Let’s be real: When we think about our VBAC pregnancies, most of the focus is on getting to our due date and getting our VBAC and the birth where we are active participants and our choices are heard and respected.
The truth is that the postpartum period can be filled with just as many ups and downs as pregnancy and VBAC preparation. The best thing you can do to take care of your newborn baby is to take care of yourself. My team and I put together some of our favorites for after baby arrives.
I know there is so much pressure on us right after birth to get back to “normal” life: cook, interact with our other baby(s), clean, be on our feet, but the first few weeks after birth should be spent in bed. Think about the size of your placenta. It was attached on the inside of your uterus. You will have a giant wound recovering inside you. If that was on the outside of your body, no one would be expecting you to get up and do anything. Just like you had to advocate for your birth, you now have to advocate for your recovery (I know it’s not easy).
Continue taking your prenatal vitamins. Think about adding in Iron (your Dr. may suggest it). I personally like the Needed vitamins: Their Iron is my fave because they formulated it in a way to make it so you don’t get constipated. WIN WIN! They also have lactation and postpartum support options (use code VBAC20 for 20% off). I continued to use my prenatal for as long as I was breastfeeding. As a reminder, constipation is common during postpartum, especially after a belly birth, so be prepared however you prefer to handle that (even if you didn’t have it with your first, you may encounter it with your subsequent deliveries).
Nutrient-dense foods like bone broth, eggs, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, and whole grains make ideal postpartum food. Think about food ahead of time: some good options are 1) cook and freeze ahead of delivery (also a great way to keep your mind off due dates at the end of pregnancy); 2) set up a meal train; 3) add Doordash gift cards or any other delivery service gift cards to your baby registry; 4) get frozen food delivery service: I personally used DailyHarvest after my delivery a lot and still do as a filler in my week (frozen veggie-heavy meals which were great as I was breastfeeding). Other great services my clients and I personally have used and loved are: HomeChef and HelloFresh, 5) Make sure your kiddos’ meals are taken care of, so you have one less thing to worry about (I love and personally use NurtureLife for my kids whenever I know I won’t have time to think about their meals); 6) think about postpartum-specific meals to help with healing and milk production: I bought this cookbook called “The First Forty Days” and loved it. A bit pricey, but you can think about these postpartum meal deliveries. I have several clients who have done it and had such easier recovery: mama-meals, motherbees, and Nourish Birth Postpartum are some options.
Here is a list of PostPartum Essentials that my VBAC mama clients swear by (in no particular order):
01. Adult Diapers
These are the adult diapers that some clients find helpful for the first week of postpartum bleeding (I used them both during the last few weeks of pregnancy while exercising as well as early postpartum).
02. Belly support
I suggest having some sort of belly support (belly binding, a wrap, compression garment or anything to help your belly heal). Many of my clients swear by this postpartum corset.
03. Nipple Relief
I first heard about these from a client who tried everything and needed nipple tenderness relief. All my VBAC mamas love this product so much. Many clients bring this product with them to the hospital for early-day relief.
04. Scar Care
This Silicone Scar Tape is amazing. I personally used it. This is for your C-section scar – even after your VBAC delivery, you want to continue taking care of your scar. This tape actually works (17,000+ ratings on Amazon). Wear it for 12 hours during the day and put this gel at night.
05. Hydration
In the postpartum and breastfeeding season, hydration is essential to support your energy levels, tissue healing, hormone rebalancing, and maintain breast milk production. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends breastfeeding mamas consume 3.8 liters or 16 cups of water a day. This is my favorite water bottle, but any would work great.
06. Cold Pack
Probably the best cold pack I’ve ever used. The oversized dimensions make it versatile for use just about anywhere. Used it after my VBAC recovery and many clients swear by it.
07. Underwear
You won’t be able to wear regular underwear for a bit. I wore these and loved them (still wear them on my period days). Tip: Get them earlier than you think you’ll want them–I wore hospital/disposables for too long in hindsight because I was scared to try these and when I did, I was like “these are comfortable AND I don’t look like a Depends commercial!” Haha.
08. Natural deodorant
I switched deodorants during pregnancy and continued through the breastfeeding phase. HATCH Mama deodorant is made with all natural ingredients (my favorite!) and actually works. Whatever deodorant you choose, just make sure it’s made from clean ingredients.
09. PostPartum Eyebrow Rescue
In addition to my hair being blah after delivery, I started losing my brow fullness. This product has been a miracle. I have been religious about applying it daily and I am seriously noticing results! I feel like the post-partum eyebrow thinning has finally been properly combated.
10. Hair Problems
At 3 months PP on the dot, my hair started falling out with all 3 of my babies. I didn’t find this product until the 3rd PP period and wish I had known about it all along. This spray has helped my hair get back to its previous glory days.
11. Lip Mask
Last but not least: I learned about this product from another VBA2C mama. It was a bit too pricey for me, but I gave it a shot: it’s been almost 2 years and I still haven’t finished the jar. A little goes a long way. It’s incredibly effective and gives my lips hydration that they didn’t normally have previously.
Shop all postpartum essentials here.
I will leave you today with this affirmation and a reminder:
Nervous about your upcoming VBAC? We can help.
Our How to VBAC: The Ultimate Course for Parents is a comprehensive online course that will teach you everything you need to know to deliver your new baby with confidence.
10 VBAC Preparation Must-Haves