Hello Everyone! Today, I want to share with you my must have self-care postpartum items! It seems like just yesterday that anxiety washed over me as I had convinced myself that I would never be able to comfortably, sit, sneeze, cough, or poo again. I remember standing on the train because I was too in pain to sit down. My eyes screwed shut in pain every time I coughed. And, worst of all, I was deathly afraid of passing my first postpartum bowel movement. I was so sure my uterus would fall out with it.
Living in Japan didn't make things any easier. The Japanese pride themselves on their "as natural as possible" approach to maternity, labor, and postpartum care. So, I looked on in envy of all my fellow American soon-to-be mom's showing off their Tuck's pads, perineal sprays, and numbing sprays. I scoured Japanese shopping sites, but I couldn't find any Japanese equivalents. I was convinced I'd never make it out the immediate postpartum phase alive.
To be fair, maybe I was a tad bit disadvantaged. I had a completely natural vaginal delivery with no pain killers and 10 hours of labor. I was also given a catheter during labor and an episiotomy. Needless to say, there was serious trauma down there! So, when I was getting wiped down by the nurse and all she handed me for the rest of my 5 day hospital stay was maternity pads and maternity underwear, I was at a lost. No, tips, tricks, padsicles, or numbing medication. I wasn't even given a sympathetic smile when the nurse told me to go to the bathroom for the first time.
But, fear not! The pain is bearable, and things get better and better. If you stay on top of your hygiene and don't do too much, you'll be feeling better in a few weeks time. I'm seven weeks postpartum and, while there is the occasional soreness when I go to the bathroom, it's nothing like nearly a month ago. No infections, no complications, and I passed my initial check-up (and postpartum bowel movement) with flying colors! I was even able to be released from the hospital early.
I almost caved in and imported all those fancy postpartum recovery items that many American mom's were using because I was just that uncomfortable, but I'm glad I didn't! Before you know it, things get more and more bearable.
So, if you are living in Japan and need some advice as a soon to be mom, please keep reading to find out how I made it out of postpartum recovery Hell alive!
BIDET
If you live in Japan, one of the first things we Americans notice is the fancy toilets here. They squirt water and sometimes even play music. Well, these fancy toilets are now your best friend. You will be using, or should be using a bidet, religiously postpartum. Due to the trauma, and in my case stitches, you are going to want to stay away from just wiping. Bidets are really gentle and help maintain sanitation. Using a bidet will not only clean the area, but the cool water helps soothe. Fortunately, my toilet has a bidet and dryer. So, I just set the jet stream to light, made the water temperature warm, and then turned on the dryer. Afterwards, I patted down their lightly with toilet paper. It was like a mini spa for down there! I actually started looking forward to using the restroom because the tightening and itching from the stitches and healing was very uncomfortable.
If you don't have a bidet, you can buy a manual and portable one on Amazon Japan for fairly cheap. I also used a blow dryer to dry off down there after showers as well.
Japanese term to search: おしり洗浄器
POST PARTUM PADS
Do not think you can get away with the pads you use for your menstrual cycle. Nope, not even the overnight ones. It's absolutely imperative to buy maternity pads or adult diapers. The amount of blood is unreal at first, and you definitely don't want your pad shifting or rubbing down there. As for myself, The hospital gave me two packs of large, a pack of medium, and a pack of small sized pads. I only needed to buy one additional pack of medium maternity pads before I transitioned to normal pads used for menstrual cycles. The maternity pads are comically large, but you definitely need them, and your bedding will thank you later.
It's recommended that you change your maternity pad every three hours, which is why you'll go through a lot. They are a tad bit expensive, but completely worth it!
Japanese term to search: お産用パッド
POSTPARTUM UNDERWEAR
Maternity underwear can be any pair you don't mind getting ruined, but I specifically recommend maternity underwear because the ones I bought have an almost water proof inner material and don't stain. Also, they are really comfortable, breathable, and the bottoms open up for easy examination by a nurse or doctor. I continue to wear mine even now during my menstrual cycle.
Japanese term to search: 産褥ショーツ
NURSING PADS
In the early days of postpartum, my milk supply was off the chain. I was always leaking, and to be honest, it was super uncomfortable and gross. I was a complete newbie at breastfeeding and just didn't recognize what my body needed. I was also naïve enough to think I could go hours without pumping, and so, I'd often find the front of my shirt completely soaked through. I'd also oftentimes wake up in a pool of milk or just feel it dripping randomly. I was so stressed out over my out of control milk supply.
So, to avoid embarrassment, stress, and to save yourself from loads of laundry, I recommend investing in nursing pads. The hospital gave me a pack of disposable ones, which were comfortable and did the job well. I also bought a pair of reusable ones, which helps save money. So, I won't recommend one over the other because both are useful!
Now that my supply has regulated, and I've gotten better at reading my body, I don't need them as much, but I still bring a pair along when I go out.
Japanese term to search: 母乳パッド
NIPPLE CREAM
In the beginning, it felt like my nipple was being stabbed by a thousand needles every time my daughter latched. I saw stars one time she latched too shallowly and broke the skin. Breastfeeding was not the gentle, loving activity I imagined it to be. It was pretty painful and uncomfortable at first because your nipples and baby have to get used to one another. I dreaded every nursing session until the mid-wife recommended I use nipple cream or nipple butter. It was a game changer! The chapped, dry, and cracked feeling went away almost instantly and now everything is soft and supple. She recommended I use a cream called Baa-yu. It is safe for babies, which is important. I make sure to apply it after every session and shower, and it definitely helped a lot in the early days of postpartum.
Japanese term to search: 乳頭保護クリーム
In the beginning, it seems like all the pain and discomfort will last forever, but it won't! My biggest advice is to be patient and vigilant. Don't skip a pad changing, keep everything super clean, and get as much rest as you can. Before you know it, you'll be moving around like a pro again!
0 comments