If you went from a size 6 to a size 10 after having your baby, know that you're not alone. Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy and childbirth-and you won't look the same as you did before. As your body begins its miraculous healing, here are some products to help you feel more comfortable in your new body.
1. Nipple cream
Nursing can be a great bonding time between you and your baby, but your nipples can become very sore. Be prepared with some nipple cream for a better nursing experience for both you and your baby.
2. Stool softener
It doesn't matter if you had your baby vaginally or via C-section-you're gonna need this. Stool softener will make it easier to go to the bathroom, which will decrease your chance of getting hemorrhoids.
3. Tucks witch hazel pads
In case you do get hemorrhoids, this is a great product. This mom recommends not getting any until you actually get hemorrhoids so you don't waste money if you're lucky enough to escape them. But if you do happen to get them, or you're just really sore in general, this is a great product.
4. Tummy splint
Tummy splints are wraps, girdles or other articles that help pull your abdominal muscles back together after birth. The abdominal muscles sometimes separate after having a baby inside for so long, so this might be a good place to start healing. Check with your doctor before getting one of these. Once you've been cleared, here are some FAQs to help you decide if a tummy splint is right for you.
5. Kegel book
Your vaginal muscles have probably been weakened after going through childbirth. After your abs have healed a bit, you can start strengthening some of your pelvic muscles. This will help your uterus get back to its normal size and will keep your urinary system muscles strong. This is a basic guide to some kegel exercises, but there are some great books that go into more detail.
6. Sitz bath
Specialize your bath to get some relief. Here are some suggestions for how to use baths effectively to help your vaginal area heal.
7. Cocoa butter
You can use cocoa butter as a lotion for stretchmarks. There are many all-natural varieties, and it smells good too. This is the perfect product for helping stretchmarks fade as your skin heals.
8. Comfy slippers
As you've probably noticed, your feet can swell a lot during pregnancy. Get yourself some comfy slippers that will keep your feet happy as they fluctuate with the swelling and decompressing that happens for several weeks after birth.
9. Drawstring pants
Your belly has changed in size a lot over the last little while. And it will keep changing. Find some cute drawstring pants that will help you feel sassy and adjust with your body.
10. Nursing tanks
Here are some suggestions for kinds of nursing tanks you can get. This mom swears by them.
11. Sports bras
And get a million cheap ones, because they will get milk spilled on them all the time. They will get stretched out and barfed on. And that's totally okay. Get some comfy sports bras that you can fit some nursing pads into. Wearing a bra like this at night can help support your breasts and help you sleep a little more comfortably.
12. Massage therapist
There are massage therapists who specialize in postpartum work to help shrink your uterus back to normal size and help your abs get realigned. If you don't have one of these specialists in your area, a general massage would still feel great, espcially because your lower back will probably be sore.