Alexandra’s Postpartum Essentials
Introducing Alexandra Gómez, a long-time muse of mine. When we began discussing her perspective on postpartum essentials, we both recognized the diverse and unique needs of every birthing person. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' list. One thing is for certain, though: the loud societal messages that a mother must “bounce-back”, rather than taking the space for a sacred time-out after the baby arrives.
Heng Ou, author of The First Forty Days writes, “I’ve had a front row view of what is sorely lacking in our contemporary culture––a dedicated space and time that allows a woman to “become” a mother at her own pace. It’s hard to reconcile the unique needs of postpartum with the demands of our fast-paced, highly productive society - how can we slow down and do less in a world that’s continually asking us to do more? All too often, women experience a stressful clash of the two.“
This list isn’t meant to be prescriptive, but instead an invitation to gently consider what a supportive postpartum environment looks like for you.
What serves you postpartum can easily shift and bend depending on the nature of your birth.
Luca slipped into our world almost eight months ago now. I could write pages and pages about my pregnancy, our birth, and the intuition that guided it all. We are wildly grateful that his birth was smooth and resembled the ‘birth preferences’ we had envisioned. He was born in the water, I was entirely unmedicated. No one told me when or how to push. It was surreal. I was fortunate to have had a vaginal birth with no tearing and a healthy baby who latched without issue.
What serves you postpartum can easily shift and bend depending on the nature of your birth, your baby, and perhaps above all else, the way you take and give care best. This is a non-exhaustive list of products, practices, and resources that worked for us and our lifestyle (low-tox living, exclusively breastfeeding, time off from work to be at home together).
Some top essentials that supported us in those first few months are shared below. Some for my personal recovery, some for Luca, and some for us as a family.
A few supportive essentials for my personal recovery, some for Luca, and some for us as a family.
A Meal Train - Our friends set one up through Meal Train and delivered us dinners for the first few weeks. Cooking is one of the hardest things to make space forwhile in the initial postpartum haze. We were (and still are) so grateful for this one. Preparing and freezing some bulk meals + broth ahead of time also helped!
Milk Moon Postpartum Restorative Tonic - I drank this daily along with Fenugreek Tea to help with milk production + hormonal rebalancing. It ended up being a lovely ritual to support the early days.
A good water bottle - love this Mama Bottle which helps you to drink the amount of recommended water during pregnancy and postpartum.
Monthly Body Work / Self Care - I also did this throughout pregnancy. It’s so easy to put your personal well being on pause while all your attention goes to your little one - naturally! - but I know that these little moments really aided my mood, physical healing, and mental clarity. My partner and I both look forward to our monthly acupuncture visits to this day.
Epsom Salt Baths - I took a bath or two per day almost immediately after birth to both help soothe my perineum and heal the hemorrhoids I had developed during pregnancy and labor. Just make sure to opt for a fragrance-free epsom salt!
Loungewear + Really Good Sheets. :) I loved having basic organic cotton and linen robes, shorts, and shirts to wear that were easy to nurse in. Also! Big 100% organic cotton undies.
Artipoppe Baby Carrier - Our little one didn’t enjoy the stroller for a long while, so most walks were with the carrier. It was also incredibly helpful to wear him to get some house chores done. He would usually fall asleep in it (and still does to this day!), so it’s a win-win.
Gathre Mat - diaper changes on the go, on the bed, travel, etc! We keep one in our diaper bag at all times. Easy to clean, easy to fold up.
Baby Bjorn Bouncer - We’ve loved this as an option for setting baby down while we eat, if you’re solo and need to go the bathroom (!!), and more. Aesthetically, it’s fine, but functionally, it’s great. A lot of the other ‘loungers’ don’t move or require more effort to rock. This one is a tap of the foot - super easy!
The basics that became favorites.
Diapers + Wipes - We’ve been loving Freestyle! They’re free of toxic chemicals, fragrances, phthalates, and allergens.
Shampoo + Conditioner - Under Luna Clear Shampoo + Conditioner. 100% non-toxic, no essential oils, entirely plant-based. Great for cradle cap, too!
PJs - Shop Noble! We love the waffle onesies!
Breast Pump - I really hate pumping, to be honest. I fortunately only have to do it a few times a week when I’m at the office. I’ve tried the ones that plug into the wall, and I just don’t like it. Elvie is the only (portable!) pump I’ve actually felt able to integrate into my life. Definitely an investment, but depending on your lifestyle, might be worth it!
Baby Balm - Our midwife told us to use olive oil as a “diaper balm” for those first few days of meconium to help it lift off the bum easier! After that, we occasionally use Pipette baby balm for irritated skin, but more often than not, baby’s skin knows how to heal itself and doesn't require anything extra!
Supportive Resources during Pregnancy.
Spinning Babies - I used some of these exercises to help flip Luca when he was breech.
Written by Alexandra Gomez. Photography by Marissa Boone.