5 orderable (is that a word?) things that got me through postpartum
I had my first baby in May and she’ll be 7 months in just a few weeks. Though I have countless friends with kids, grew up babysitting, and worked in education (as a teacher and then school counselor) for years, I had NO idea how hard the postpartum experience would be. It rocked my world.
From the insanity of sleep deprivation to the rollercoaster that was hormone imbalance, I woke up everyday feeling like I was fighting for my life. Now, at 7 months, my baby is a completely different person from the super-dependent blob of cuddles and crying she was a few months ago. And thankfully, I feel so much more myself as well.
As I’ve been reflecting on the last half a year, though, I realized that if I can help even one new mom get through the time warp that is postpartum, it would be worth it. So, I have a few lifesaver items I want to share with you — whether you’re about to have a baby, are newly postpartum, or have a loved one who is either.
But before I even begin with the list below, it goes without saying — except I’m going to say it — that the REAL players who have helped me through this postpartum experience are my fiance, family, friends, and dog.
Since I can’t — and don’t want to :) — share them with you, I’ve come up with a short list of material things you can order online or grab at the store that have been my crutch over the past 6 months. And they continue to be, since the true postpartum experience can last years.
1.“Beautiful Chaos” by Jessica Urlichs
My wonderful friend Patry gifted me the book “Beautiful Chaos” right before my daughter was born. It’s a collection of poems about being a parent, ranging from pregnancy to birth to many years postpartum. There’s a poem for every mood and what I love about Urlichs is that her writing is real — not exaggerated or performative. If you’re not a physical book person, you can also follow her on Instagram. She posts many of her poems there. I’ll be reading and re-reading this for years to come!
2. Compression socks
Don’t knock compression socks. I wore them starting a month before I gave birth and for a month after. I have a pretty traumatic birth story which I’m not going to get into, but due to some complications and tons of meds, my legs and feet were balloons. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I could not bend my knees because of how swollen my limbs were. Another beautiful friend, Annika, sent me a pair of Bombas compression socks, which were a lifesaver. I also had a few pairs that were free through insurance, but the Bombas were comfy, cute (as cute as compression socks can be), and kept that blood flowing beautifully.
3. This singing dog toy
A month into my daughter’s life, a family friend gifted us this singing dog. I’m going to be honest here. I was so judgmental about this toy. It’s kind of creepy looking, its voice is high-pitched and annoying, and the battery doesn’t last very long. However, I have since eaten all my words — and judgements — because my baby is absolutely OBSESSED with this thing. It has saved my fiance and I so many times when she was on the verge of a breakdown or just needed something else to play with. It has three different settings, which translates to at least 12 different songs and phrases, so she can truly be entertained for 30 minutes or more. That’s a lot of time in the baby world. It also comes in a “boy” version, which is just a blue dog without eyelashes. 10/10 recommend.
4. The Happy Song by Imogen Heap
Ok, I’m cheating a bit here because this isn’t really something you can buy, unless you want to purchase Spotify premium. You can also listen for free on Youtube… but I digress. The Happy Song was number 1 on my Spotify Wrapped because we play it daily. The fun fact about it is that it is the first composition scientifically tested to make babies happy. AND IT DOES. Any time our daughter is sad, mad, or just plain fussy, the second we press play on this song, she smiles. Plus, I actually like it. It’s catchy and fun, and will forever be my not-so-secret weapon.
5. The spa (any spa)
The moment I was cleared by my doctor, I booked a massage. And it was glorious. I’ve gone three times now since I had my daughter, and am planning for once more before the new year. It’s so easy to forget about yourself once you have a child, and I was determined — and still am — not to do that. Any self care service is worth the time and money, because you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you happen to be in the Philly area, I go to Eden Organics Salon and Spa, and they are the best.
