Our Favorite Postpartum Products
Written by Shay Gabriel and Annica Quakenbush
Before giving birth for the first time, I expected it to be pretty straightforward to gather up the necessary postpartum products. I mean, how hard could it be, right? Truth be told, when it came time to buy, I stood dumbfounded in the hygiene aisle at Target—the choice overload was real! So I bailed on my first shopping trip and took to some research and friendly polling instead. After some trial and error, here are the products I ended up loving, organized by category. And Annica is here to share her favorites as well!
These are our tried-and-true personal preferences, and we are choosing to share specific brands where relevant/helpful. We truly believe in these products, and have used them personally. As an Amazon Associate, Sprout and Blossom does earn from your qualifying purchases (at no additional cost to you), if you do choose to purchase any of our suggested products. We hope this post is super helpful!
Lochia
Lochia is the discharge released after childbirth, containing blood and mucus. It can last for several weeks and is best left uninhibited to avoid infection—in other words, no tampons or menstrual cups.
Shay’s Faves
Target Up & Up Women’s Underwear / off-brand Depends. I found Target’s off-brand “Depends” more comfortable than regular or mesh underwear because they were flexible while still offering great support for ice packs. When my bleeding was heaviest, I placed an extra wing-free pad inside the “Depends” at night for additional peace of mind. And, as marketed, they’re great for any loss of bladder control—a potential postpartum symptom! (Yep, it happened to me…)
Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle. Kept me feeling fresh and clean! And the difference that angled sprayer makes…I preferred this peri bottle to the others I had on hand.
Earth Mama Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea. To help the uterus do its job with afterbirth contractions, and to help me feel more comfortable along the way.
Annica rocking mesh panties just hours after her second baby was born. Photo by Brooke Collier of Sister Birth.
Annica’s Faves
Mesh Panties and Natracare Maternity Pads. I preferred mesh panties because they were so breezy (did you know that postpartum hot flashes and sweating is a thing?), with Natracare maternity pads the first couple days, then cloth pads.
Mum & You Baby Wipes. Baby wipes or cloth wipes with water to clean myself after every time I used the bathroom. I found this to be really nice the second time around to feel like I wasn’t sitting in blood all day and night. I loved Mum & You brand because they are compostable (100% plastic-free).
Perineum
The perineum is the area between the vagina and anus that stretches to allow for a vaginal birth. The perineum may be uncomfortable after birth, especially if any tearing, stitching, or hemorrhoids are present.
Shay’s Faves
Sprout and Blossom Botanicals Organic Herbal Sitz Bath. Healing herbs added to a few inches of water for soaking the perineum—and an opportunity to relax. My sitz baths almost always turned into full on body baths, often accompanied by my little nursling. Even better!
Sprout and Blossom Botanicals Organic Lavender Peri Spray. I loved the cooling effect of this peri spray. It doubles as a nice spray for de-wrinkling laundry in the dryer, too!
Sprout and Blossom Botanicals Icy Pad Kit. A great all-natural alternative to the ice packs provided by hospitals. I found that the most comfortable option for me was to let an icy pad thaw while taking a bath, then adding that directly into my off-brand Depends. Not too cold, not too bulky.
Earth Mama Organic Perineal Balm. Great for soothing and healing pregnancy and postpartum symptoms such as hemorrhoids or other perineal discomfort.
Annica’s Faves
All of the above! Sitz baths and Earth Mama Perineal Balm got me through a difficult postpartum healing experience with my first baby! Pro tip: If you are like me and don’t have a deep soaker tub, having an Overflow Drain Cover to allow for 4 more inches of water in a normal tub made a huge difference during pregnancy and postpartum.
This is a photograph of Annica in her first week postpartum after the birth of her first baby. Soaking in an herbal sitz bath twice a day was an important part of physical healing and emotional balance in the early weeks with a newborn.
Lactation
Shay’s Faves
Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter. I loved that there was no need to wipe before nursing. In fact, I even applied it directly to my newborn’s chapped lips! Since then, Annica has created a nipple balm that I've heard others rave about. I'm sure it's gold! Sprout and Blossom’s Herbal Nursing Balm
Earth Mama Organic Milkmaid Tea. I experienced a dip in supply shortly after the return of my menstrual cycle. I started drinking this tea daily, in addition to keeping up with a probiotic supplement, and my supply is much more balanced throughout each cycle. Plus, drinking this tea is a delicious, comforting morning ritual!
Organic Bamboo Washable Breast Pads. I kept these everywhere, since sprays and leaks were common in those early nursing months! We just tossed them in with regular laundry. I can’t imagine how many disposable pads I would have blown through.
Milkies Milk Saver. One day it occurred to me how much milk I must be wasting as I caught extra letdowns into breast pads. I had an oversupply with a forceful letdown and wanted to store milk without increasing my supply. Keeping a milk saver on one breast while nursing on the other did the trick, until eventually my supply leveled out and I wasn’t leaking so much.
Annica’s Faves
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow. I found this pillow much easier to use for nursing a newborn than the popular Boppy. The Boppy worked better for me as my babies got older.
Haakaa. This inexpensive silicone catchment device suctions onto the opposite breast when nursing. I found it to be the easiest way to build a small stash without a lot of setup or cleanup.
WishGarden AfterEase Tincture. Cramping that comes with nursing in the early weeks is relieved by this tincture. I liked the taste, and found it so helpful—especially after my second baby when after pains were more intense.
Sunflower Lecithin and WishGarden Happy Ducts Tincture. These two products in combination make a huge difference in preventing clogged ducts and mastitis.
Sprout and Blossom’s Herbal Nursing Balm. I’m not a fan of weird ingredients going into my baby’s mouth - for example, sheep sweat (lanolin) which is found is many nipple creams. I make a vegan, organic alternative that works great!
Skin care
Shay’s Faves
Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter. I applied this daily throughout pregnancy, and the one and only time I ever had an itchy belly was on the day I forgot to use it! It became my body lotion of choice for pregnancy, the fourth trimester, and beyond.
Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil. I applied this oil after showering throughout the dry winter months (in both pregnancy and postpartum). Massaging my belly with oil became a daily opportunity to thank my body for carrying my baby—both before and after she was born. Annica has since added a belly oil to our shop, and it's a crowd favorite! Sprout and Blossom’s Herbal Belly Oil
Annica’s Faves
Sprout and Blossom’s Herbal Belly Oil. This stuff is magical, and smells absolutely amazing. With both my pregnancies, I had a nighttime routine that included rubbing oil on my belly and pausing to connect with my baby.
Shay Gabriel is a content creator for Sprout and Blossom whose love of parenthood and psychology has merged into a super-obsession of all things birthy and baby. She believes an informed experience lends to an empowered experience, no matter where you are along the journey.
Annica Quakenbush is a birth doula, birth photographer, mama to two homebirthed babies, and the owner of Sprout and Blossom. She is the creator of Sprout and Blossom Botanicals’ boutique care products for the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.