Whichever way a baby chooses to enter the world, the fact that mom’s world will never be the same is indisputable. The little one will require around-the-clock care, the bulk of which will be provided by the new mother—while mom is also experiencing hormonal and emotional fluctuations, potentially grueling physical adjustments, and exhausting days that turn into sleepless nights. It’s up to the nearest and dearest to make sure mom’s comfort and recovery don’t get sidelined. To help: a list of postpartum essentials to provide some nurturing to the ultimate nurturer.

Body and Mind

On top of fortyish weeks of constant expansion, the hormonal roller coaster she’s been riding still hasn’t rounded its final loop-the-loop. In other words, mental and physical balance need some restoring. These products and services aim to do just that.

This hands-free mirror fits comfortably between the legs and has an LED light for a clear view of the vulva and vagina as they’re recovering after birth. And mom can use it for self-checks well into the future.

NYSSA VIEVISION BETWEEN LEGS MIRROR, goop, $64

Photo Courtesy of Julia Chesky

With inclusivity, empathy, and science in mind, LOOM offers comprehensive virtual programs for everything postpartum: mental health, sleep hygiene strategies, feeding best practices, and more. Programs include on-demand learning, live community support sessions, and resources for a new parent’s support system.

Having a baby is a major life shift, and Major Care is there to help by offering up a roster of vetted postpartum doulas to guide mom through feeding (breastfeeding, pumping, and bottle feeding), support her emotional health, and provide family and friends with resources. The programs include weekly doula chats, postpartum resource guides, and access to an educational app.

Photo courtesy of Origin

Origin offers virtual and in-person (Los Angeles and San Francisco only, for now) physical therapy aimed at addressing a specific subset of health issues. Vaginal and C-section recovery, diastasis recti (ab separation), clogged milk ducts, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor pain, urinary and fecal incontinence, painful sex, sciatica, and more—these experts can help with it all.

The team of Ayurvedic doulas at Surya Spa has developed a fantastic treatment menu specifically for those expecting and new to parenting. In addition to in-spa treatments, the various home-based services are geared toward supporting proper nutrition, effective herbal supplementation, and physical recovery.

Allison Oswald offers a super-easy-to-follow digital postnatal series that helps get a mother’s (or anyone’s) pelvic floor and core back into fighting shape. You can find a few of Oswald’s pelvic floor tools here.

Anxiety and depression after pregnancy can stem from untreated symptoms during pregnancy (learn more here). The Motherhood Center educates pregnant and postpartum people about mental and emotional health and provides one-on-one counseling. But it’s the center’s array of virtual support groups that is particularly impactful these days. Subjects include pregnancy support, having another baby after experiencing postpartum mood and anxiety disorder, perinatal loss support, new mom support, and more.

Anya provides functional products—developed with OB/GYNs, nutritionists, doulas, lactation consultants, dermatologists and herbalists—to support postpartum concerns. Their month one postpartum package includes a nipple balm with coconut oil, shea butter, and calendula extract. Month three targets hair loss, and month four sleep deprivation. Their lactation tea is an herbalist-formulated blend of organic herbs. You can opt for Anya’s carefully curated monthly packages or customize for your needs.

Sleep

She barely got enough sleep during her last trimester, and now that baby is home, she’s lucky to cobble together a few consecutive hours of subpar shut-eye. Needless to say, if she’s not already there, she’s on her way to major sleep deprivation. Because sleep is a key element of mental and physical health, maximizing the little amount mom does get is key.

Batelle is a magical remote sleep school that holds your hand every step of the way to gently help baby learn to choose to sleep, rather than not falling asleep. Using a gentle, non-cry-it-out approach, Batelle guarantees baby will sleep through the night in just two weeks. The ten-step program provides guidance on creating a flexible sleep schedule, timing of feeds, and transitions like weaning and phasing out pacifiers.

Photo courtesy of Happiest Baby

Created by renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet is an app-operated sleeper designed to improve baby’s sleep so that mom can rest, too. It soothes by mimicking the baby’s natural calming reflex, similar to Dr. Karp’s well-known 5 S’s. There’s more about SNOO and infant sleep training here.

A luxuriously soft and soothing eye mask that blocks out light for as much uninterrupted sleep as possible.

Slip
Black Eye Mask
goop, $50

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Comfort

Not only might a new mother feel out of sorts in her own body, but the rest of her life can feel like it’s shifting…because, well, it is! And that’s totally normal. Getting acquainted with the new normal takes time, and keeping her as cozy as possible helps the process.

Coquina’s Growing a Human bundle is, simply put, adorable. The set includes a pretty cotton robe (Coquina can customize it with initials, too), a silk scrunchie, a balm for lips and nips, lambskin booties with a coordinating bonnet for babe, and some excellent reading material. And with a convenient split-payment option, it’s the perfect gift to go in on as a group.

Bringing baby home to an adorable space that is stocked, organized, and ready to go is a luxury, yes, but it’s one Eema has down to a science. The nesting services—like interior design, nursery-essentials shopping, organization, and wardrobe for the family—cut a significant chunk of the stress out of the picture.

Bump Bestie is in the business of hooking up families with nontoxic nursery design and gear, product consulting and assembly, nanny placement, postpartum doulas, night nurses, lactation consultants, and more. To meet pretty much every need, it offers bundled plans, à la carte services, and virtual workshops.

Food and Supplements

Nutrients, depleted during pregnancy, are in high demand after baby. Yet with little time and even less energy, meal prep may not be top of mind. Enter: healthy, delicious food deliveries, a personal-chef service, and our superstar mother-loving daily vitamin protocol.

Honoring those initial days of recovery, MotherBees meals focus on the first forty days after birth. Made with healing and restoration in mind, the Postpartum Bundle comes with collagen-and-mineral-rich bone broths and soups, easy-to-digest kitchari, porridges, kefirs, teas, and more. Meals are delivered in the Los Angeles area, and broth bundles are shipped nationwide.

The Culinistas don’t just meal-prep nutritious, hearty, and healthy family-style meals for the week (with lots of breastfeeding-friendly options on the customizable menu). They come over with all the ingredients, make everything fresh right in your kitchen, and—wait for it—clean up afterward.

Milk and Seed’s broths, soups, and treats are created for optimal nourishment and comfort after birth. Everything they make is free of gluten, dairy, corn, soy, and refined sugars. For now, they deliver to Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.

While undoubtedly magical, having a baby can be a physically depleting experience for moms. This regimen is a top-of-the-line natal protocol—you can take it while pregnant as well—with extra support for getting new and not-so-new moms back on their feet. In addition to the usual vitamins, it nourishes developing brains with choline, EPA, and extra DHA.*

goop Wellness
THE MOTHER LOAD
goop, $90/$75 with subscription

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Pay It Forward

Support the professional development of doulas and their birthing work to help improve the pregnancy and postpartum experiences of future mothers. Make a one-time or reoccurring donation to Mama Glow’s professional training program scholarship fund.

Many mothers unnecessarily die from childbirth due to the lack of basic health care services. Saving Mothers helps disadvantaged mothers around the world—in Guatemala, Kenya, Dominican Republic, Uganda, New York City—survive and healthily recovery from childbirth.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.