Mom Approved Postpartum Recovery Hacks

Mom Approved Postpartum Recovery Hacks

Pregnancy and childbirth is an intense experience—labor and delivery can feel like running a marathon, and you’ll experience new physical and emotional challenges postpartum. This period, often called the "fourth trimester," is a profound transition. While the focus naturally shifts to your beautiful newborn, your own healing is just as vital. Your body did something amazing, and it takes time to heal, but these mom approved postpartum recovery hacks can help make the journey just a little bit easier and a lot more comfortable.

Phase 1: Your Foundational Postpartum Toolkit

Before we dive into specifics for different types of deliveries, let's set you up for success with some universal must-haves.

Make a Recovery Supply Caddy

There are a handful of essentials you’ll need whether you’ve delivered vaginally or via c-section (we’ll dive into those, below), and having them collected, organized, and portable—especially for trips to the bathroom—will make your life easier. Think of it as a mobile healing station. Consider packing your postpartum supplies and your hospital bag at the same time for less stress (and the satisfaction of marking off two tasks from your pre-due date checklist).

Your caddy should include:

• For Every Mom: Peri bottle, adult diapers or large pads, witch hazel pads or liquid, a pain-relieving spray like Dermoplast (the blue can!), stool softeners, and your favorite comfy underwear.
• For Vaginal Delivery: Add materials for "padsicles" and a sitz bath soak.
• For C-Section Recovery: Add your incision care items, like scar balm and silicone strips (for later), and a gentle, unscented soap.

Stool Softeners Are Your Friends

One of the most common new mom anxieties (outside of the whole parenting gig) is the first bowel movement after labor and delivery: you’re physically exhausted, you’re dealing with repeated overnight wakings, you’re learning to breastfeed, and you may have stitches. Hormonal shifts and pain medication can also contribute to constipation, making the situation even more stressful. A member of your postpartum team may suggest taking a stool softener, like Colace, and if they don’t, it’s worth asking them yourself. A stool softener can make your first bowel movement easier and more comfortable to pass. Also, stay hydrated and eat fiber-rich foods like fruits and whole grains to help things along naturally.

Mom Diapers.

If you’ve delivered vaginally or by c-section, you’ll be managing postpartum bleeding (called lochia) for a few weeks after childbirth. The bleeding is heaviest those first two weeks, and wearing an adult diaper—some of which look and feel like underwear, like Depends Silhouette or Always Discreet—during that phase may be more comfortable and convenient than wearing undies and a giant pad. They provide 360-degree protection, so you can worry less about leaks and focus more on resting. We’re also big proponents of leaving the hospital with as many pairs of the mesh postpartum underwear as your nurse will allow (and they’re usually pretty generous!).

Buy Witch Hazel in Bulk

Witch hazel is a botanical astringent that reduces pain and irritation by decreasing inflammation, and can be purchased over-the-counter at most drug stores (just be sure that it’s alcohol-free). It works wonders on stitches, whether they’re in your abdomen or perineum—just soak cotton balls or a package of wet wipes with witch hazel, and dab gently for immediate relief. If you’re less of a DIY type, Tucks pads will do the trick, and if you have hemorrhoids, consider witch hazel your new BFF. Pro-tip: Keep your witch hazel bottle in the refrigerator for an extra-soothing, cooling effect.

Embrace the "Rest and Recover" Mindset

Your newborn will sleep frequently those first weeks home, typically 14-17 hours a day—resist the urge to “get things done” during those moments. Your only jobs right now are to heal and bond with your baby. If you have friends and family visiting, offload chores and meal planning if you can, and take the time your baby is sleeping to sneak in some extra shut-eye yourself or indulge in a Netflix binge—whatever floats your boat. This isn't laziness; it's medically necessary for your recovery.

Postpartum Hacks for a Vaginal Delivery

We’ve rounded up the best postpartum recovery hacks for vaginal deliveries from our Albee moms, and keep in mind, if you pushed any amount of time before receiving a c-section, these tips are useful for your recovery, too.

Use a Peri Bottle and Dermaplast for Trips to the Bathroom

If you’ve delivered vaginally, your perineal area will be sore—if you’ve torn and required stitches, or are stitch-free (the stretching required for delivery is enough to make the area sore and tender). And when you pee, it will burn. A peri bottle (a squirt bottle that the hospital will give you, though we are major fans of the Upside Down Peri Bottle from FridaBaby) is a simple tool for soothing the sting while you’re urinating. Just fill it with warm water, and squirt it on your perineal area as you pee. After peeing, gently pat the area dry with toilet paper; don't wipe! Finish up bathroom trips with a spray of Dermaplast for quick pain relief.

Make "Padsicles"

A “padsicle” is a cute name for a postpartum cold pack made with an extra-large sanitary pad. They’re super easy to make using a few common household ingredients, too:

• Use the biggest pad you can find (the ones from the hospital are a great choice, or look for the heavy flow overnight options).
• Unfold your pad and saturate it with 3-4 tablespoons of alcohol-free witch hazel.
• Add a dollop of aloe vera gel and spread over the pad with the back of a spoon.
• Refold your pad, drop it into a storage bag, and pop it into the freezer.

Use in your underwear like a normal pad for cooling relief to your perineal area.
Don’t forget: you’ll need to thaw your padsicle for a bit before wearing it (the pad shouldn’t be totally frozen still because it will be directly against your skin). If you're short on time, you can also just spray witch hazel directly onto a pad right before you wear it for a less intense but still helpful effect.

Take a Sitz Bath

Soaking in a warm bath with Epsom Salt or a herbal sitz bath blend (like this one from Earth Mama) can really help reduce irritation or itching due to stitches, and will help with general soreness, regardless. A sitz bath involves soaking just your hips and bottom in a few inches of warm (not hot) water for 15-20 minutes. You can do this in a clean bathtub or with a special basin that fits over your toilet. Friendly reminder: if you’ve had a c-section, baths should be avoided until your incision has healed.

Use a Postpartum Donut Cushion

If you’re especially sore down there, even sitting can feel uncomfortable—a postpartum donut cushion can help. The open space in the cushion (the donut “hole”) will relieve pressure and reduce perineal pain and swelling. This is especially helpful for long feeding sessions or when sitting on hard chairs.

Postpartum Hacks for a C-Section Delivery

Delivery via C-section is incredibly common in the US (32% of live births are Cesarean deliveries), so it’s easy to forget that it’s a major surgery. These recovery tips and tricks can help get you through.

Avoid Bending Over or Reaching High

Bending over or stretching to grab something out of reach can be painful while recovering from a c-section (and are risks for tearing your stitching). Anything you can do on a countertop or kitchen table is your best bet, so create a diaper changing station somewhere waist-level, and keep dinnerware, drinkware, and utensils out on the counter. Consider investing in a long-handled "grabber" tool to pick things up off the floor without bending. Wear high-waisted underwear or pants that won't rub against your incision.

Take Care of Your Incision

For the first two weeks postpartum, you’ll want to keep your incision clean and dry (run water over it in the shower, then try blasting your hair dryer on cool to dry your scar). Watch for any signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, pus, or a fever, and call your doctor immediately if you notice them. At your two week post op visit, your doctor will probably recommend using an ointment and massage to reduce the appearance of your scar (we love Earth Mama’s Organic Skin & Scar Balm).

Incorporate Gentle Walks

Women who’ve delivered via C-section are at an increased risk for blood clots. Short, gentle walks around the house or neighborhood will improve your mood, improve circulation, and can help prevent blood clots. Remember, this isn’t vigorous, just an effort to move your legs (if you haven’t had any complications, your doctor will probably give the okay for resuming normal exercise 6-8 weeks postpartum).

Fourth Trimester Breastfeeding Hacks

Yes, breastfeeding is natural—but it’s also a new skill that requires patience, and can be physically uncomfortable. These hacks can help.

Use Cabbage Leaves for Engorgement

Who would’ve guessed that cabbage leaves are a breastfeeding mom’s MVP: they can relieve pain associated with mastitis and engorgement, and make weaning more comfortable. Why? Cabbage leaves contain anti-inflammatory compounds that have a pain-relieving effect when applied directly to skin. To use cabbage leaves:

Wash and dry cabbage leaves, then place them in the fridge to cool (using damp paper towels between leaves can prevent them from drying out and wilting).

Place the leaves directly against your skin, covering your whole breast (slip them inside your bra for hands-free convenience).

After twenty minutes (or if the leaves have become warm), remove the leaves.
If you’re using cabbage leaves to treat mastitis or engorgement, you can wear them up to three times a day, for twenty minutes each session. Using them more frequently can reduce milk production, which you’ll want to avoid, especially when establishing your supply.

Apply Nipple Cream (& More!)

Breastfeeding—especially in the beginning—can be uncomfortable, and will likely irritate your nipples. Using a nipple cream or balm with soothing, safe ingredients like lanolin can help you avoid dry, itchy, or cracked nipples, and applying it to the flanges of your breast pump will make pumping sessions more comfortable. Many moms also swear by silver nursing cups, which have natural antimicrobial properties, or hydrogel soothing pads that can be kept in the fridge.

Mind Your Mind: Emotional Recovery is Key

Your hormones are on a rollercoaster ride, you're sleep-deprived, and you're now responsible for a tiny human. It's normal to feel overwhelmed. Pay attention to your mental health.

• Understand the "Baby Blues": Feeling weepy, anxious, and irritable for the first couple of weeks is very common and is known as the "baby blues." It's usually temporary and linked to hormonal shifts.
• Know the Signs of PPD/PPA: If feelings of sadness, rage, anxiety, or hopelessness persist beyond two weeks or feel severe, you may be experiencing Postpartum Depression (PPD) or Postpartum Anxiety (PPA). These are real, treatable medical conditions. Talk to your doctor without shame.
• Talk About It: Share your feelings with your partner, a trusted friend, or other new moms. Saying "this is hard" out loud can be incredibly validating.

Postpartum recovery can be a challenging time for new mothers as they adjust to the physical changes (and demands) after childbirth. While every woman’s birth story and experience is different, these hacks can help promote your postpartum recovery and make you feel human again. Be patient with your body, be kind to your mind, and don't be afraid to ask for help. You've got this.