postpartum recovery guide

so francis is currently recovering from covid-19, and i probably will get it any day now and we've been quarantining.  for a while, i'd been meaning to make these lists so i remember all of this info, and everything that's helpful to me.  so with this new free time i find myself with, i've been on a roll!

this list is written with the soon-to-be-mama in mind and for the (very) close girlfriend or sister of the soon-to-be-mama who wants to be helpful.  i sincerely hope it is helpful!
(this information is coming from my own experiences.  i birthed in a hospital setting and did not have a c-section, so you know where i'm coming from a little bit.)

1. disposable high-waist c-section underwear.  my top recommendation!  these were amazing!  i didn't have a c-section, but they were great for me too!  they are really really comfortable, stretchy but not too stretchy so you feel like they'll ride down, and disposable so you don't have to worry about washing them.  the hospital gives you disposable underwear, but these were far superior in my opinion!
2. perineal witch hazel healing foam.  second recommendation, this foam, and these liners below.  a must-have for healing.
3. cooling pad liners.  i loved these liners!  the cooling properties really relieved pain.  the hospital will give you some of these too (at least mine did), but the ones i was given were round and i liked that these were rectangular and fit better in a pad.
4. at least two comfortable nursing bras.  i have this shein brand nursing bra, and i love it, but i don't recommend that brand anymore.  i wish i knew before purchasing several maternity pieces from them (they're so cheap!) but they are not socially responsible or environmentally friendly.  instead, i would recommend this bra.
5. a pack or two of overnight extra heavy maxi pads.
6. ice maxi pads.  i only used these for about the first week or two because they're really big and bulky to wear and it makes you feel like you're wearing a diaper, but they were so cooling and nice.
7. nursing pads.  these disposable ones were great for the first couple of months!  then i stopped needing them so much.  i prefer the disposable ones because they stick to your bra and are thin, but i did buy these reusable ones too to be more earth-friendly, although i didn't like that they would slide out of place.
8. peri bottles.  the hospital gives you one, but i also got another one and i appreciated having two.
9. big bag of epsom bath salts.  maybe even two!  i was not a big bath person until postpartum recovery.  then it became everything i didn't know i needed.  ha, i remember many times just soaking and crying because my emotions were all over the place.  postpartum emotions, man!  baths were so relaxing and made me feel like a real person again.  i liked both the lavender and eucalyptus ones.
10. a light-hearted book!  i haven't been much of a reader (hoping to change that!) but i really really enjoyed this easy read in the first couple of weeks in between resting and visitors, etc.  it's called a coat of yellow paint by naomi davis and i went through it really quick.  it's about motherhood, womanhood, and various life lessons, by my very favorite blogger. 
11. meal train.  i cannot tell you how valuable it was to us to have friends and family bring us meals those first few weeks.  have a good friend set this up for you, it is the biggest gift!! 

(photos by the byes!)