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The new mom's survival guide

March 17th, 2008 - engorgement, episiotomy, hemorrhoids, pain, post-partum, wellbeing

Giving birth is tough on both you and your baby. Here’s what you need to care for both of you in those first few weeks post-partum.

by: Alison Dunn

New mom's survival guide

  • Add Epsom salts to a sitz bath to promote healing of hemorrhoids and stitches from an episiotomy or tearing.
  • Use a little baby teething gel on your bum before your first post-partum bowel movement to relieve any discomfort.
  • Buy a safe, non-toxic lanolin cream to ease sore nipples during the first few days of breastfeeding.
  • Soak cotton pads in witch hazel for a soothing, cheap alternative to medicated hemorrhoid pads.
  • Keep a journal to track your baby's feedings and diaper activity to make sure he is breastfeeding properly.

Giving birth is one of the most physically challenging experiences a woman can go through. And, with the excitement of preparing for the baby’s arrival, new moms sometimes forget that they’re going to need a little TLC too. While most childbirth instructors give you a list of what to get for the baby, they often overlook a few items that mom might need for herself, says Joyce Mackay-Perry, a registered nurse from Ottawa, Ontario. Here’s her list of what a new mom needs to survive once the baby arrives:


1. Epsom salts
Add these to your bath water to ease aches and promote healing. “Using Epsom salts will help you heal faster; it’s a natural ingredient that helps draw out toxins,” says Mackay-Perry. She recommends putting them in a bath to help heal hemorrhoids and stitches (either from an episiotomy or tearing), or even just to ease muscle aches and back pain. Be sure to ask for a sitz bath at the hospital and add the salts to that as well. If you had a caesarian section, however, you shouldn’t bathe until your doctor gives you the go-ahead.

2. Baby teething gel
Yes, you can use this for teething, but here’s a secret tip for new moms: use a little on your bottom before that first post-delivery bowel movement to help combat any pain you might encounter. Just one of those things no one tells you before you have the baby!

3. Gripe water
Gripe water, available in most drug stores, can help ease colic or gas in newborns, says Mackay-Perry. While ingredients vary from brand to brand, it can include mint, ginger, dill, fennel and chamomile. There aren’t any clinical studies that have proven its effectiveness, but Mackay-Perry says a few drops can help baby burp, easing minor gas pains. You can also pop it in the fridge to help ease teething pain down the road.

4. 100% pure lanolin cream
The first few days of nursing can be tough–try using a lanolin-based cream to bring relief to dry, cracked nipples. Lanolin is a fat found in sheep’s wool and is used in many cosmetic products. A 100 percent pure lanolin cream, like Lansinoh or Pure Lan, is safe and non-toxic for baby. “You don’t have to wash it off, either,” says Mackay-Perry.

5. Soft gel pack for the freezer
Place the gel pack on your chair before sitting to relieve discomfort for those first few days post-delivery. Or, as an alternative, soak a diaper or maxi pad in water and freeze to use when sitting.

6. Breast pads
Uh oh! Your milk just came in with a vengeance and you’re leaving a trail wherever you go. Some new moms can never have enough breast pads in the first few days. Mackay-Perry recommends using reusable cloth pads because they’re washable and baby is less likely to end up with thrush. “The cotton lets the air flow better,” she says. “They don’t trap moisture and bacteria in the same way.” They’re also a more environmentally-friendly option.

7. Witch hazel & cotton pads
Soak cotton pads in witch hazel and wear directly against your skin, on top of your maxi pad. Witch hazel is a natural astringent, says Mackay-Perry, and it can both prevent your stitches from getting infected and shrink swollen hemorrhoids. This combination is also less expensive than store-bought medicated pads.

8. Journal & pen
Doctors and nurses recommend keeping track of baby’s feedings and diaper activity in the first few weeks, just to make sure he’s getting enough to eat. Keep a notebook and pen handy after feedings and, if you’re nursing, write down which breast you used (great for reminding you to alternate between your left and right breasts), how long the baby fed on each side and whether or not he had a bowel movement.

9. Extra-strength acetaminophen
This is the only painkiller a breastfeeding mom can safely take, so make sure you have enough on hand for all those post-labour aches and pains. While every woman will experience pain differently, you can use acetaminophen for cramps, back pain, headache and any muscle pain you might experience after delivering.

10. Diapers
Yes, you’ll need plenty of diapers on hand after the baby arrives. But did you know that diapers can serve another purpose besides just covering baby’s bottom? Mackay-Perry recommends freezing a wet diaper and using it as a cold compress on your breasts to ease engorgement when your milk comes in. She also recommends alternating cold compresses with hot compresses (try a heating pad on very low heat) to help with engorgement.

Meet our expert:
Joyce Mackay-Perry is a registered nurse who specializes in neo-natal care at the Ottawa Hospital, General Campus in Ottawa, Ontario.