to strengthen the uterus post-delivery. Relax is a massage oil for both mom and baby made with over thirty herbs in a base of sesame oil which helps energise while also removing fatigue from the muscles and improving circulation. The oil is also a natural decongestant for the body and when gently massaged on the chest it helps to keep common colds and coughs at bay for both the mom and baby. The Protect herbal pills build immunity and work like magic to keep colds, coughs and flus at bay.
Belly wrap
While I still use my Haramaki (Japanese fabric belly band) every day, and did so while pregnant (in fact I’ve had it for years and years way before pregnancy as I love it in the winter months), I also used a specially designed body wrap. Belly binding is something traditional to many cultures postpartum to help support the body and keep the area warm. From an Ayurvedic perspective it helps to realign your pelvis and hips, push the uterus back in place and encourages good posture in the early weeks of motherhood. While you can use a long scarf, length of cotton or rebozo to wrap what I found super useful (and I had all of the above) was a corset style wrap that secured via velcro. I wore this over my haramaki or a cotton top to avoid the synthetic fabrics sitting on my skin but I loved how secure this made me feel and how easy it was to whip off when I needed a wee.
Peri bottle
I mentioned a Sitz bath in my pregnancy blog post - well let me tell you about the find of my second postpartum period… a portable bidet or peri bottle. The Frida Baby piles bidet bottle, a simple but super ergonomic bit of kit, came as part of a postpartum pack and it was the thing that I used the most. For cleaning everything down below - vagina, incisions and piles - it’s heaven sent; add warm water and it’s very soothing. And as they say in many places around the world, a much more hygienic way to clean post poo than simply using toilet paper.
Good food
Good nutrition is not only essential during pregnancy but postpartum too - especially if you’re breastfeeding of course, but don’t forget the healing that your body needs to do while juggling all the emotions of a new baby, the rest of your family and those sleepless nights. Nutrient-dense and easy to digest is the name of the game. I’m working on something as I work through my postpartum and hope to share in the near future but for now think soups, stews and ladoos (ha ha it rhymes!) - here are a few recipes for all of the above to inspire you or send to friends and family who have offered to help. My friend who lives up the road dropped off soups, broths and a little extra of whatever she was cooking a couple of times which were so appreciated. You can also book meal delivery specially designed to help you through this intense period - see several recommendations made to me below. Use a flask to sip hot tea and hot water throughout the day, avoiding cold and fizzy drinks. A Golden Milk before bed is always a good idea too!
IF YOU’RE BREASTFEEDING (even if you’re not, see the very last recommendation!)
These little silver nipple shields (solid silver, to ensure nickel free) were just the best thing for sore nipples. I only needed to use them for my first baby but they proved so essential at the time that they were the first thing I went looking for when I came close to delivery of baby number two. It turned out I didn’t get sore nipples this time around as I didn’t actually stop breastfeeding the first baby but I’m still holding on to them just in case, and until my breastfeeding journey comes to an end, and then will be sure to pass on to someone. They work thanks to silver’s natural anti microbial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial benefits which together encourage a healing environment while also preventing them from drying out and cracking. While nipple creams are helpful I just found using these caps way more convenient, and since I breastfed on demand it was annoying having to wipe off excess cream if baby suddenly wanted to feed. You can of course use both together for even more nipple soothing and protection!
Manual Breast Pump
While I only used this suction pump a few times for my first postpartum (and needed it badly in my second but couldn’t find it!) this Haakaa Silicone breast pump came highly recommended to me and proved a God send. No wires, batteries, easy to clean and affordable, the simple design lets you express milk using the power of natural suction and fits all size breasts. Simply squeeze, attach to your breast and let it work its magic. During the first few days when my breast were engorged between feeds this helped to relieve the pressure
Supplements
I used Wild Nutrition pregnancy supplements during pregnancy and they also do a breastfeeding supplement too, food grown nutrients as opposed to synthetic versions makes this a go-to for me.
Lactation Tea
Lastly, Dr Seema Datta’s lactation tea consists of herbs and spices like dill seeds, ajwain seeds, fennel and vaividang to name a few. Just purchase the spices from the internet and mix them together in the right ratios - DM (direct message) Dr Seema Datta, my Ayurvedic doula using the handle @keyajee_ on Instagram for the recipe. I made up a big two litre jar as my due date approached with an instruction label so that my mum and Nick could boil up the mixture for a strong infusion and make me up a flask every morning and night in those early days to make sure I was hydrated and consuming plenty of galactagogues (a food that's thought to boost your production of breast milk). Breast milk is the byproduct of good digestion, so even if you are not breastfeeding you can drink this tea as an Agni builder, which is naturally low after such a change in the body, to aid digestion and metabolism.