Postpartum Recovery Essentials: What You Actually Need After Giving Birth

Before I had my first baby, I spent so much time thinking about what the baby would need. The bottles, diapers, stroller, bassinet, clothes, and everything else on the registry took up most of my attention. I spent a lot less time thinking about what I would need once I came home from the hospital.

After having two babies and two unexpected C-sections, my biggest takeaway is that you really don't need an enormous collection of postpartum recovery products. There are a few things I would absolutely have waiting at home, but some of the most helpful things during those first few weeks weren't products at all. They were food I didn't have to cook, someone doing my dishes, a husband who could take a feeding, and resources I could turn to when I had absolutely no idea whether something my newborn was doing was normal.

Both of my deliveries were C-sections, so that's the recovery experience I can personally speak to. Some postpartum experiences, like bleeding, night sweats, hormonal changes, feeding, and exhaustion, happen regardless of how you deliver. There are other recovery products specifically designed for vaginal deliveries that I didn't personally need or use.

Here is what I actually found helpful after giving birth, what I would have ready at home, and what I wouldn't rush to buy.

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Postpartum Recovery Products I Would Have Ready at Home

Disposable Postpartum Underwear

If I had to choose one physical postpartum recovery product I couldn't live without, it would be disposable underwear. A friend recommended the Always disposable underwear to me, and I became obsessed. I found them so much more comfortable than dealing with a giant pad inside underwear or continuing to wear the mesh underwear from the hospital. I actually still use them now when I have a particularly heavy period.

You're going to experience postpartum bleeding whether you have a vaginal delivery or a C-section, so this is something I would have waiting for you at home before you give birth. You don't necessarily need to bring them to the hospital because the hospital will give you mesh underwear and pads, but I loved switching to disposable underwear once I got home.

Comfortable, High-Waisted Underwear

Because I had C-sections, I also wanted underwear that came well above my incision. The last thing I wanted was a waistband rubbing directly against a healing scar.

I would buy a few pairs of comfortable, high-waisted underwear before delivery. Even if you're planning a vaginal birth, plans can change. Both of my C-sections were unexpected, and I hadn't planned on having one either time.

Comfortable Pajamas, Nightgowns and Easy-Access Tops

This is not the time for complicated clothing. I lived in comfortable pajamas, dresses, and nightgowns, and I especially liked button-down tops.

If you're breastfeeding, anything that makes feeding easier is helpful. Even if you're not breastfeeding, loose, washable clothing is what you're going to want while you're recovering at home.

And here's something nobody warned me about: postpartum night sweats are real. Your hormones are changing dramatically after delivery, and I would wake up absolutely drenched. I wanted clothes I could easily throw into the wash and change out of without thinking twice about it.

What Do You Need for the Bathroom After Giving Birth?

The hospital sent me home with essentially everything I could have needed, and my philosophy was to take it. Pads, mesh underwear, a peri bottle, and other recovery supplies were all provided to me.

Because I had C-sections, I didn't personally need things like a sitz bath or perineal ice packs, so I can't tell you from experience whether they're worth buying. I also never ended up needing the upgraded peri bottle I had, although I can see why the angled design of something like the Frida Mom peri bottle could be easier to use.

This is one reason I wouldn't necessarily buy every postpartum product you see before giving birth. Your hospital may provide a lot of it, and you may not know exactly what type of recovery you'll need until after your delivery.

Don't Forget About Postpartum Constipation

This is one of those postpartum topics nobody really wants to talk about until they're experiencing it. Constipation after delivery is very real, and after a C-section, the idea of straining is particularly unpleasant.

I used Colace and also had MiraLAX and milk of magnesia available in case I needed additional help. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's appropriate for you, particularly if you're taking prescription pain medication or have had a C-section.

It's not the most glamorous item on a postpartum essentials list, but it's one I would absolutely discuss with your care team before you leave the hospital.

Pain Relief and C-Section Recovery

After both of my C-sections, I continued taking the pain medication prescribed by my care team as needed and transitioned fairly quickly to options like Tylenol and ibuprofen based on their instructions.

One thing I learned after my first C-section was that managing your pain matters because you need to be able to move. That doesn't mean pushing yourself or trying to prove that you're recovered. It means being comfortable enough to slowly get up, walk around, and take care of yourself while giving your body the time it needs to heal.

I also wore compression socks after my C-sections. Later in my recovery, once my incision had healed and I was cleared to use scar products, I used both an adhesive scar treatment and scar cream.

I'll go much deeper into what helped me after two C-sections in my C-section recovery guide because there are definitely things I wish I had known the first time around.

Have Feeding Supplies Ready, Even If You Have a Plan

One of the biggest lessons motherhood has taught me is that your feeding plan can change.

With my first baby, I planned to breastfeed. My milk wasn't coming in quickly, though, and my baby was constantly crying. I was incredibly grateful that my doula had suggested I have bottles and my preferred formula available because it gave me another option when I needed one.

If you're planning to breastfeed, I would have the basics ready: a nursing pillow, nipple balm, cooling gels, and whatever nursing bras or clothing will make you comfortable. I also personally think there's value in having a few bottles at home regardless of your feeding plan.

You don't need to prepare for every possible scenario, but having a backup can make an already emotional moment feel a lot less overwhelming.

The Postpartum Essentials You Can't Add to Your Registry

Some of the things that helped me most postpartum couldn't be ordered from Amazon.

After giving birth, one of the best gifts someone could give me was simply making my life easier. My mom and sister would come over and do the dishes, pick things up around the house, or help with laundry. Sometimes they would sit with the baby so I could shower, but honestly, I often needed help with my house more than I needed someone to hold my baby.

If you're visiting a new mom, bring food. Empty the dishwasher. Fold some laundry. Take her toddler somewhere. Refill her water. Take things off her plate instead of adding another thing for her to manage.

Stock Your Freezer and Accept the Meal Delivery

Not having to think about food was huge for me. DoorDash gift cards, freezer meals, and meal delivery services are some of the best postpartum gifts because figuring out what to make for dinner can feel like an impossible task when you're exhausted and caring for a newborn.

One of my friends sent me healthy prepared meals, and I loved having something nutritious available that required essentially no thought from me. If you're preparing for your own postpartum period, make some freezer meals ahead of time if that's realistic for you. If someone asks what they can send after the baby arrives, don't feel bad asking for a meal delivery or food gift card.

The goal during those first weeks isn't to do everything yourself. It's to remove as many unnecessary decisions as you can.

Find a Newborn Resource You Trust

One of my absolute favorite resources after having a baby is Moms on Call. I used it constantly with my first baby, and even when I had my second, I found myself going back to it because you forget so much.

Is this poop color normal? How much should my baby be eating? What should our day look like? When should the baby sleep? It felt like every question I had was addressed somewhere.

You don't necessarily need to use Moms on Call specifically, but I think having one or two trusted resources is much more helpful than Googling every single thing your baby does at 3 a.m. Find something you trust before the baby arrives so you know where to turn when you're tired and second-guessing everything.

Lactation Consultants, Postpartum Doulas and Night Nurses

If you're breastfeeding and need support, a lactation consultant can be an incredible resource. I saw one in the hospital, although I ultimately transitioned to formula feeding.

My postpartum doula was also incredibly helpful as I navigated feeding decisions and some of the guilt I felt around switching to formula. Sometimes what you need postpartum isn't another product. You need someone knowledgeable who can listen, answer your questions, and help you figure out what works for your family.

I was also incredibly fortunate that my work provided access to a night nurse. If it's something you can afford or have family who wants to contribute toward postpartum support, having overnight help can be a game changer. Sleep affects everything, and getting even a little more of it made a huge difference for us.

You and Your Partner Do Not Both Need to Wake Up Every Time

With our first baby, my husband and I both woke up for practically every overnight feeding. I was nervous and wanted his support, so at the time it felt like we both needed to be awake.

We quickly learned that having two completely exhausted parents wasn't particularly helpful.

By our second baby, we were much more strategic. Because we formula fed, my husband could fully take feedings without needing me to be awake. He's naturally more of a night person, so he would handle feedings until around midnight. I would take the middle-of-the-night feeding, and then he could take the first morning feed and help with our toddler.

Instead of both of us getting tiny fragments of sleep all night, we tried to give each other longer stretches whenever possible. How you divide things will depend on how you're feeding and what works for your family, but protecting each other's sleep is something I wish we'd figured out sooner.

Your Emotional Recovery Matters Too

Postpartum recovery isn't just physical. Your hormones are all over the place, you're sleep deprived, and your entire life has changed overnight.

You might cry for seemingly no reason. You might feel overwhelmed. You might snap at your partner. You may immediately feel bonded to your baby, or that bond may take time. You don't really know how you're going to feel until you're in it.

I think it's incredibly important for partners to actually ask, "Are you okay?" Not just whether the baby is okay or whether you need anything from the store, but whether you are okay.

There are also resources that can help normalize some of the emotional changes that come with becoming a parent. Friends recommended Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts and How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids, and I think even knowing these conversations exist can make some of the harder postpartum feelings feel less isolating.

And if something feels bigger than normal postpartum ups and downs, tell someone. Your OB, primary care provider, or another healthcare professional can help you figure out what support you need.

Do You Need a Postpartum Recovery Kit?

I don't think everyone needs to buy a giant postpartum recovery kit before giving birth.

If buying something like the Frida Mom kit makes you feel more prepared, absolutely do it. But I wouldn't feel like you need every postpartum product you see on social media. The hospital will likely provide many basic recovery supplies, and what you actually need will depend on your delivery and your individual recovery.

If I were preparing again, I would focus on disposable underwear, comfortable clothing, feeding basics, any medications recommended by my care team, easy food, and a plan for getting help. Everything else can be purchased later if you discover you need it.

My Postpartum Recovery Essentials Checklist

If you're trying to keep your postpartum shopping list simple, these are the postpartum recovery essentials I would prioritize after having two babies:

• Always disposable postpartum underwear

• Comfortable high-waisted underwear

• Loose pajamas, nightgowns, and button-down tops

• Stool softener or other constipation support recommended by your healthcare provider

• Any medications recommended or prescribed by your care team

• Feeding supplies for however you plan to feed your baby

• A few bottles as a backup

• Nursing pillow, nipple balm, and cooling gels if breastfeeding

• Freezer meals, prepared meals, or food delivery gift cards

• One trusted newborn resource, like Moms on Call

• A realistic plan for sharing overnight responsibilities

• People who will actually help you recover

If you have a C-section, there may be additional things that make recovery more comfortable. I'll cover those separately in my C-section recovery guide rather than pretending everyone needs the exact same postpartum products.

The One Thing I Would Tell a First-Time Mom About Postpartum Recovery

Take it easy on yourself. There is no prize for "bouncing back" the fastest, and your body just grew and delivered a human. Your hormones are changing, you're learning how to care for a newborn, you're functioning on less sleep, and your entire life has changed.

Take it day by day, and sometimes take it hour by hour. Let people help you, lower your expectations for what needs to get done, and remember that recovery isn't something you need to rush through. The laundry can wait, and you don't have to have everything figured out. You just had a baby.

This article is based on my personal experience and is not medical advice. Always talk with your healthcare provider about postpartum recovery, medications, symptoms, or concerns.