Post Partum Favorites + New Mama Essentials...

Our sweet little boy, Parker David, arrived on January 24th. We are so over the moon to be this little guy's parents and are so grateful for this amazing blessing. I plan to share more when we get our newborn pictures completed. In the meantime, I wanted to share my favorite postpartum products for both mama and baby. I remember stressing out about what to buy and what not to before we went to the hospital and as we prepared to welcome this little guy, so hopefully this can help another mama-to-be.  (As a disclaimer, every baby and mama are so different, so what has worked well for Parker and I, may be a totally different story with another babe.)

Parker's Essentials
Plain Onesies with Hand Coverings
I was so worried about buying cute and stylish clothes for Parker, but in all honesty, it's been great having the Gerber plain white onesies that cover his little hands so he doesn't scratch his face. That way I can easily swaddle him without him overheating (I love the Aden and Anais or the Ollie swaddles, Modern Burlap makes super cute ones too), and at night I can easily put him into his HALO Sleep Sack.  I get peed on a lot when I change him, or he has the occasional blowout from time to time, so I don't feel as bad changing him 2-3, sometimes 4 times a day into one of these onesies (or throwing one away if its ruined) because they are just plain and simple and I didn't spend a fortune on them.  I also love the Kickee Pants plain jammies, I have two pairs and am constantly washing them so he can wear them, they are sooo soft, but a bit more expensive.  

Rock N' Play
If there's one thing to buy, hands down, get the Rock N' Play. Parker LOVES his. He could sleep in it all day and night and is so content in there. This has been our fail proof baby item that little P loves, any day, anytime. I think he really likes the incline so he's not completely flat on his back.

Boppy Lounger Pillow
My girlfriend Sara recommended the Boppy Lounger pillow, and I am so glad she did. Parker loves to hang out in there when he's having "quiet, alert time" and also naps very well in it. I think he likes having his head slightly elevated when he's in it (because of the product design) as he's not a huge fan of laying flat on his back yet. He prefers this over the much more expensive Mamaroo (by 4Moms) that I also keep on our main level. He's a lot more fidgety and fussy in the Mamaroo, so I don't use this as much as I thought I would. I think that once he's outgrown the Boppy Lounger and gets more comfortable on his back, he will really like his DockATot. He's napped in it a few times and has done well, but since he's still so little, he doesn't fit nice and snugly into it yet. Once he's a little bigger I think he'll love it. 

Mama Essential Items
One of my girlfriends that stopped by to meet Parker brought a gift that I thought was for him, because he was getting spoiled by all of his visitors, but it was actually for me, which was so sweet. It was a nursing tank and a cozy robe. It was such a sweet gesture that meant so much to me. I think its important to remember mamas and the things they'll need too after baby arrives because I wasn't very great at planning for this and running out of the house with a newborn after a major surgery isn't exactly at the top of my list. 

Medela T-Shirt & Night Nursing Bras
When I was pregnant I bought a few nursing bras that had the built-in cup, but realized quickly after Parker was born that when I unsnapped that kind of bra, it just got in the way when I was trying to feed him. I love the T-shirt and Night Nursing Bras that don't have a built in cup structure, because they are comfy enough to sleep in and don't get in the way of feeding. They are seamless too, so they are so so comfy. I like the easy expression bra that holds the breastshields in place when you pump, too. 

Cozy Robes
I lived in robes in the hospital, as well as when we got home. They are comfy and provide easy access to feed baby. I'd recommend getting a couple so if you leak milk or get spit up on you, you have clean robes ready. :) A few of my favorites are linked here, here and here.

Lululemon Wonderunder (Hi-Rise)
These yoga pants have been a life saver. They are so comfortable and the high waistband helps compress my tummy and provide some support which I love, especially after a cesarian delivery. It's nice to have clothes that hit above my incision, are comfy and can be worn out and about now that I'm starting to get out of the house more. I need to buy a few more pairs of these!  

Milkie's Milk Saver
I have been blessed with a very healthy supply of breastmilk, however, I was so bummed because I have lost ounces and ounces of milk to my clothes, sheets, burp clothes, etc. I just had my Amma Mama new mama class this week and someone recommended that I try this product. When I got home and nursed, I was SHOCKED when I looked to see if anything got collected. Over 2 OZ of milk in one feeding. I am going to use this at every feeding from now on. So excited about this!

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow
This nursing pillow is seriously everything, I highly recommend it over the Boppy. The Boppy fit well on me when I tried it on with my baby bump, but when it came time to use it, it kept coming loose and I constantly had to reposition myself and Parker during feedings which was disruptive. I was introduced to the My Brest Friend nursing pillow during an appointment with my lactation consultant and I fell in love with it because it fastens around you with a clip, so it doesn't move at all, making feedings go much smoother. Although I love the way my boppy looks because it was monogrammed with Parker's name, it just didn't function all that well for us.

Nursing-Friendly Clothes
I was so focused on buying maternity clothes and baby goodies that I totally forgot about nursing-friendly clothes, which I have a very limited amount of.  Don't forget to stock up on a couple of staple items (v-necks, button downs, etc.) to make sure that you are prepared for easy feedings once your little one is here. 


Some of the content within this post is sponsored, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I would never recommend a product that I truly didn't love and use! 
(Link to my earlier post can be found here.​)