Postpartum recovery is challenging and deserves attention. Taking care of your body after birth is incredibly important. Below are seven essential items every new mom should include in her postpartum survival kit.
One of my closest friends just welcomed her second baby yesterday, and I couldn’t be happier. This little girl is absolutely adorable. While celebrating a healthy birth, it’s easy to forget how much a delivery—whether vaginal or cesarean—affects a mother’s body. Thinking about useful postpartum gifts led me to assemble a list of practical items that truly help during recovery.
The first days and weeks after birth should include as much gentle self-care as possible, even while you care for your newborn. Your body has been through a major event, and supportive supplies can make recovery more manageable.
After four births of my own, I’ve found a handful of items that consistently ease discomfort and speed healing. Below are my top seven postpartum must-haves, followed by simple DIY options and practical tips.
My top 7 must-have postpartum items are…
1. Postpartum Sitz Bath Tea
2. DIY Soothing and Healing Spray
3. Padsicles
4. Ultra Thin Overnight Pads
5. Cranberry Juice and Sparkling Water (with coconut water for electrolytes)
6. Lactation Cookies
7. Giant Water Bottle
A quick note
Most of these items are helpful for cesarean recovery as well as vaginal births. I had two C-sections early on and found many of the same comforts useful regardless of delivery method.
Heads up: some of the following details are intimate, but they’re practical and things I wish I’d known before my births.
1. Postpartum Sitz Bath Tea (for soaking, not drinking)
Even after a cesarean, many women experience soreness “down there” along with heavy, period-like bleeding. A sitz bath with soothing herbs can reduce discomfort and support healing.
You can buy a prepared sitz bath blend or make your own. A gentle homemade blend often includes calendula, chamomile, yarrow, and Epsom or sea salt, with a few drops of calming essential oils such as lavender and clary sage.
Homemade sitz bath ingredients
- 2 cups calendula
- 1 cup chamomile
- 1 cup yarrow
- 1 cup Epsom or sea salt
- About 20 drops lavender essential oil
- About 10 drops clary sage essential oil
How to prepare
- Mix the dried herbs and salt in a large bowl, add the essential oils to the salt, then combine thoroughly.
- Store the blend in a sealed jar. To make a concentrate, steep 1/4 cup of the blend in 2 quarts of boiling water for five minutes, strain, and store the liquid.
How to take a sitz bath
Fill the tub with about two inches of warm water, add one cup of the tea concentrate, and soak for 15–30 minutes. Some women prefer cooler water; listen to your body. Keep your upper body covered with a towel or shirt during this shallow soak, and have towels ready to gently pat dry afterward.
A diluted mix of the tea concentrate and warm water also works well in a peri bottle for extra comfort when using the bathroom. If you don’t already have a peri bottle, ask someone to pick one up for you.
2. Padsicles
Padsicles are a simple, soothing remedy: prep large pads with healing liquids, freeze them, and use them cold for immediate relief. They were incredibly comforting after my vaginal birth.
What you need
- Large or overnight pads
- Aloe vera gel
- Alcohol-free witch hazel
- Clary sage essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
How to make padsicles
- Open a pad but leave the wrapper attached at the bottom.
- Moisten the pad with alcohol-free witch hazel (wet but not dripping).
- Add 3 drops clary sage and 3–6 drops lavender essential oil, and optionally spread a tablespoon of aloe vera gel on top.
- Fold and freeze for use as needed.
Tip: you can also soak pads in the sitz bath concentrate before freezing.
3. Soothing and healing spray
A gentle perineal spray helps soothe irritation, reduce discomfort, and support healing, especially if you have any tearing or stitches. You can purchase a ready-made spray or mix one at home.
Simple spray ingredients
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 3 tbsp aloe vera gel
- 1/2 cup alcohol-free witch hazel
- 6 drops lavender essential oil
- 6 drops clary sage essential oil
How to make and use
- Combine all ingredients in a pourable container, then transfer to a spray bottle.
- Spray as needed, such as after rinsing with a peri bottle or any time you need extra soothing relief.
4. Ultra-thin overnight pads
Choose ultra-thin overnight pads rather than bulky, diaper-like options. The thin pads available today are surprisingly absorbent and far more comfortable than the outdated bulky varieties. They make moving around and sitting much less awkward while still protecting against heavy postpartum bleeding.
5. Cranberry juice + sparkling water (+ coconut water)
A simple, refreshing drink—cranberry juice mixed with sparkling lemon-lime water and a splash of coconut water—became my go-to after surgery in the hospital. It feels hydrating and pleasant, and coconut water adds electrolytes. Sweeten lightly to taste if needed.
How to make it
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour 1/3 cranberry juice (no added sugar if possible).
- Add 1/3 sparkling lemon-lime water.
- Top with coconut water for electrolytes and add a touch of honey or natural sweetener if desired.
6. Lactation cookies
Breastfeeding greatly increases appetite, and nutrient-dense lactation cookies were lifesavers for me. I made batches before each birth and froze them so a quick, satisfying snack was always on hand.
Helpful ingredients
- Flaxseed
- Brewer’s yeast
- Nut butter or nut flour
- Oats (soaked 8–24 hours if possible)
These ingredients support milk production and provide lasting energy and nutrition during recovery. Even if you don’t plan to breastfeed, the nutritional benefits make these cookies a worthwhile postpartum snack.
7. Giant water bottle
A large water bottle is an essential postpartum item. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially when breastfeeding. I kept a big bottle with me everywhere—on the couch, in the nursery, even in the bathroom. Fill it with water, the cranberry-sparkling mix, or a hydrating drink so you don’t have to keep refilling frequently.
What about you? If you’ve given birth, which postpartum items were most helpful? Is there anything you’d add to this list?