The Things that Got Me through: My Postpartum Journey
My postpartum recovery was, thankfully, very "normal" and swift. Aside from the emotions that came with bringing home our fragile new baby girl—and the occasional bouts of crying from happiness or just plain hormones—I truly believe my experience was, shall I say, pretty chill. That’s largely because I have the most loving and supportive partner a girl could ask for.
I cried when we wouldn’t let Cabo get too close to the baby, and the look on his little face when we told him to “stay back” made me bawl. Or how about when we brought her home and Matt was strapping her into the swaddle—which, let’s be honest, looks like a full-on straightjacket—and I don’t know why, but it just seemed so intense… I cried then, too. It was in this little postpartum bubble that I discovered a whole new world and learned to count on small things to get me through.
A little daily self-care was critical to feeling like my old self again. A body scrub during my daily shower felt like a treat, and applying a nourishing face oil each morning helped revive my skin after long, sleepless nights—with minimal effort. A few swipes of the Merit brow gel brought my features back to life!
In the beginning, breastfeeding was a wild new normal. Let me tell you—my nipples ran marathons without any prior training. Ouch! Nipple cream and Silverettes were lifesavers. I alternated between the two, since I was told you're not supposed to use both at the same time. I had also purchased four different brands of nursing bras—and SKIMS was the winner. The hybrid nursing and pumping functionality is essential! Plus, the knit material is substantial, so your newly massive boobs feel secure and snug—not like they could knock someone out just by walking by. Ha!
Of course, the breastfeeding journey wouldn’t be complete without the GOAT of all nursing pillows. Initially, I was going to get the one without the waist strap, but our nanny insisted that the strap was a must—and she was right. It allows you to adjust and position the pillow in ways you just can’t with one that merely rests around your waist.
All in all, it’s truly been a beautiful experience. We’re still trying to navigate getting our girl to sleep more at night, but we’re grateful for the challenge.
These postpartum essentials saved me. Shop Postpartum
