Pregnancy Life

The Best Ways to Fight Morning Sickness & Feel Better!

Inside: Struggling with extreme nausea during pregnancy? Find out 11 easy morning sickness remedies to help you feel like yourself again!

I took another heaping spoonful of my husband’s delicious homemade beef stew and immediately froze. My stomach started to turn and I felt something rising…

I sprinted to the bathroom trying not to breathe.

It took me exactly 10 days after my positive pregnancy test to be welcomed by the dreaded reality of ~~morning sickness~~—more like ALL DAY sickness.

Not fun!

After that day, I struggled with extreme morning sickness and was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum for over 15 weeks.

It’s so hard to be happy about your pregnancy when you can’t even breathe without feeling nauseous. Trust me, I know…

But here’s the good news—you don’t have to just suffer through morning sickness!

After experiencing extreme morning sickness for most of my pregnancy, I learned the best tips and tricks to help you manage & prevent nausea, keep food down, and stay hydrated.

Here are my 11 easy morning sickness remedies that literally SAVED. MY. LIFE.

The Best Easy Morning Sickness Remedies to Fight Extreme Nausea

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1. Avoid Smelly Smells

There’s nothing worse than taking a whiff of your favorite food only for it to send you straight to the toilet.

I absolutely LOVE bacon…but when my husband surprised me with breakfast in bed, all I could do was sprint to the bathroom—just from the smell alone!

The first easy morning sickness remedy is to avoid strong smells. Every pregnancy is different so what makes me sick may be the very thing that makes you feel better!

The only way to know what smells make you sick, is, unfortunately, to experience the smell first.

Once you know what smells make you sick, then you can avoid them at all costs.

To avoid strong smells:

Keep your windows open
Remove yourself from where the smell is and close the door (Stuff a towel under the door too!)
Replace the bad smell with a good one (like a candle or essential oil)

3. Wear loose clothing

A tight band can literally take your breath away. Anything that is restricting around your abdomen and chest can enhance nausea. I learned this the hard way!

I was finally 12 weeks and wanted to take a cute bump picture so I threw on my favorite leggings—bad idea.

Turns out the leggings acted more like Spanx and nausea hit me like a tsunami. Just because my leggings were tight!

The same goes for bras too. If you find yourself more nauseous than not, make sure to invest in a maternity bra that fits you well and is comfortable!

I purchased this one from Amazon and it’s super comfy and affordable!

4. Eat every hour

I know this morning sickness remedy is super popular- but it’s popular for a reason!

I leaned the very hard way that waiting too long in between meal times can really aggravate nausea.

You don’t have to eat huge meals either. It’s actually better to eat smaller meals and snacks throughout the day to keep your stomach from feeling empty.

During my first 13 weeks of morning sickness, I ate every single hour- even if it was 2 crackers.

The sensation of having something in my system kept me from feeling like I had to hurl every other minute!

5. Take small sips of cold water

This morning sickness remedy was a complete game changer! I heard from many moms who experienced hyperemesis gravidarum tell me not to drink cold water…or really anything cold. So, I always stayed away from anything that was chilled.

But one night I woke up in a hot sweat from my nausea and I decided to take a sip of cold water…and it was like a miracle.

Not only was I instantly cooled down but my nausea actually subsided!

Ever since that night, every hour when I eat my small snack I always try to drink a couple of sips of cold water.

I found that I was not only able to keep it down, but it also felt reeaaalllyyyy good.

6. Travel just after you eat

One of the worst feelings is the combination of morning sickness AND car sickness!

This morning sickness remedy is one that I swore by because it helped me combat feeling nauseous in the car.

Instead of driving to the store when I felt my worse “just to get it over with”, I started driving only after I had eaten something and my stomach felt settled.

Any bump or quick turn would also bring on a sudden bought of nausea so it was important that I ate but was not stuffed.

Before traveling by car (or public transportation), make sure to eat a small meal and be sure to carry snacks with you!

7. Don’t lay flat after eating

Nausea is a fickle thing!

Sometimes you feel better when you’re laying down resting, and sometimes you feel better when you sit up- that’s why it’s so important to listen to your body.

But one of the greatest morning sickness and nausea remedies is to be sure to NOT lay down flat after eating.

It’s easy to want to rest all the time (which is basically what I wanted to do for 14 weeks!), but after you have your hourly snack/small meal, be sure to sit up or only slightly lay back for about 15 minutes afterward.

8. B6 & Unisom

This remedy reaalllyyy helped me but always be sure to check with your doctor and OBGYN before taking any medications or supplements.

During my first pregnancy, I also experienced extreme morning sickness and my doctor told me to take over the counter Unisom tablets every night with a B6 vitamin in the morning and evening.

I did the same with this pregnancy and it seemed to take the edge off!

Of course, nothing will FULLY eliminate morning sickness, but it always helps when you can keep it at a faint hum so it doesn’t turn into a roaring thunder.

Talk to your doctor to see if this is something you can do. It’s proven to be completely safe and unharmful to you or your growing baby (so that’s all that matters!)

Check out these related posts!

9. Sea bands

Coupled with B6 and Unisom, I ALWAYS wore sea bands.

Sea Bands are these elastic bands that go around your wrist that have a plastic ball on them which applies pressure to a certain place on your wrist to eliminate nausea.

I first heard of them when I went on a cruise for my honeymoon.

But apparently, they work for pregnancy too!

It’s completely harmless and non-invasive so this morning sickness remedy is an easy one.

I wore them for all 3 pregnancies and on the nights that I didn’t wear them, I always woke up feeling worse.

You can find Sea Bands here

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10. Magnesium spray

I found out about this morning sickness remedy from my mother-in-law and it turned out to be a little golden nugget of wisdom.

Magnesium is a really great way to manage and prevent nausea but a pregnant mom doesn’t really need *another thing she needs to take*. Between trying to keep down prenatal vitamins and necessary food, you don’t really want to take another supplement.

That’s why this spray is awesome!

This magnesium spray gives you all the benefits of your body receiving magnesium, without having to consume it. Whenever you’re feeling particularly lousy and nauseous, or even right after you have thrown up, spray some of this magnesium spray on your legs, arms, and torso.

It not only soothes your nausea but also helps aches and pains.

The smell is really comforting too!

It does feel a little “salt watery”- like the ocean- but it didn’t bother me much because it was actually helping me.

Pink Stork makes the best all-natural prenatal products that I absolutely love!

11. Lemons & Eucalyptus

Another really soothing morning sickness remedy is the smell of lemons and eucalyptus. Whether you cut up some lemons and leave them at your bedside or purchase some eucalyptus essential oils, the aroma really calmed, relaxed and soothed me. And when I felt relaxed, my nausea didn’t feel as bad.

That’s why it’s so important to make the immediate space around you as calm and relaxing as possible. You don’t want smells and items around you that will aggravate your morning sickness.

These smells are also proven to reduce nausea so it’s a win-win!

12. Step outside

When all else fails, sometimes fresh air is the answer.

I had absolutely ZERO energy the first 18 weeks of my pregnancy. I would see other moms bounce right back into their normal life at 13 weeks and I was SO jealous because I felt like I just wanted to crawl under a rock and die.

BUT even though I didn’t have the energy to exercise or even walk far, sometimes just sitting outside on a bench was all I needed. The fresh air was relaxing and I always seemed to feel better for those couple of minutes.

If you are feeling up to it, go for a 5-10 minute walk just to get your body moving. Sometimes out muscles tend to cramp up just because we aren’t feeling well and aren’t using them.

Going for a slow walk, even for a couple of minutes, can really be just the thing you need!

The most important morning sickness remedy: Listen to your body

It is absolutely imperative that you ALWAYS listen to your body. Even If the smartest person in the world tells you to do something that would make you feel better if you see that it isn’t helping- then don’t do it.

You are the only one who can understand what you can and cannot do.

You are the only one who knows what you can and cannot eat.

Only do as much as you can take. If your body is not responding well to something, then put it on pause and go rest.

Even if you feel like you are eating something you’re “suppose” to be eating but it is making you sick- take a break from that item and try it again in a couple of weeks.

You are growing a miracle and that’s no easy task!

Be sure to follow your instincts and listen to your body.

YOU know what’s best.

Keep your Doctor in the loop

And remember, always keep your doctor updated on how you are feeling and what remedies you are doing.

If you find yourself not being able to keep anything down for more than 24 hours, call your doctor. It’s important to stay hydrated!

I hope these morning sickness remedies are able to help you as they helped me. No ONE remedy completely eliminated by morning sickness but pairing all of the remedies together seemed to really help me manage the craziness that I was experiencing.

Extreme morning sickness is not for the faint of heart. And no one can really understand it unless they went through it themselves.

But rest assured- you are NOT alone!

Have any morning sickness remedies that saved your pregnancy?? Share them in the comments below!

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Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Pregnancy Life

Inside: The key to dealing with hemorrhoids during pregnancy is to prevent worsening symptoms and to be intentional about the proper prevention, care, and treatment!

Hemorrhoids kicked my butt! (Literally…)

I was 7 months pregnant and unable to move for hours at a time. I was in excruciating pain and tried to keep my tushy up in the air for as long as possible. I wanted to die.

I was NOT prepared for hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can be very overwhelming, painful, debilitating, and frustrating. But you can conquer the horror of hemorrhoids with some key tips!

The key to dealing with hemorrhoids during pregnancy is to prevent worsening symptoms and to be intentional about the proper care and treatment so you can heal quickly and easily!

Today, I’ll be going over EVERYTHING you need to know about hemorrhoids during pregnancy including causes, prevention, treatment, and care. Plus, some “been there, done that” tips and tricks from moms who have battled hemorrhoids.

Everything You Need to Know About Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases you make through these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! Mastering Mom life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all!

Causes:

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum that form from increased pressure from pushing and straining. They also develop from sitting on the toilet for a long period of time due to continuing diarrhea and constipation.

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are SO common because you can experience both constipation and diarrhea while you are pregnant.

Hemorrhoids can be internal, where they are swollen veins in your rectum, or they can be external, the veins swelling and fall outside of the rectum. (I know, not a pretty conversation at all!!)

Hemorrhoids, both internal and external, can bleed.

Prevention:

One of the greatest ways to combat hemorrhoids is PREVENTION!

Take stool softener–

One of the main keys to preventing hemorrhoids in general or preventing them from getting worse is to keep your stool soft. (I know, it’s not a pretty conversation but I promise it’ll be worth it!)

As I mentioned, hemorrhoids usually come about when you are pushing too hard, and too long. When your stool is soft, it irritates your bottom less because you are not pushing longer or hard.

Moisturization–

One of the best ways to keep your hemorrhoids from flaring up or from getting worse is to keep cream on your bottom constantly. Like any other part of your body, when your bottom moisturized, it is less itchy less red, less inflamed and overall less painful.

Different cream options:

Preparation H Cooling Gel with Aloe and Vitamin E

Earth Mama Organic Perineal Balm

Preparation H Maximum Strength Cream

I have actually purchased 3 different creams and use them for different times. The first cream is for instant cooling relief for when I am at my worst and in a lot of pain. The next cream is for use throughout the day to prevent the burning and itching sensation. I like to use it more liberally because it’s all-natural and organic. And the last cream is used for night time to get me through the night.

Go When You Gotta Go

As soon as you feel the urge to use the bathroom, go to the bathroom. When you hold it in it becomes hard and backed up and can cause hemorrhoids. This can also cause constipation that can lead to the formation of more hemorrhoids.

After labor and delivery, especially if you have a vaginal birth, hemorrhoids are prone to return. This is due to the constant pushing during delivery and the strength of those pushes. Having and doing a daily hemorrhoid prevention regimen will help you postpartum!

Treatment:

Internal and Oral creams/medications

Don’t underestimate the power of a good pain reliever when you are experiencing intense pain. There are a couple of medication options. You can take oral medication or topical medication.

Oral Medication

Be sure to ask your doctor about the oral medication you can and cannot take. I’m going to be 100% honest, there was one day that I was in excruciating pain and I took 1 200mg ibuprofen for the pain that I was experiencing. I vowed to take NO medications during pregnancy but those hemorrhoids just were literally so excruciating.

My doctor advised me to take the medicine and I did for one day. And it was like night and day!

Prescribed Topical Medication

I had 4 hemorrhoids at the same time that were unbelievably agonizing. No topical over the counter cream was working. Because I did not want to take oral pain medication for the second day in a row, my doctor prescribed me this special medicated foaming topical cream. And it worked!

So, for specific medicated treatment options, be sure to ALWAYS talk to your doctor and get professional, medical advice. Especially because you are pregnant and you want to keep our baby’s health a priority.

Home Remedies

Of course, like anything else under the sun, there are home remedies for hemorrhoids during pregnancy. We’ll get into most of them during the “care” section of this post, but here are some of the home remedies that you can do:

Sitz baths
Epsom Salt
Witch Hazel
Aloe Vera

7 Care Tips:

The success to hemorrhoids during pregnancy going away is to take proper care of them. Ultimately, the way you treat them is going to dictate how worse or better they get.

Here are some care tips for hemorrhoids during pregnancy:

1. Donut Pillow-

The worst thing you want to do is irritate the hemorrhoids by constantly sitting on your bottom and putting pressure down there. Of course, it’s impossible to stand all day, so you can get a pillow that literally looks like a donut. The donut pillow helps you to sit without “sitting on your bottom”. This will relieve all of that awful pressure that you feel when you sit down.

This donut pillow is orthopedic and memory foam. It’s designed for hemorrhoids, pregnancy, and postpartum. AND it’s inexpensive!

2. Baths–

Another really great way to care for hemorrhoids is the take a bath with Epsom Salt. The warm water and Epsom salt can soothe any inflammation, swelling, and irritation. If you are not too far along in your pregnancy where you cannot take a bath yet, then you can do a sitz bath.

A sitz bath is a little bowl that goes over the toilet that you fill with warm water and it is essentially a bath for your bottom and not your whole body. If your hemorrhoids are really inflamed and really bothersome and painful, you can take several sitz baths a day for 10-15 minutes each time.

You can even get a sitz bath soak, which contains lavender, geranium and essential oils specifically for hemorrhoid relief. It can even be used for postpartum!

BONUS: Don’t forget to download the Hemorrhoid Care & Prevention Cheatsheet so you can know the exact steps to heal your hemorrhoids. Also, it comes with a checklist of all the things you need for a speedy recovery! CLICK HERE TO GET IT NOW!

3. Cream–

Just because you have a hemorrhoid doesn’t mean you won’t have to use the bathroom. And each time you use the bathroom, it can become worse due to the irritation and increased pushing.

To prevent this, every time you use the bathroom apply this cream. It will instantly provide relief and soothe the pain. AND it will make it easier to use the bathroom because you won’t be afraid to actually use the bathroom!

4. Stool softener–

Just like for prevention, one of the best ways to combat hemorrhoids during pregnancy is to keep your stool soft. The worst part about hemorrhoids is that they can never “heal” fully because you have to use the bathroom daily. So, they are daily irritated.

Because you can’t just “stop using the bathroom so they can heal”, you need to make sure your stool is soft. This will prevent your existing hemorrhoids from being aggravated, getting irritated, and becoming inflamed.

One of the best doctor and nurse recommended stool softeners is Colace.

Hard stool = pushing = hemorrhoids.

So…

Soft stool = no pushing = no hemorrhoids.

5. Peri Bottle/Wipes-

The proper care of hemorrhoids is to not irritate them. Especially after you use the bathroom because they are already aggravated from you moving your bowels. So to not add any more pain or irritation, you don’t want to use hard toilet paper. Instead, you want to use soft, comforting, soothing wipes.

There are these amazing wipes called Tucks Cooling Pads, that are designed especially for hemorrhoids. They have witch hazel in them too! You can get them here! (I have them on auto subscription on my Amazon prime account and get it on discount!)

But unfortunately, there are also times that even wipes will feel like sandpaper because of how raw your bottom is. So instead of wiping at all, you can use this handy, dandy, life-changing peri bottle! You just fill it with warm water and squirt it on your bottom instead of wiping. It cleansing and soothing.

Momma Tip: You’ll be using a peri bottle after labor and delivery too! They give you a peri bottle to use in the hospital so you don’t have to use toilet paper on your super tender, raw, and painful lady bits.

6. Drink lots of water and eat fibers-

Another way to prevent and combat hemorrhoids is to drink lots of water and eat plenty of fiber-filled foods. This will regulate your bowels and keep your bowel movement soft. Don’t underestimate the power of water!

7. Don’t Push, Just Relax-

Because hemorrhoids are caused by straining and perpetual pushing, you want to be sure you are NOT pushing when you use the bathroom. The stool softener will make your stool soft and the water and fiber will reduce the risk of constipation so your bowels should be moving smoothly.

Instead of pushing, just sit and relax and let your body do the rest. Grab a book or your favorite magazine and just wait for your body to naturally move your bowels. Sometimes it takes a couple of seconds and sometimes it takes a couple of minutes. But being sure to not strain is the best way to care for existing hemorrhoids and prevent further ones from developing.

What to do If your hemorrhoids during pregnancy are very, very painful:

Hemorrhoids can be VERY, VERY painful. There are some cases where you will need to stay home from work and possibly not be able to move a muscle. I won’t say this is often, but it can be normal. Depending on how many hemorrhoids you have and how inflamed they are, the pain can be very intense. Be sure to drink A LOT of water and watch what you are eating.

The most comfortable positions are to sit on a donut pillow in a reclined position or lay face down (with more pressure on your side and now your baby bump) with your bottom a little propped up.

Talk to your doctor. Keep her/him updated and heed their advice!

Free hemorrhoid prevention & care cheatsheet!

I created this cheat sheet to help you battle and overcome hemorrhoids by giving you actionable steps to help you stay comfortable throughout the day!

I suffered terribly with hemorrhoids during pregnancy and I WISH I had a cheat sheet on the proper care and treatment because then I wouldn’t have had to go through the painful trial and errors of what works and what doesn’t. I wanted to give you this Cheatsheet so you can sail through this pregnancy symptom!

The cheatsheet includes a list of things to do throughout your day so you can care for your bottom. I include everything in this post and put this information into actionable steps for you to take. Plus, I give you the ultimate hemorrhoids care checklist of everything you need to keep pain at a minimal and comfort at a maximum!

Get the cheatsheet now!

Well, there you have it! I hope I was able to help you feel a little more confident in battle your hemorrhoids during pregnancy.

Remember, the key to dealing with hemorrhoids during pregnancy is to prevent worsening symptoms and to be intentional about the proper care and treatment so you can heal quickly and easily!

Be sure not to push or strain, it’ll only make it worse!

Now when hemorrhoids are kicking your butt, you can kick them right out 🙂

Do you have any remedies or tips from your own experience for the soon to be mamas battling the horror of hemorrhoids? Write them in the comments below!

P.S. Join Amazon Family!

Joining Amazon Family has been the best decision I made! Not only do you save money on almost everything that you purchase, but you can put things on monthly and bi-monthly subscriptions. Such as wipes, diapers, creams- just about anything! It saves me money and sanity because I never have to forget to pick something up if it runs out because I know it’s getting delivered to my door! PLUS save 20% on diaper subscriptions when your little one gets here! SCORE!

Join for free today and start a 30 day free trial!

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Disclaimer: Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own doctor. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment.

Fast & Easy Postpartum Recovery: Best 19 Essentials for the First Time Mom

Mom Life, Pregnancy Life

Inside: To help you heal as fast as possible, here is the ultimate list of essentials for a quick and pain free postpartum recovery! Plus a FREE essentials checklist!

The miracle of life is amazing! But… it’s also extremely painful.

Right after delivery, I remember thinking to myself “Why in the world did no one explain this pain to me like the worst pain I will ever experience??” 😅

Between pain from possible switches, pain when you potty, inability to remotely touch “down there”, and even pain to walk..let’s just say it’s faarrrr from a feeling like you’re at a party.

Hello, postpartum recovery!

No time to read this now? That’s okay! Save it to your favorite Pinterest Board for later

How to heal after birth: 19 postpartum essentials you desperately need

The good news is, there are things you can do to help you heal faster and feel as pain-free as possible, which is an amazing silver lining after what you just went through!

Today, I’m going to share with you the ultimate list of postpartum recovery essentials to make you feel better and feel more like yourself in no time!

But instead of jumping right to gory details of how your body will feel, I wanted to give you the solution to the pain instead of just talking about the pain. Sounds good right?!

To help you heal as fast as possible, I wanted to share with you the ultimate list of essentials for fast and pain-free postpartum recovery!

Save a trip to the store!

An awesome thing about this post is that every single item that I mention as an essential is available on Amazon and can be shipped to you within 24-48 hours (depending on where you live).

(Not an Amazon Prime member? Sign up now for a 30 Day Free Trial– Plus get Amazon Family discounts on everyday baby essentials such as diapers and wipes.)

I didn’t have an amazing list of essentials prior to my postpartum recovery so I had to purchase the essentials quickly.

I obviously wasn’t able to stroll to the store, and I didn’t want to burden my husband with picking up a bunch of feminine products, so Amazon became my friend.

Not only was I able to purchase everything on my phone, and it gets delivered straight to my house,e preventing a trip to the store but I also saved a bunch of money because the items were cheaper on Amazon compared to my local drugstore!

I included all of the links to the products below so if you want to purchase something, just click on the link- super easy!

So, let’s dive in postpartum recovery essentials!

Postpartum Recovery Essentials | Ultimate Essentials List | Labor and Delivery | New Mom Advice | Fourth Trimester |Free Checklist | #postpartumrecovery #postpartum

Best Essentials for Postpartum Recovery

This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases you make through these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all!

Postpartum Recovery: Bathroom Essentials

Mega pads

After you give birth, your nurses will supply you with a bucket of mesh underwear and super long, thick, mega pads.

It’s no surprise that you will be bleeding pretty heavily after delivery but it may surprise you HOW much you may be bleeding.

Each woman is different so no 2 experiences are the same but when you get released from the hospital you want to make sure that you have enough pads handy. Bleeding can last anywhere from 2-6 weeks so make sure to have enough!

I tried 3 different brands but these are the ones that worked the best for me! They are not only come in different lengths & sizes but they also have wings so the pad can stay in place and it prevents overflowing and accidents.

The best pad that I tried that is not super thick and uncomfortable but is super absorbent is here: Stayfree Ultra Thin Overnight Pads with Wings

Dermoplast

Another postpartum recovery essential is Dermoplast.

Dermaoplast is a miracle spray that you spray “down there” and it brings instant relief and numbing to your pain.

If you have stitched because you tore or if it hurts to sit then this spray reaallyyy comes in handy. The hospital gave it to me in my postpartum recovery basket that they put by my bedside and when I used life-changing. I used it every time I used the bathroom and it brought me SO much relief.

You can find Dermoplast here!

Peri bottle

Staying on the topic of bathroom postpartum essentials, a peri bottle definitely goes on that list! Since you are sore and swollen down there it can be painful to use the bathroom, let alone wipe.

The nurses discouraged me from actually wiping, instead they advised me to just use a peri bottle to spray warm water to clean myself.

This peri bottle was amazing! The warm water is so soothing and it does a great job at replacing the need to wipe agitate your sore region.

You can purchase a peri bottle by clicking here: Perineal Lavette Irrigation Bottle (3 Pack)

Pain Reliever

Now, I know some people do not take medication or pain but for me, pain medication was a postpartum recovery essential.

It necessarily doesn’t help you recover quickly, but it makes your recovery period more tolerable.

Before I was discharged from the hospital my doctor actually prescribed me a mild painkiller so if pain medication is something you feel you will need then maybe sure to ask your doctor.

But buying a regular over-the-counter pain medication is totally fine as well.

And please DO NOT feel guilty or ashamed because you feel you need some sort of pain relief. Stitches in your tender area are exactly how it sounds: a little painful and uncomfortable. My doctor recommended I alternatie between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen) every 6-8 hours for the first week home.

Remember to please and always ask your doctor before taking any medication!

Ultimate List of Postpartum Recovery Essentials | Mom Advice | #postpartumrecovery #postpartum

Mama bottom balm

Because your region “down there” feels like you got into an epic fight and lost, you’re going to want to apply some relief balm to help heal your perineal.

This balm really helped me and gave me the must-need relief I needed.

I couldn’t apply it right away because it still hurt to touch down there but after a week or so the balm was smooth and light enough for me to begin to apply it. It’s also organic and made from natural herbs and essential oils so you don’t feel like you are putting any chemicals down there!

This is the balm I purchased: Earth Mama Organic Perineal Balm

Hemorrhoid Cream

This postpartum recovery essential is for one of the worst things that I have experienced: hemorrhoids.

Oh, how I hate that H word!

I experienced hemorrhoids from the middle of my pregnancy all the way through my postpartum recovery. And let me tell you, it was not fun! If hemorrhoids are something that you didn’t go through during pregnancy or after having your baby then you are without a doubt beyond blessed and I am extremely jealous!

One of the things that gave me great relief from hemorrhoids is the actual cream made for hemorrhoids. You apply it straight on the area that is inflamed or that is in pain or uncomfortable and you’ll feel immediate relief.

You can also use the Earth Mama Perineal Balm that I mentioned above. You can apply this balm as many times as you like and it is super easy to use. It’s also 100% organic and not harmful to you at all!

The cream I purchased: Preparation H Maximum Strength Cream

Tucks Pads

Like I mentioned, having the dreaded H word is absolutely the worst (yes, I’m still talking about hemorrhoids)!

In fact, they are so uncomfortable that I even added 2 MORE things to this postpartum recovery essentials list to make your situation less horrifying and help you feel relief.

Tucks pads are absolutely amazing because they are specially designed to bring cool relief to your tender bottom.

Stool Softener

Another postpartum recovery essential to help you combat and even prevent hemorrhoids is a stool softener.

There is nothing worse than feeling splitting pain down there and then realizing that you have to “go to the bathroom”. I’ve heard of some women even stopping themselves from going to the bathroom because they did not want to aggravate or worsen their hemorrhoids.

The good news is that to prevent hemorrhoids from returning or happening, the KEY is soft stools. Yes, I know this is totally gross to talk about but it’s also very real and useful information.

Postpartum Recovery Essentials You Need to Heal Faster| Postpartum Recovery | Postpartum Recovery Healing After Birth | Mom Advice | Postpartum Kit | Free checklist | Labor and Delivery | #newmom #postpartumrecovery #postpartum

Start taking stool softener BEFORE labor and chances are when you have to use the bathroom after delivery is won’t be as bad because your stool will be soft and your boy does not have to push when you go to the bathroom.

You’ve already done enough strenuous pushing and you don’t want to have to push more out of your body!

Continue to take a stool softener until you feel comfortable, your body is regulated and your hemorrhoids have subsided. I still take it sometimes because it’s always better to be safer than sorry!

Colace is the best stool softener I found and I have tried A LOT of different ones, trust me. I have experimented more than enough so you don’t have to!

Postpartum Recovery Essentials Checklist Post Image 2

Don’t forget to download your FREE Postpartum checklist so you don’t forget an essential! Sign up now to get the free checklist now!

Around the House Postpartum Essentials

Hemorrhoid & Postpartum Pillow

Okay, this is my last postpartum recovery essential regarding hemorrhoids, but trust me- you’re going to want to get ALL of the tips you can!

An absolute lifesaver for me was a donut pillow. Hemorrhoids are seriously not fun to sit on and if you are still recovering from your labor and delivery odds are most of your regular positions are going to be sitting or lying down.

You don’t want to aggravate or irritate your bottom so sitting on a donut pillow will allow you to sit in a comfortable position while having your bottom remain untouched. It’s a brilliant invention!

I purchased this pillow and it truly was a purchase I would make over and over again!

Comfortable Underwear

Another important postpartum recovery essential is comfortable underwear. When you’re in the hospital they will give you these mesh underwear that is sort of “boy short” style. I thought that I would absolutely hate them but the mesh underwear was actually comfortable and was really useful.

When you leave the hospital, you can ask for a couple of more so you can take them home with you if you like.

But you want to make sure that you have comfortable underwear. You don’t want to automatically start wearing your pretty, lacy undergarments because the truth is you might dirty them and they might be really uncomfortable at first.

Because you’re going to be bleeding and still achy down there, you want to make sure to have comfortable, cotton underwear that even is a size larger than you normally wear.

These are the underwear that I purchased and they lasted me through my postpartum time: Essentials 100% Cotton Bikini Panty (6 pack)

Heating Pad Postpartum Recovery Essential

Heating pads (icy hot)

It’s no secret that you’re going to be sore! Your back, your abdomen, your bottom- everything. So, it’s really great to have a heating pad on hand. When your uterus is shrinking back to its normal size it also contracts and can feel like intense period cramps. A heating pad can help with these pains as your body is adjusting.

I also purchased Icy Hot patches that stick to your body and give you a tingly and cooling sensation. These really helped me when my lower back would hurt because I would put a patch on and just forget that it was there and it would really help my muscles!

You can find those icy hot patches here: Icy Hot Lidocaine Patch

You can purchase a really good, inexpensive heating pad here: Sunbeam Electric Heating Pad with 3 heat settings

Nipple cream

If you are breastfeeding, then you are going to definitely need some nipple relief cream. Your nipples can start to get red and cracked and even start to really hurt so to prevent this from happening to you it’s best to start using a nipple cream right away.

You don’t want your baby’s feeding time to be miserable for you because your nipples are in agony!

I used this organic nipple butter. It’s made with 100% organic beeswax and does not need to be wiped off before nursing! It’s called: Mama Earth Organic Nipple Butter

Nipple pads

Another important postpartum receiver essential regarding breastfeeding is nipple pads. If you are breastfeeding then you will begin to notice that you can start to “leak” breastmilk at any time, even when you are sleeping.

Even if you are NOT breastfeeding, your breastmilk will still come in and you will feel your breasts start to get firm and “full”.

You will also start to experience your breasts leaking because your milk is still there. It’s best to wear nipple pads or nursing pads so your milk doesn’t get all over your shirts.

At first, I didn’t know I even needed nipple pads until one morning I woke up and my pajama shirt was soaked with 2 huge wet circles. After that, I started wearing nursing pads all day and even at night.

You can purchase nursing pads here: Lansinoh Stay Dry Nursing Pads

Postpartum Recovery is One Day at A Time

Probiotics

Probiotics is another great postpartum recovery essential because it will help you stay regular and keep your body’s digestive system healthy and support your daily immune system health.

Probiotics will also combat any antibiotics that you were taking if you needed antibiotics while you were in labor and delivery. Sometimes you can have a fever in labor and delivery and they will give you antibiotics to prevent the baby from getting an infection.

If you had antibiotics during labor it can affect your body for weeks afterward so I always like to have probiotics handy, especially when I was recovering.

The best probiotics I’ve ever taken was Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Ultimate Care. These probiotics are 100% GMO-Free and made with real foods that are clean, organic, and traceable.

Belly Lotion

I absolutely love to feel moisturized and I was so worried about the stretch marks on my body. So, a part of my postpartum recovery essentials was a special mama belly lotion to help hydrate the skin and ease stretch marks.

The more hydrated and moisturized you keep your skin, the better it will heal and prevent permanent stretch marks.

I started using this lotion when I was 6 months pregnant and it significantly reduced my skin from stretching! Then I used it 3 times a day for about 2 months after my delivery and I started seeing my stretch marks fade!

Even though it’s a “belly lotion” you should use it on your arms, breasts, thighs, and legs- basically anywhere that you want your skin to look better!

As with everything else that I’ve been recommending to you, this Mama Lotion is 100% organic and has organic herbs and essential oils in it to calm your stretch skin and encourage your skin’s natural elasticity.

You can find the belly lotion here: Earth Mama Belly Butter

Sitz Bath

A sitz bath is a mini bath for your bottom and region “down there”. It’s absolutely amazing and one of the best inventions, in my opinion!

Sometimes when you need immediate relief down there and you don’t want to apply creams or sprays, the best option is a sitz bath. Sitz baths are great for vaginal soreness, tears, episiotomy, perineal bruising, and hemorrhoids. If you suffering it prenatal hemorrhoids you can use this too!

You simply purchase a sitz bath bowl that goes over your toilet. You fill it with warm water and add comforting elements to it like essential oils and herbs for pain relief and to soothe you.

I used to purchase herbal sitz bath’s, which came in little pouches and looked like a tea bag that you steep in the warm water and fills the water with soothing essential oils and herbs. It worked WONDERS!

I purchased this: Earth Mama Organic Herbal Sitz Bath (6 count)

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is really good for your muscles when you are feeling sore. It also really helps with the swelling reduction! When my doctor cleared me to be able to take baths I used to take an Epsom salt bath once a day for about 2 weeks.

It would reduce my swelling (from water retention) and make my achy body feel rejuvenated. You can even add some drops of essential oil to your bath for ultimate soothing and stress relief. You can even buy Epsom salt with lavender to help you sleep better!

You can buy some of the best Epsom salt here. It’s called Dr. Teals Epsom Salt Soaking Solution in Eucalyptus and Lavender

Gigantic water bottle

Water is SO important during the postpartum recovery period. If you’re breastfeeding, you’re going to need to be drinking a tooonnn of water and even if you aren’t breastfeeding, your body needs a lot of water to stay hydrated and healthy.

It’s a good idea to buy a pretty water bottle that you are going to use daily that would make you want to drink water. It can also be your gauge as to how much you are drinking.

I purchased this water bottle and I knew that I needed to drink 3 of these every day to meet my water quota. It has an infusion part so you can add fruit to add some flavor to the water too!

Recovery Journal

This recovery essential is optional but it really helped me in my recovery journal. Having a recovery journal can help you keep track of how you are feeling daily and see the progress of your health.

It doesn’t have to be a full-length diary, but even simple notes that you’ve jotted down about how you felt that day.

And if you ever are experiencing something out of the ordinary, be sure to write it down so when you visit your doctor you can have a clear track of information about how you have been feeling. I find that most of the time my doctor will ask me a specific question about my health and I would draw a complete blank!

But having a journal helps me not feel so much pressure to have to remember everything.

This is a really great postpartum wellness journal!

Rest

You cannot BUY this postpartum recovery essential.

It’s simply to rest, rest, rest.

Do NOT try to overdo it and overwork yourself. Make sure you are following your doctor’s orders and instructions. When you are feeling tired, lay down. When you are feeling light-headed, sit down. When you are aching and swollen, take a bath.

When your region “down there” is in pain, take a sitz bath. I know there are a million little things to do when you have a newborn but you have to remember to take care of yourself!

Ask for help when you need it and remember that you are your baby’s caregiver and need to be healthy in order to keep your baby healthy!

And that’s all for my postpartum recovery essentials list! All of these items are impossible to remember, especially when you are pregnant and about to give birth or home after delivery and are taking care of a newborn.

I wanted to make it super easy for you to remember these items so I created an Ultimate Postpartum Recovery Essentials Checklist for you to download or print!

Ultimate Postpartum Essentials Checklist

The checklist includes everything in this post PLUS some extra items to add further comfort for you!

Don’t feel like you need to remember all of these items, instead, download the list so you know for a fact that you are getting all of the items you need for a quick and easy recovery!

Well, there you have it! To help you heal as fast as possible, I wanted to share with you the ultimate list of essentials for fast and pain-free postpartum recovery! I hope I was able to bring you comfort and relief knowing that you don’t have to suffer through postpartum without any help!

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Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own doctor. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment.

The Emotional Part of Labor and Delivery

Pregnancy Life

What do you think of when you hear labor and delivery? I always think of those movies where the woman is screaming, pushing, and sweating profusely (haha!). Movies show an unrealistic view of labor and delivery and childbirth but it does get the point across- labor and delivery are strenuous.

If you are a first-time soon to be mom then you may be getting ready for all of the physical events that your body will be experiencing. It’s not news that labor and delivery is a very active and physically demanding task, but what a lot of new moms underestimate is the toll that it makes on your mind as emotions as well.

All pregnancies, childbirth’s, labor and deliveries are different. Just like no 2 women are the same- no 2 childbirths are the same. No matter what kind of birth you have, medicated, unmedicated, hospital birth, home birth, vaginal birth, or cesarean birth- you will be giving birth to a brand new life. With that great responsibility, comes a lot of emotional work.

Because labor and delivery can affect your emotions in such a very real way, you want to make sure that you are preparing for your birth emotionally as well physically by understanding what emotions you will be experiencing and how you can help prepare yourself for them!

What Emotions You Will Be Experiencing During Labor and Delivery

Excitement

I remember feeling such a rush of excitement in the middle of childbirth. I was so excited to finally meet my little baby. I grew her in my womb and bonded with her over late nights when her kicking would keep me up. I would talk to her when I was having a bad day and sing to her every night after we set up her nursery.

Now, this little baby in my belly was going to be a real life in my arms that I could cuddle and hold. The surge of excitement overcame me in between all of the other emotions I was having! Above all that I was feeling, I just wanted to meet her. And I was so excited to do so!

During labor and delivery, you may be feeling a million and one things, but one of those emotions will be excitement. Choose to hold on to that excitement and let it fuel your childbirth. Instead of being overcome by pain or fear, let excitement and anticipation of meeting your beautiful little baby be what drives you!

Exhaustion

After about 20 minutes of labor and delivery, I was already exhausted and so tired! I just wanted to close my eyes and go to sleep for about 3 days. During childbirth, or even after you feel your first contractions, you feel tired. Your body is working so hard to deliver your baby and it’s perfectly normal to feel tired.

You may FEEL tired but you obviously cannot stop to take a nap in the middle of labor and delivery so you will have to push through that exhaustion. It sounds harder than it is because at that moment you will also be feeling the excitement of meeting your baby!

Sickness (Nausea, lightheaded, etc.)

It’s kind of obvious that you may feel some sort of sickness. I was so nauseous during labor and delivery that I couldn’t even fathom putting ice chips in my mouth. But even though I was nauseous I was extremely thirsty! Your body will be feeling a bunch of different feelings: hungry, thirsty, nausea. It’s completely normal.

Fear

It is also completely and totally normal to feel some kind of fear. Especially if this is your first baby, it’s normal to be afraid of the unknown. I remember feeling so afraid of what was going to happen to me. I was afraid of needles, I was afraid of feeling pain, I was afraid of what my body was about to do. It may be easy to let that fear overcome you but don’t let the fear of what you are experiencing keep you from being positive and excited about having your baby.

But also, don’t feel like you have to shove fear deep down because you are afraid of what people will say if you say that you’re scared. Everyone expects you to have some level of fear- whether it’s a level of 1 or a level of 10, it doesn’t really matter!

I think you’ll like this post too!

Pain

It’s no surprise that you will be experiencing pain in labor and delivery. Even if you are choosing a medicated birth (which I semi did), you will definitely still be feeling pain. Pain and fear were hand in hand for me. When I was in pain I was afraid that it would never end and then when I didn’t feel the pain, I was afraid that it was going to start again.

If you are afraid of pain, don’t let that stop you from being able to enjoy the birth of your baby. It takes so much strength, physical and mental, to be able to have a baby and take pride and joy in yourself that you have made it this far and that you will be an amazing mom!

Also, keep in mind that everyone’s labor and delivery is different so don’t get too hung up on what you will be experiencing. Don’t fear these emotions. Instead, embrace them and know that they are a part of the process!

How to Prepare for the Emotional Part of Labor and Delivery:

Just as you are preparing your body, it’s so important to prepare your mind for labor and delivery. Remember, your body may be able but if your mind is not willing then not much can happen. You want to be able to have your body as well as your mind and emotions ready for the experience of labor and delivery and childbirth. Don’t worry- it’s super easy to do too!

Here are 3 very easy ways to prepare for the emotional part of labor and delivery. And the best part is, that when you prepare mentally and emotionally, you’re really also preparing physically because your mind will become in sync with your body and you are giving yourself the best chances there are to have a smooth and successful labor and delivery.

1. Surround Yourself with Support

It’s so important to surround yourself with people who love you, support you and will encourage you. Choose people that you want around when you are in labor and delivery. Ask those people to come to the hospital (or place that you are delivering) to support you. The most important decision I made during labor and delivery support wise, was who was going to be in the in the delivery room with me.

My hospital had a policy that when I was laboring, I could have 4 people in the room with me. Then when I was in actual delivery, I could have 2 people in the room with me. I chose to have my husband and family around me during my labor and delivery because I know that they support me and can encourage me when I’m feeling my worst.

Make sure to contact the people that you trust and are close to you to be there for you. You have no idea how much a difference it can be to have a great support system around you at one of the hardest days of your life. Having that support was not just great physically but emotionally as well!

2. Have a Plan

Because you know that labor and delivery can be super emotional, it’s always best to have a plan of action. Just like you would make a birth plan, you can make a plan for things that would help you emotionally. One part of the plan is what we did with surrounding yourself with support. Having that plan for people who you love to come when you go into labor is something that will greatly help you physically and emotionally.

You can also get a playlist ready of your favorite songs and music. I’ve also seen mothers who bring essentials oils in their hospital bag to help with uplifting their mood. Another part of my plan was to use positive affirmation and verbal encouragement. That’s number 3 below!

4. Cocoon yourself with positive affirmations/encouragement

My husband, family, and friends were such a great support to me and brought me so much encouragement. Another way that they were able to encourage me was through the affirmation cards that I created. I printed out little cards with encouraging words and put them in my hospital bag and every time that I would be feeling really low or exhausted or in pain my husband would bring them out and start reading them to me or give them to me to read.

It helped me so much because at that moment I couldn’t always remember to be positive or even had time to think. The cards in addition to the support of my husband and family helped me so much!

Birth Affirmation Cards

To help you prepare for the emotional part of labor and delivery I re-created my birth affirmation cards and made them in a format for you to print! These affirmation cards were so encouraging to me because when I couldn’t think and I was consumed with pain or emotions, telling myself that I was going to be ok and that I couldn’t wait to see my baby really put things back into perspective for me.

I wanted to share these cards with you so you can feel the encouragement and the support during your labor and delivery. Don’t just be stressed about what you are going to be experiencing in labor and delivery, instead prepare for that time by staying positive! Feel free to print them out or download them to your phone or tablet so you can have them handy! (It’s always better to have them and maybe not use them, instead of not having them and wishing you did!)

Get Your Free Birth Affirmation Cards Now!

Having a baby is such a miracle and labor and delivery is what is going to ultimately connect you and your baby. Being able to birth your child, no matter how your delivery goes, is an amazing gift. It’s a physical feat as well an as emotional roller coaster but man is it worth it! Don’t get hung up on the negative side of childbirth, but choose to see the amazing side of childbirth and hold on to the excitement of finally meeting your baby. Everything will be okay- you can do this!

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6 Important Choices to Make Before Birth

Pregnancy Life

Becoming a mother can be overwhelming! There a million things you have to learn and even though you try to prepare as much as you can, you will never really feel “ready”. But there are things you can do to help prepare yourself and your family for your beautiful new addition, such as asking yourself questions and having a plan for when your baby is here. There are important choices to make before birth that can help you relieve the stress of having a baby.

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Asking yourself questions and making important choices before birth and your baby arrives will help ease the stress and pressure of trying to figure everything out after your baby is here. You will be consumed with a whole other life and it’s important to get as many things in order as you can before your baby arrives. This will also give you peace of mind and stability when the new journey of motherhood begins, which can be overwhelming and unpredictable.

I always find it best to be prepared and have everything in order that I can beforehand!

These 5 questions by no means covers everything that you need to think about or decide before birth and before your baby arrives. Be sure to download my ultimate checklist of important questions you need to ask before your baby arrives. Making choices based off of those questions will make your life so much easier and get you ready for the roller coaster of parenting! You can access my checklist below!

Asking yourself these questions and making your important choices before birth will help you easily transition into this new season of your life and your family’s life! Once you make these important choices, you will be able to easily and effectively plan what is best for your newly grown family.

6 Important Choices to Make Before Your Baby Arrives

Please know that I am not a doctor, physician, or professional of any kind. All opinions are my own and formed my own experiences. You can read my full disclosure, disclaimer, and terms policies here.

Having these questions already answered will help you so much because when your baby is actually here there will be another million choices and decisions you have to make! I always find it better to get done what you can now so you save yourself stress when things get really hectic.

1- Will I breastfeed or formula feed?

One of the important choices you will have to make before birth is whether you will breastfeed or formula feed. You probably will hear the question (if you haven’t heard it already), “are you planning to breastfeed?”. Some may even be as bold to ask “you’re planning to breastfeed, right?”. This is because one of the most assumed choices people think that you have already made is whether you are breastfeeding or not.

If you haven’t decided yet, don’t worry! There are a couple of different options that you have even though it feels like your choices are just black or white. Here are a couple options you have:

Option 1- plan to fully breastfeed.
Option 2- plan to breastfeed along with pump.
Option 3- plan to breastfeed and are open to formula feeding for supplementing.
Option 4- just formula feed.

(These are not your only options because you can create your own customized option by combining different aspects of these options but for the sake of this post I’m just naming a couple.)

In my opinion, you don’t have to have it ALL figured out. Don’t stress yourself over having a perfect plan. My advice is to prepare as much as you can while being open to change and circumstances to arise. For example, if you are planning to breastfeed then make sure you educate yourself, maybe go to a class, and surround yourself with support. And if you feel comfortable enough, maybe purchase a couple of bottles just in case you have to pump or supplement. This doesn’t mean that you will have to use it, but having a backup plan just in case if you run into issues is always wise.

If you are planning to pump then make sure you research different breast pumps and find one that works best for you. If you are planning to formula feed then make sure you research different formulas and differences between brands.

Also, be sure to decide how you feel about supplementing. If everything goes well and you can breastfeed, that’s awesome! But sometimes health concerns, delivery issues, and other situations can occur that can prevent you from fully breastfeeding and the doctors may encourage you to supplement. Be sure to have a backup plan just in case things don’t run smoothly- hopefully, you need your back up plan!

While I’m totally all for breastfeeding and I understand the incredible benefits of breastfeeding I’m also totally fine with mothers who plan to bottle feed/formula feed. Why? Because I trust that each expectant mother is planning to do what’s best for her baby and for her. I trust that every mother is doing her research and making an informed decision. Who am I to judge or mom shame someone because they didn’t do what I chose??

To make your choice, talk to your husband, talk to your family or those who you trust and choose an option and make a decision that works best for you!

2- Will baby sleep in a crib or bassinet? In your room or another room?

Another important choice to make before birth is figuring out where you want your baby to sleep. These days you have soo many options! Such as, you can have your baby sleep in a bassinet in your room, or you can have a mini crib in your room, or you can have your baby sleep in a bassinet in their own room or a different space such as the living room, or you can have your baby sleep in the crib in his own room right away.

The options are endless because it depends on your living style, your home, and your personal preference.

Many parents chose to have a combination of spaces. For example, the baby will sleep in a bassinet in their room for the first 6 weeks because it’s easier for mom to breastfeed the baby and go back to sleep. Then when the baby is older, the parents transition him to his own room or crib. Some parents choose to not purchase a crib right away and just have their baby sleep in a bassinet until she outgrows it. No choice is right or wrong! It’s all about what you choose and what’s best for your family.

Be sure to stay within the safe sleeping arrangements and beware of SIDS. Talk to your doctor about places where your baby is absolutely not supposed to be sleeping. Make sure all sleeping mechanisms are certified as a baby sleep station.

Some parents even just buy a bassinet and a crib and don’t decide on where their baby is going to sleep until they actually bring baby home. That’s totally fine too! Like I said, make a choice based on what works best for you and your family.

Trying to figure out what you’re baby will sleep in? I have you covered! Be sure to check out my post “Ultimate List of Necessary Baby Furniture” to help you choose what will work best for you and your family!

3- Is mom returning to work?

Oh, the age old question- “Are you returning to work or staying at home with your baby?”. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me this question I would be rich! It’s important to have a plan and make a choice about what you plan to do about work before birth because you don’t want to be caught off guard the number of things you have to worry about after your baby arrives. Having a plan or even a vague one about whether you will be returning to work and when you will be returning to work will help you with the transition process. Remember, no choice is right or wrong- it’s all about what works best for your family! Try not to compare yourself or your situation or family to another family or mother. Do what works best for your family. Whether that means you return to work or stay home with your baby- anything you choose is commendable!

Don’t forget to download your copy of my Ultimate Checklist Of Important Questions to Ask Before Birth below!

4- Where are you delivering?

A very important choice to make before birth is to actually figure out where you are giving birth. I know, I know…this seems obvious that you will have to make this choice but it’s also worth bringing up because I found that some expectant mothers wait until their second trimester or even third trimester to actually decide about where they are delivering. You can choose the closest hospital near you or a favorite hospital that may be further away or even a birthing center. You might even want a home birth with a certified doula or registered nurse! Choose what is best for you and your family and within your means. I know some mothers who have no idea where they are giving birth simply because they cannot afford some options. Be sure to utilize all of your available help and research as much as you can! Some hospitals do require you to complete a hospital tour before you can actually deliver there so also double check your hospital’s policies and be sure to meet all requirements!

(If you need help finding a doctor or hospital to deliver in, maybe reading my post “How to Find an OBGYN in 5 Steps” will help!)

5- How do you feel about cord clamping and skin to skin?

Another important choice to make before birth is what you want to do after birth. You have a couple of options: immediate cord clamping, delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin or immediate weighing. I’ll briefly go through each of these options so can have knowledge of each one.

But I highly recommend you talk to your OBGYN or doctor/nurse to find out the standard procedures/process of the hospital you are delivering at. Also, be sure to do research on each option so you can make an informed decision based on what you feel is best for you.

Delayed Cord Clamping

Immediately after birth, your baby will be still attached to the placenta by the umbilical cord. Some hospitals immediately cut the umbilical cord and then place the baby on mama while others automatically wait a couple minutes to cut the cord, which is called delayed cord clamping.

Delayed cord clamping is the prolongation of time between the baby is delivered and the umbilical cord is cut. Delayed cord clamping lets the blood (and iron) to be transferred from the placenta to the baby. Allowing more of the blood to be transferred to the baby has many benefits. Usually delayed cord clamping is when the umbilical cord is cut 3-4 minutes after your baby is delivered.

Skin to Skin

Another choice to make is whether you want your baby to be placed on you immediately after birth, which is called skin to skin. Some doctors automatically take the baby to be weighed and measured and they do several tests to make sure the baby is healthy. One of the great benefits of skin to skin is the immediate bond you get to make with your baby. If all goes well and your delivery is successful with little to complications then you can request immediate skin to skin and the doctors and nurses will immediately give you your baby. (I’m starting to see that is way more common is hospitals to now automatically give the newborn to their mother for immediate skin to skin!)

Be sure to make your decision and share your choices with your doctor so the doctors and nurses know your wishes before going into labor and delivery so they can oblige your requests. I personally chose to delay cord clamping and wanted immediate skin to skin. These 2 things went hand in hand because as soon as my daughter was born she was placed on me, while still attached to the placenta, and then after 4 or 5 minutes my husband cut the umbilical cord and it was then when they took her for 5 minutes to weight, measure and clean her.

Doctors and nurses are really accommodating and want you to have your best experience! So don’t feel bad letting them know what you want!

6- Which pediatrician are you using?

It’s often overlooked because it’s something that you don’t have to worry about right now, but choosing which pediatrician your coming baby will go to is an important decision to make before birth. Most hospitals need the name and information of the pediatrician before they can discharge you’re and your baby. Do some research, ask friends who have smaller children who their doctor is and take recommendations from people you trust.

You can even ask your doctor/OBGYN if they have any recommendations. Some hospitals have doctors in their program or staff that have affiliate practices. You can even visit some pediatrician’s offices and meet the doctors before your baby is born so you can get an accurate feel for the doctor and the office.

>> So there you have it! Those are the 6 important choices to make before birth. Of course, you’re going to have to make a TON of other choices before birth but these 6 questions sum up the importance of certain important decisions you will need to make. Remember, asking yourself questions and making important choices before your baby arrives will help ease the stress and pressure of trying to figure everything out after your baby is here.

Free Checklist of Important Questions to Answer before Birth

Because these are not the ONLY decisions you will have to make, I created an Ultimate Checklist of Important Questions to Ask Before Birth! That way, you can make sure to check off everything you need to have discussed and decided without feeling like you missed anything. I made this list when I was pregnant and it helped me so much with planning and the preparation of my new little addition. So, I wanted to share my ultimate checklist with you so it can help you too! Be sure to download your copy of the checklist below!

Get your free ultimate checklist of important questions to ask before birth Now!

I hope I was able to help you feel more prepared and less stressed with the coming of your new little one!

Pregnancy Life

The Best Easy Morning Sickness Remedies to Fight Extreme Nausea

1. Avoid Smelly Smells

To avoid strong smells:

3. Wear loose clothing

4. Eat every hour

5. Take small sips of cold water

6. Travel just after you eat

7. Don’t lay flat after eating

8. B6 & Unisom

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9. Sea bands

10. Magnesium spray

11. Lemons & Eucalyptus

12. Step outside

The most important morning sickness remedy: Listen to your body

Keep your Doctor in the loop

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Read more awesome pregnancy posts to help you stay prepared!

Struggling to stay organized and feel in control of your home?? Learn how to stress less now!

Everything You Need to Know About Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Causes:

Prevention:

Take stool softener–

Moisturization–

Go When You Gotta Go

Treatment:

Internal and Oral creams/medications

Home Remedies

7 Care Tips:

1. Donut Pillow-

2. Baths–

3. Cream–

4. Stool softener–

5. Peri Bottle/Wipes-

6. Drink lots of water and eat fibers-

7. Don’t Push, Just Relax-

What to do If your hemorrhoids during pregnancy are very, very painful:

Free hemorrhoid prevention & care cheatsheet!

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Best Essentials for Postpartum Recovery

Postpartum Recovery: Bathroom Essentials

Mega pads

Dermoplast

Peri bottle

Pain Reliever

Mama bottom balm

Hemorrhoid Cream

Tucks Pads

Stool Softener

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Around the House Postpartum Essentials

Hemorrhoid & Postpartum Pillow

Comfortable Underwear

Heating pads (icy hot)

Nipple cream

Nipple pads

Probiotics

Belly Lotion

Sitz Bath

Epsom Salt

Gigantic water bottle

Recovery Journal

Rest

Ultimate Postpartum Essentials Checklist

What Emotions You Will Be Experiencing During Labor and Delivery

Excitement

Exhaustion

Sickness (Nausea, lightheaded, etc.)

Fear

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Pain

How to Prepare for the Emotional Part of Labor and Delivery:

1. Surround Yourself with Support

2. Have a Plan

4. Cocoon yourself with positive affirmations/encouragement