The 7 Best Postpartum Kits for Making Recovery Easier
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When you bring up a newborn, everyone talks about the sleep loss (yawn, literally) and skips over the birthing parent's recovery. Enter the best postpartum kits, which can make the physical aftereffects of giving birth a little bit easier, whether it hurts to sit down, you have a C-section incision, breastfeeding is throwing you for a loop, or you're dealing with some other complication.
After all, giving birth inflicts a ton of trauma on the body—on top of all of the other challenges that a new baby, cute as they might be, can introduce. (See: postpartum hair loss and pelvic floor dysfunction.) "The postpartum time is one of the most stressful times in a woman's life for several reasons," says Lyndsey Harper, MD, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and CEO and co-founder of Rosy. "The lack of sleep, responsibility for a new life that is completely dependent on you, hormonal and body changes, stress of feeding, and changing dynamics with partners can be a lot for anyone to handle."
The good news is that hospitals usually set you up with some helpful supplies, which you can (and absolutely should) stuff into your hospital bag before you head out. "This is a standard part of postpartum care, and most hospitals will provide these items for their patients to take home and keep," says Dr. Harper. "With that said, some women may find it helpful to order postpartum kits and familiarize themselves with all of these items prior to giving birth." That can help demystify the postpartum experience—which, let's face it, is still largely taboo to discuss—and set yourself up for recovery, she says. Plus, they can make a great gift for a new mom. Just putting it out there.
With that, scroll ahead for seven of the best postpartum kits for new parents out there, with products recommended by ob-gyns and used by parents here at Allure HQ.
Frida Mom
Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit
Amazon
Walmart
Why It's Worth It: The Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit might be the best-known kit out there, and for a good reason. According to Dr. Harper, it "offers high-quality items that most women will use frequently." And the praise doesn't just come from doctors, but actual moms, too: "Most of my friends recommended this to me, and they were so right to," says Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin, who added it to her baby registry.
She ended up buying more of the brand's disposable postpartum underwear, "which are way better than the hospital ones — no slouchy, diaper-butt feeling with these," she says, as well as the perineal cooling pads. FYI: This brand is also clutch for baby products, too. Just add FridaBaby NoseFrida the Snotsucker to your registry and thank us later.
Coolest Product: The upside-down peri bottle in this postpartum recovery kit is the best. "It is designed so you can get the water where you need it without having to reach down too far," says Jill Purdie, MD, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group in Atlanta, Georgia. "It is gentle but effective."
Everything Included: Disposable underwear (4), instant ice maxi pads (4), cooling pad liners (24), perineal healing foam, toilet-top storage caddy
Bodily
Bodily Scheduled C-Section Box
Bodily
Why It's Worth It: While you'll find the usual new mom essentials in the Bodily Scheduled C-Section Box, including a peri wash bottle and mesh underwear, what sets it apart is the addition of the postpartum belly band, which can be especially helpful during C-section recovery. It also has two booklets, one for the parent and one for a caregiver. "Bodily's supplementary guides are so helpful for women who may not have an immediate community or family to ask questions to," says Shipin, who notes that the booklets are short and straightforward enough for a tired parent with limited time.
By Aliza Kelly
By Marci Robin
By Marci Robin
This postpartum care kit comes pre-packed in a pouch that you can simply toss into your hospital bag, and we appreciate that the brand offers boxes for an array of difficult postpartum situations, like a Care for Stillbirth Box.
Coolest Product: As long as your doc okays it, get that belly band on, stat. "Many women who have C-sections feel they do not have a lot of abdominal strength, especially when they are getting up and down," says Dr. Purdie. "An abdominal binder can give some support to the core and make it more comfortable to get up and down."
Everything Included: Peri wash bottle, Nip Nourish, Nip Protect, nipple gel pads, non-slip breast pads, socks, belly band, mesh undies (3), maxi pads (14), stool softener, Guidebook for You, Guidebook for Your Supporter
Earth Mama Organics
Earth Mama Postpartum Recovery Gift Box
Amazon
Earth Mama Organics
Why It's Worth It: Tell your doula to hit pause on the tea, because the Earth Mama Postpartum Recovery Collection has you covered. It comes with an herbal perineal spray (with an upside-down sprayer), herbal sitz bath sachets, a perineal balm, a tea designed to help manage cramping pain, and more. Although you might want to DIY your own ice pads, the sitz bath, spray, and balm for the perineum area in this organic postpartum recovery regimen make this a good option if you're dealing with a tear or hemorrhoids.
Coolest Product: The Earth Mama Nipple Butter is a game-changer if you choose to breastfeed. "I relied on this to help manage the soreness and speed up healing when I was first breastfeeding my baby," says Allure contributor Deanna Pai. "It smells really good and I loved knowing that it was USDA-certified organic—which was a big deal since my baby was literally eating it." It's made with not lanolin, but olive oil, cocoa seed butter, mango seed butter, and beeswax.
Everything Included: Peri wash spray, sitz bath, tea, perineal balm, nipple butter, breast massage pads
Ebi
Ebi The Everyday Postpartum 3-Piece Set
Saks Fifth Avenue
Ebi
Why It's Worth It: Proof that a postpartum kit can be cute—elegant, even!—Ebi's The Everyday Kit rethinks the fourth trimester with a simple trio. Instead of the usual ice packs and perineal spray, it offers an herbal bath soak (billed as the modern version of the traditional sitz bath) infused with herbs like yarrow and comfrey. The multitasking oil, which is infused with sunflower seed, sesame seed, and almond oils, can be applied anywhere on the body to calm skin, while the tisane (or tincture) is intended to support healthy milk production and supply key vitamins and minerals.
By Aliza Kelly
By Marci Robin
By Marci Robin
Coolest Product: The herbal bath soak is especially thoughtful. Sitz baths "are the most helpful for reducing swelling, soreness, and itching in the perineal and anal area," says Dr. Purdie, who notes that they're most helpful for people who've experienced significant swelling or painful lacerations. They can also alleviate swelling related to hemorrhoids, she says.
Everything Included: Tea, sitz bath, multipurpose oil (You can buy these products separately at Bluemercury)
Lansinoh
Lansinoh Breastfeeding Essentials Kit
Amazon
Lansinoh
Why It's Worth It: The Lansinoh Breastfeeding Essential Kit is a game-changer for the mom who has no idea what to expect. It's packed with breast milk storage bags to help you handle the first days of engorgement (the pain is real), therapy packs, and even a hands-free silicone breast pump, which allows you to collect milk from one breast while nursing baby on the other. Pai is a fan of the nursing pads, which she now buys in bulk, as well as the silicone breast pump, which made it easy to catch extra milk during letdowns.
Coolest Product: "I inherited a bunch of Lansinoh's breastfeeding essentials from my cousin and found that the therapy packs were so, so helpful when I've had mastitis," Pai says. You can stash them in the freezer to get some relief during mastitis, or warm them up in the microwave to encourage a letdown.
Everything Included: Nipple cream, silicone breast pump, breastmilk storage bags (25), breast therapy packs (2), nursing pads (48)
Hatch
Hatch Maternity The Hospital Departure Bundle
Saks Fifth Avenue
Hatch
Why It's Worth It: Make the fourth trimester feel a little more elegant with Hatch's The Hospital Departure Bundle. While you'll get the Hatch Nipple + Lip Rescue Balm to protect against chafing, the bundle also includes the brand's Skin to Skin Bra, which feels as close as it gets to going braless, but still offers support and a way to hold nursing pads. The top and pants, meanwhile, offer all the comfort of pajamas but still feel a little more put-together than your old college sweats.
Coolest Product: The super-soft Visitor Top isn't just any sweater: It has a stretchy neckline that you can pull down to nurse your little one, as well as a relaxed, slightly oversized fit that still feels polished. Plus, it's machine washable.
By Aliza Kelly
By Marci Robin
By Marci Robin
Everything Included: Bra, top, pants, nipple balm
The Honest Company
Honest Company Glow Like a Mother Postnatal Skin Care Routine
The Honest Company
Why It's Worth It: If you have less than five minutes to shower, the Honest Company Glow Like a Mother Postnatal Skin Care Routine helps make them count. A nice gift for a mom-to-be, it subs out the usual postpartum products for in-shower TLC, including a nourishing shower oil that smells faintly of rose, a body cream packed with shea butter, a hypoallergenic body oil infused with coconut, avocado, and olive oils, and a USDA-certified nipple balm.
Coolest Product: The Honest Company's Calm Your Nip Balm helps comfort and heal chapped or sore nipples in the early days of breastfeeding and pumping. You can swipe extra onto your lips and cuticles, and since it's made with coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax, it's safe for baby to ingest while nursing.
Everything Included: Cleansing oil, body cream, bo
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