After birth must haves for the "4th Trimester"

My top 10 must haves after the birth a new baby

Let's face it, it's unavoidable. You come home from the hospital with your beautiful and perfect baby, but you think "Oh man, I wish I had a ..." Well that's where this list comes in. Once you give birth you are going into a new unknown, what some moms refer to as "the fourth trimester." Being prepared can take away a little of that stress.

With my first child, the day after we came home I realized there were somethings I needed (LIKE A PUMP!). I had bought a few of them ahead of time, or received them as shower gifts. If you are pregnant, here’s what worked for us… if you aren’t, just skip everything but #1… because everyone can benefit from easy access tank tops. 

1.Target’s Nursing Tanks- Every new mom needs comfort! I have about 6-8 of these in different colors and live in them. You've got to love a shirt that can let the girls hang free! And Target carries the cheapest around in an array of different colors. Now you can whip them out whenever the mood strikes you… or your baby. Husband's get a kick out them too.

2. Target's Nursing Bras- Again just like their tanks... AMAZING! I recommend the 2 pack of sleeping nursing bras and their wirefree bras. They have a lot of different styles. I have noticed that they are some of the most comfortable bras around! I prefer them over my Motherhood Maternity bras. Just try to stay away from any underwire, you'll already feel like your girls are going to pop. Why bother risking it with underwire poking you (J/K, not really).

3. Bamboobies Washable Nursing Pads- Really, why buy disposables? I used many boxes of disposables with my first child. They fill up with milk, smell, and leak! It's pretty gross. These babies never smell, are leak proof, and come in regular or overnight (great for newborn nursing). I'd recommend the 12 multicolor pack and the 8 overnights. The regular style are shaped like hearts and come in pink, nude, and black; while the overnights are blue circles. You can wear them upsidedown, or upright, whatever works for you. They are made from bamboo. I can say as a bigger chested momma, upsidedown works better if I'm going to skip a feeding. Anyway, these are my NUMBER ONE must have! I recommend them to all my fellow mommas and have never heard a bad thing about them. Sidenote- I wash mine every 3-4 days.

4. StayFree Ultra-thin Overnight Pads with Wings- One word... Lochia. Yup, eww. If you haven't heard that term well let me inform you. After you give birth you bleed, A LOT! It can last for up to 6 weeks. You've got to be prepared since you can not use tampons after having a baby. Kind of makes you feel like an awkward preteen again. You have 2 options to go down your legs or down into some highly absorbant, ultra thin, extra long pad. I chose the later and since I was still ‘adjusting’ to non-pregnancy for weeks and weeks after I delivered, these prevented me from a highly embarrassing situation. Plus the thin profile allowed me to walk without looking like I had a watermelon between my thighs. I vote that hospitals should use these for their post-delivery leakage needs… they are a heck of a lot better than those throw pillows they hand out.

5. Playtex Personal Cleasning Cloths- As mentioned above, it gets pretty messy. These cloths are like little miracles, especially for a new mom who's needed an episiotomy. Helps you stay clean and fresh with a cool fresh wipe. These are a must for me during periods as well since sometimes toilet paper doesn't leave you feeling clean every time. These sure do though.

6. Lansinoh THERA°PEARL® 3-in-1 Breast Therapy- Oh my, this is just wonderful! Once your milk comes in, you can get sore. By sore I mean, you feel like your girls are rock hard and even a soft touch can have you crying in pain. These make for GREAT relief. You can warm them up in the microwave, place them on the side you are going to start a feeding on, and watch the letdown begin! The warming gel beads help your milk start flowing like no tomorrow. After you are ready to switch side you can reheat for 15 seconds or use on the other side. When the feeding is finished, the cold option is heaven! Helps with soreness and makes this momma happy. I love to use the covers around my PUMP when I'm pumping. I wrap a warm one around and it really helps with the letdown for pumping.

7. Medela Tender Care Lanolin- Those first few weeks or months can really take some getting used to for a first time breastfeeding momma. It is tough, especially on the girls. You get tugged on, pinched, improper latch, and sore/cracked nipples. It can be very painful, I didn't even want the bath towel to touch me, I was like "they can air dry!" This little bottle of cream works wonders. You just apply it after each feeding and tuck the girls back into your awesome Target bras with a Bamboobie on each side ;)

8. Playtex Embrace Double Electric Breastpump- I love this pump so much I still have it from my now 4 year old. Our playtex ventaire wide mouth bottles and nurser bottles screw right onto it. I like using it without liners and pumping straight into bags or bottles. You can double pump, do one side, or feed baby and pump the other side at the same time. Comes with a car charger and really cute bag that doesn't scream "Milking Machine" at all. 

9. The Boppy Pillow- I could live without this. From day one in the hospital, within an hour of being born I was already feeding both my kids on their boppy. Makes a great little napping perch for baby after they fall asleep and you tuck the girls away. When they are older you can use it to prop them up, or for tummy time. They come with a cover or two. I personally have 3 covers since you never know when it will be covered in milk you shot across the room or spit up.

10. Thirsties Cloth Diapers- There are different types but regardless of which you choose, I recommend the one size style. You get snaps that let you make the bigger or smaller depending on baby's size. They come in covers, pocket diapers, all-in-ones (AIOs), and fitted diapers. You can get Aplix (Velcro) or Snaps to close them on the top. We love this brand of cloth diapers and think every mom should try one. Mostly we use the duo wrap covers with prefolds, or the AIOs.