delivery

With so much pressure, hope and expectation in the run up to D-Day, and by that, we mean ‘Delivery Day’, it is quite common that the after birth process is completely forgotten! But you will still need some essentials for after the tough task of labour.
Even though not all of us will look like Kate Middleton less than 12 hours after labour, our guide with some of our after birth essentials will help you feel a lot more normal and relaxed!

Nipple cream

It is quite common to suffer a little bit with your nipples after birth – dryness, cracks AND soreness in general are all things come with breast feeding. But, you can get some fab nipple creams providing relief as well as comfort, causing no issue to your new little one. Speak to your health visitor or pharmacist for more information.
Breast pads are also essential, even if you are not breast feeding – trust me!

Pillows

After birth, you might find that you struggle to get comfortable – you will be tender and sore especially in the tummy area if you have a caesarean section. An abundance of pillows will help with being able to sit up as well as feed comfortably – ensuring that both mother and baby are as comfortable as can be.

Water

After labour, it is essential to stay hydrated. Not only will it help you to go to the toilet, which is always quite a daunting experience (again, trust me!), it will help flush out any toxins and lasting effects from pain relief as well as keeping you switched on mentally – which is always handy when looking after a newborn! Drinking plenty of water is also essential to replace fluids lost by breastfeeding, so invest in a drinks bottle to keep with you during your hospital stay and by your bedside once you are at home.

Netflix…

OK, so this isn’t needed RIGHT after delivery, but a subscription to something like Netflix is an essential in our eyes – when you are up literally all hours on night feeds, it might help knowing there is chance to catch another episode of the latest much watch TV series. Oh, and maybe stock up on a few of your favourite snacks, too! 😉