17 C-section recovery products you might not think of (but won’t want to live without)

One of the first recommendations given to moms post-surgery is: Do not lift anything heavier than your baby. Do you know what’s heavier than your baby? Car seat and baby. The innovative Doona Car Seat and Stroller is a car seat that turns into a stroller within seconds, preventing you from ever having to lug a seat around. It’s suitable from birth to 35 pounds.

You know what’s really hard to do after surgery? Bend over. This is why this Puj tub is perfect while you recover from your cesarean– you can bathe your baby in any sink of your house without adding extra pressure or discomfort to your incision. Honestly, I kept using mine until my babies didn’t fit anymore because I’m not a fan of tiny slippery infants in big bathtubs.  I like them more contained.

With my first, I attempted to breastfeed him while plopped over a regular cushion or pillow. It didn’t go super well for us, so the second time around I added one of these nursing pillows to my registry. It was a game-changer. I could comfortably breastfeed without worrying about baby rubbing against my incision, or contorting my body to keep them latched. This deluxe version has a higher backrest for more comfort and a perfect pocket for a water bottle (you must hydrate!), cellphone or remote.

This 2-in-1 bassinet makes it super easy to nurse and nap thanks to the 360 swivel and lowering bedside wall, which makes it easier to pick up baby when they need some snuggles or to be fed. Once you make it out of your bedroom, it easily converts into a lounger to give your little one a safe place to snooze and hang.

You know what sucks when you are in pain? Trying to swaddle a baby who is angry because they are outside of the warm and comforting womb. Enter the Sleepea baby swaddle which I swear has any baby calm and ready to snooze in no time. No more bending over the bed with limbs all over the place trying to tightly wrap your newborn for a nap. With this swaddle everyone will be ready for bed in seconds.

Once I got the OK from my doctor to start massaging my scar to soften the scar tissue below it, I also started applying this Earth Mama Organics balm to help the scar look less red and angry. I usually don’t heal super well (I can have a scab from a bug bite for months) but this balm helped my C-section scar look super good in no time. Plus it’s just a nice time for you to give your body a little love and a gentle massage.

Saying hydrated postpartum is key for many reasons. If you are breastfeeding you are going to be parched, so make sure you are drinking enough water during the day to feel good. Also, if you had a C-section you may end up constipated (thanks to the anesthesia and pain meds) so drinking a lot of water will help things keep moving. Move movement means less straining, which means less pain in your incision area. Trust me on this one.

There are a bazillion water bottles out there but we love the Stanley tumblers not just for their trendy vibes, but the straw is clutch when you need to drink while reclined.

Sleeping helps the body heal and recover faster, but who really sleeps when you have a newborn? This mask helped me be able to take naps during the day while my husband took care of the babies. Even though I was exhausted, trying to nap without something over my eyes made the whole thing futile because I kept checking my phone, or the monitor or just getting distracted. I still use this mask at almost a year postpartum on nights when I need a little extra help dozing off.

I’m obsessed with this nightgown, so much so that I still wear it regularly even though I’m not pregnant, recovering from a C-section (anymore) nor breastfeeding. It’s so soft and comfortable it’s the perfect garment to get as soon as you get pregnant and enjoy for the rest of your journey as a mom. The nightgown won’t rub against your incision and it has easy access to your boobs for night feedings.

I lived in sweatpants and leggings for a while after my C-section. The key is comfort. Everything else hurts and bothers and your body is going through so many changes that when it came to clothes I didn’t care much if they matched, were stylish, were anywhere near IG-perfect, all I wanted was comfort. So invest in a pair of sweats and live the best life. Make sure the waistband sits away from your incision to help healing and enjoy. This best-selling pair from one of our go-to Target brands is a favorite for their softness and $20 price tag.

My feet were SO swollen after both my C-sections that wearing “real” shoes was out of the question. Enter my love for Crocs. These bad boys might not be the most stylish, but they are by far the most comfortable and easy to wear. Especially during the last trimester of your pregnancy. Even more so after a C-section because you don’t have to bend over to put them on or take them off and they are wide enough to be forgiving to your post-surgery feet.

You need support in all the ways right now, mama. The double-layer belly wraps from Bodily provide targeted compression to help support your belly and lower back as you heal and regain strength postpartum. With velcro to customize the fit and a soft but structured design, it keeps you stabilized without feeling too constricted.

Plan on wearing pads for weeks after you give birth. It’s a smart idea to stock up on different sizes so that you are prepared as your bleeding tapers off. Since you’ll be wearing them for a while, you may want to consider investing in organic pads that feel extra gentle. You’ll feel more relaxed knowing you’re protected from any messes and it keeps laundry to a minimum. (Lord knows there’s enough of that these days!)

Speaking of less laundry…Sometimes a pad can bunch up and be uncomfortable, but these disposable undies don’t! Frida Mom totally gets it and made the perfect stretchy boy shorts that you can use with confidence—and then throw away.

Comfortable underwear is key for the long haul. It can be hard to find underwear that doesn’t rub your incision. Thankfully, these lovely undies exist and are a favorite of C-section Motherly mamas! They are high-wasted so nothing rubs your incision.

Short of like, holding our hand on the toilet, the kindest thing a friend did for us postpartum was stick a box of these in our fridge. If you’ve got pregnancy and birth induced hemorrhoids, Tucks pads are the MVP. Fold a pad in half and tuck it in between your butt cheeks for instant relief.