After having three beautiful children and recovering from birth three times I learned a thing or two about natural postpartum care.

The first time I became a mom I wasn’t into cloth diapering or anything like that. My first postpartum experience was very painful. Once I had my second child Abram I was 100% into cloth diapering and doing things more naturally. 

After I made the change I feel like I had a much faster recovery so I wanted to share some things that worked for me! 

1. Reusable Waterproof Bed Pads

Ok, I know this one doesn’t help “heal you” but please hear me out!

No one seems to talk about all of the gnarly bodily fluids you’ll be dealing with after popping out a kid. And even if you have a cesarean doesn’t mean you won’t bleed either!

You may even experience several weeks or night-sweats where you’ll literally soak the sheets. Breastmilk will be leaking all over the place even with your best attempts at using nursing pads.

Usually, more during the beginning as your body is adjusting to the right amount of milk production.

Also if you’re night nursing in the bed or simply playing with your baby they tend to have diaper leaks, blowouts, and spit-ups.

Doesn’t this all sound incredibly pleasant?

This is why reusable washable bed pads are seriously underrated and one of the most useful tools to have during your postpartum period. They give another layer of protection to your mattress, the mattress cover, and your sheets.

It’s well worth the investment ladies!

There Are two types of bed pads that I recommend.

The first ones are these simple (Amazon aff link) Rectangle Bed Pads. You simply put them over your mattress protector and slip your fitted sheet over the pad.

This will save you from having to wash your mattress protector or worse, soaking through to your mattress!

The second type is one that goes over the top of your flat sheet. To secure it in place you’d simply tuck the sides under the edges of the bed.

(Amazon aff link) Saddle Style Bed Pads.

This type of pad keeps you from having to strip the sheets and wash them. It’s so much easier to change/wash the top pad than stripping sheets, washing, and putting your sheets back onto the bed.

Get the two-pack so you can rotate. These will save your sanity I promise!

But Wait … There’s More!

Now the best thing about these reusable bed pads is you can continue to use them for your kids. Mine tend to have a lot of bedwetting accidents, so these are great!

Nipple Care

2. Bamboobies Nipple Balm
The first time I became a mom to say that breastfeeding was painful was an understatement. Although, It got easier after I learned a few tricks and the pain eventually faded away.

This Nipple Balm (Amazon aff link) kept me from having cracked and bleeding nipples. I also lubed my pump shields with this stuff to make for a smoother pumping experience.

Bamboobies is 100% natural, USDA certified, made in America, and 100% safe for your baby to ingest.

You can also repurpose it as a cloth safe diaper cream when you’re done.

Another alternative to Bamboobies is Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. (Amazon aff link) It’s very versatile and cheap. You can use it as a moisturizer, for stretch marks, as a diaper cream, baby lotion, and on and on.

Other reviewers swear by the balms made from Earth Mama Organics (aff link) Organic Nipple Butter.

The last thing I want to quickly mention since we’re on the subject – is an organic belly oil that soothes the skin during pregnancy and helps with stretch marks.

(Amazon aff link) Green & Lovely Belly Oil is actually from an Etsy seller whom I’ve worked with before. I reviewed her cloth diaper wipe spray. She makes a lot of useful organic solves.

Her oil helped keep my big belly from feeling so itchy and tight. It also had the most INCREDIBLE smell!

I used every. last. drop.

Don’t Weld It, Shield It!

3. Silicone Nipple Shield
When I was breastfeeding at the beginning with each child (and at random other times) my nipples would get really sore. This is when I’d slip on my Medela Nipple Shield (Amazon aff link).

This gave me a little protection against my little toothless piranhas.

I’ve linked you to a shield that comes in a pack of two with a case. Sometimes the hospital will give you a free one but it doesn’t hurt to have a spare.

These are a MUST-HAVE if you have inverted nipples and the baby has a hard time latching.

4. Postpartum Recovery Belt
Postpartum recovery belts are meant to help provide support after having a child. They hold everything in and supposedly help your tummy to shrink back up if worn enough. You’re supposed to wear them for several hours a day for a few weeks.

I had two different types of these, one I received for free from the hospital.

If we’re being honest…
Honestly, I wasn’t too great at being consistent with them. I found the belts to be a bit uncomfortable. I thought I’d mention them anyway because my friends SWORE by them! They credited the belts for their belly’s shrinking back up.

Be sure to follow your Drs. advise if you’ve had or plan on having a cesarean.

You don’t want to negatively impact your healing. I’ll link you to the one I have on Amazon here. (Amazon aff link) Don’t forget that the hospital may also provide you one if you simply ask.

Down Stairs Care

5. Postpartum Cloth Pads
I used the regular ol’ hospital pads after my first kid before I knew cloth pads existed. When Abram and Ruth were born I went all-out on postpartum cloth pads.

They were 10* more comfortable and I just loved them! The hospital will usually provide you with mesh undies, several massive disposable pads, and a floppy disposable ice pack.

It’s basically like wearing a loose diaper, a trash sack, and a cold hard brick in your pants. Nothing stays in place and everything slides around.

Postpartum cloth pads snap directly around your panties so they can’t fall off. These cloth pads are SO much softer on an “already sensitive” area. There are 0 nasty chemicals like dioxins to worry about as well.

Some Etsy makers sell postpartum pads with ice packs that you can insert directly into the pad for additional comfort. This would prevent the ice pack from slipping around like the disposable ones.

Only use the ice pack no more than 24-48 hours after birth and only 15-minute increments as it can interfere with your healing.

Now I’ve already written everything you need to know about Postpartum Cloth Pads; including how to use them at the hospital.

6. Perineal Healing Spray
I made my own healing spray after doing a lot of research on natural skin healing remedies. This spray is a miracle worker down there!

You can spray it directly on “uhmm” or right on your postpartum pad after going to the restroom or during a pad change.

This spray is all-natural and extremely soothing. It also helped to speed up my recovery several times!

You can also use this healing spray for sores, hemorrhoids, chapped skin, rashes, etc.

Great For Stinky Babies!

And the best part is, you can continue to use the spray as a cleansing/healing spray for your babies.

Usually, after my babies have had a bowel movement (and after wiping them clean) I would use the healing spray. It takes that nasty poopy odor away while preventing or soothing diaper rash.

Just make sure the essential oils are ok with baby’s skin. You may want to consult your physician first.

The hospital will provide you with Dermoplast which will help numb the area but it doesn’t act as a cleansing or healing agent. Sometimes they will also give you witch hazel pads for hemorrhoids.

My postpartum healing spray soothes hemorrhoids since half of it is made from witch hazel.

If you don’t want to make your own healing spray Earth Mama Organics makes a great Herbal Perineal Spray (aff link) and an Organic Perineal Balm. (aff link)

Mini Baths For Your Downstairs

7. Sitz Baths & Sitz Bath Herbal Teas
A Sitz Bath (Amazon aff link) is a small plastic tub-like basin that you would emerge your perineum (the area between the vagina and rectum) in. Sitz baths are especially useful or recommended for people with 3rd to 4th-degree lacerations or who suffer from hemorrhoids.

When To Use:
They’re ideal to use after the first 24-48 hours but you can use longer. This helps to promote healing and help dissolve your sutures. You only need to use it for 3-5 minutes at a time and usually a few times a day.

Make sure the basin is clean and fill with lukewarm or warm water. You can add Epsom salts for added healing benefits or just use plain water.

This Tea Doesn’t Go In Your Mouth?

Earth Mama Organics and a few other places on Etsy actually sell Herbal Sitz Bath Teas (aff link) that you’d add to your sitz bath water. These teas provide added relief and promote faster healing. They are usually made with infused organic herbs and essential oils.

I purchased a sitz bath from Amazon and received one for free from the hospital. My best friend and mother SWORE by their sitz baths.

Personally, I never ended up using my sitz bath because my perineal healing spray did such a great job. I healed up quickly the second and third time around.

However, I probably would’ve benefited from the sitz bath on my first labor as I was completely train-wrecked down there!

8. Heating Pad
This one quickly became a must-have for me. I never knew just how miserable after-pains were until after giving birth.

Spoiler alert, it’s basically like labor contractions without all the hype!

After my second delivery, the hospital refused to give me anything other than ibuprofen so I was in great pain. The only thing that relieved me was when they brought me heated towels to lay on my belly.

Unfortunately, as soon as they cooled off my pains would return. Sorta like that creepy dude who keeps slipping into your DM’s.

Luckily, my MIL purchased me a cheap heating pad which also helped me after my third birth.

Here’s a better quality pad than the one that I received. (Amazon aff link) Heating Pad

I currently use my heating pad when I’m sick, have sore muscles, or when I’m having menstrual cramps. This is why heating pads are a great investment for your natural postpartum care kit!

Mental Health

9. Natural Supplements & Oils
There are quite a few natural supplements you can take to help aid you through the postpartum period. I’m only going to focus on one because I found it had the best reviews.

If you’re dealing with real postpartum depression please talk to your Dr. and seek help. These supplements are here to help but may not be the complete answer if you’re severely troubled.

So the supplement I want to mention is called Joy-Filled (Amazon aff link) by Happy Healthy Hippie. It’s a plant-based supplement for depression and anxiety. It also has the best reviews on Amazon.

Please remember to consult your physician before taking this.

If you’re planning on breastfeeding you’ll still need to take a good prenatal to get all of the nutrients that you & baby will need. I recommend This One. (Amazon aff link) It’s organic/non-GMO. Your Dr. can also prescribe you one.

Essential Oils

Diffusing essential oils is another great way to relax the mind. Lavender is proven to reduce stress and anxiety naturally. I recommend Young Living oils because they own their own farms, are USDA certified, and very high-quality oils.

Be careful when using oils if you’re breastfeeding. Read the back of the labels.

I generally stuck to diffusing lavender and sometimes grapefruit as it helped to lift my spirits. If I was having an especially anxiety-filled day I’d dab a little lavender oil on my wrists and neck.

10. Natural Postpartum Care Teas
Herbal teas are a great way to reduce bloating/inflammation or stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation.

There are several teas that I found that you may want to try out. Each tea has different benefits. Some help with calmness, others help ease premenstrual/postpartum hormonal symptoms and some even help with milk supply.

Earth Mama Organic Teas (Affiliate links)

This one is great for PMS, postpartum, and premenstrual symptoms.
Organic Periodic Tea

If you need to feel a sense of calmness you may try this.
Organic Peaceful Mama Tea

Got Milk? Or not?
Organic Milkmaid Tea

If you’re trying to quit breastfeeding try this one to help ease the transition.
Organic No More Milk Tea

If you’re soon having a baby I wish you well in your delivery and hope this post has helped you prepare in some way. Please leave me a comment and let me know which natural postpartum care product you plan on using or have used.