🌿 Fourth Trimester Recovery – Real Talk

Let’s talk about your body after birth - because wow. No one told me I’d feel like I was hit by a bus and emotionally cracked wide open. These are the items that brought me relief, helped me heal, and made me feel a little more human.

What really helped me was creating a kind of healing routine. I’d layer on the pads, the ointments, the spray - and even though I couldn’t control much in that wild new-mom world, I could control this. One step, then the next. It became a ritual that helped me feel grounded.

And just when I thought I was on top of the chaos, things got messier. I ended up with a cyst - literally right above my butt crack. Maybe it was from the long labor and epidural? Who knows. It was brutal. I couldn’t sit upright unless I had a donut cushion. I had to breastfeed laying down. Honestly, it hurt worse than the 2.5 degree tear I was already healing from.

At two weeks postpartum, I was back in the ER getting that cyst drained. While my body was recovering from childbirth, I was also prepping for outpatient surgery to have the infected bag removed. Not ideal. But it’s what happened. So if your recovery isn’t “textbook,” you’re not alone.

I used every product below more than I wanted to - especially that sitz bath. And if something gives you even five minutes of comfort, or makes you feel a little more like yourself again? That’s worth everything.

Also? You don’t need name-brand anything. You just need ingredients that work and the consistency to use them. Some of the best healing tools weren’t fancy - they were reliable.

Down-There Care

Start with the disposable underwear - trust me, it's the foundation of the whole setup. Then layer on the biggest pads you can find, add cooling pads (I used Tucks), witch hazel foam, and finish with a generous spray of Dermoplast (all linked below). Spray yourself with the peri bottle while you pee (DO NOT WIPE), because the sting is no joke. Then waddle over and do the full diaper change ritual. It might feel ridiculous at first, but it brings real relief, and you'll be shocked how fast you become a pro.

✅ Disposable Underwear

You don’t need a fancy brand, but you do need something. I used the Frida Mom boyshort-style ones because a friend recommended them and honestly, I just didn’t have the mental space to think about one more thing. They were comfy, stretchy, and did the job. I also shamelessly stocked up on the mesh ones from the hospital (take as many as they'll give you). Whether it’s Frida, hospital freebies, or a basic pack online, disposable undies are the unsung heroes of postpartum life.

✅ Upside-Down Peri Bottle

Easier to aim, actually soothing, and an absolute must when everything down there feels like it’s on fire. I started with warm water because it felt amazing - but let’s be real, sometimes there’s no time to heat it up before you’ve gotta pee. So I’d grab the bottle, fill it with the coldest water possible, and go. Because the sting of urine on a healing vaginal tear? Unbearable.

✅ Dermoplast Pain & Itch Spray (Yes, you spray it right on that tear, lady)

You might not notice right away that your vagina is in agony - thanks, epidural. But once that catheter’s out? Buckle up. Most of us aren’t walking away unscathed: about 78% of women tear during delivery (yep, PubMed says so), and nearly half deal with perineal lacerations. Stitches can close the wound, but they don’t do a damn thing for the burning, throbbing aftermath.

That’s where Dermoplast comes in. It’s a medicated spray that numbs the area, fast. Aim it directly at the tear (don’t worry, you’ll get good at it), and give yourself a few seconds of sweet, blessed relief. Cold spray. Deep breath. Onward.

(Now redo that diaper)

✅ Postpartum Pads (Get those MASSIVE ones)

Start with the giantest pads you can find - like, diaper-meets-mattress size. You’re not just catching blood (which, heads up, comes fast), you’re also padding stitches, absorbing witch hazel, and trying not to scream every time you sit down.

✅ TUCKS Cooling Pads

Tucks pads are cooling witch hazel discs that go right on top of your massive postpartum pad, like laying down little salami slices of relief (literally load that thing like a deli sandwich). They help calm the burn, soothe stitches, and take the edge off the raw, swollen chaos happening down there.

✅ Perineal Healing Foam

The postpartum perineal foam is like a little bonus round for your vagina - a gentle, cooling layer you pump right on top of the Tucks. It’s soothing, healing, and honestly feels like the closest thing to a spa treatment your torn-up undercarriage is gonna get.

✅ Sitz Bath Kit (Toilet Topper Style)

So underrated. This simple plastic bowl sits on your toilet and lets you soak those healing bits in warm water. I used it daily, just ask the hospital for one, or if you forget, grab one at Walgreens, Rite Aid, or get the cheapest one you can find online. They all do the job.

You can find my FULL Amazon Baby Registry List HERE.

*Links above are amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I actually use and love.