Bump Squad mama Tarah shares her list of must haves for Lying-In.
What is a mama caddy, you ask? I’ve often seen them referred to as nursing caddies, but you are seriously going to want one of these as a part of your postpartum care plan (more on that in a minute) whether you are breastfeeding or not.
This little caddy (or bag, or box, or whatever you decide to use) can house all of your postpartum and new baby essentials so the necessities are always just an arm’s length away. You’ll be so happy you made one when it’s time to change baby’s diaper, or you are totally starving, or your nipples are crying out in pain (trust me, all of these things will happen more often than you think).
Putting together my mama caddy is just a small part of my bigger Lying-In Plan. Lying-In is the period of time postpartum when mama gets to rest, recover, and get to know her new baby. In some cultures, other women in the community step in to help care for the mother’s other children and her home. Here in the U.S., though, it seems this tradition has been long forgotten and replaced with moms trying to do it all after giving birth.
I am guilty of this myself – I don’t like asking for or accepting help. In my mind, it is like admitting that I can’t handle my responsibilities. If it weren’t for Earth Mama (and Mama's Bump Squad) and their caring, thoughtful wisdom, I would probably still feel the same way this time around.
Taking time to care for myself and my new baby is going to make me a better mother in the long run. I will not feel guilty for asking for help with my other two children or for letting the laundry pile up for a few days (or more). Sure, I may not be able to stay in bed for a month, but there are things I can do to make life easier and allow more time for rest and I am so grateful that Earth Mama has created a tool to create my own Lying-In Plan so that I can figure it all out before baby gets here.
My plans so far include:
•Asking for help with school drop off and pick up
•Having friends or family play with my two year old for a few hours a couple times a week so I can bond with baby
•Freeze as many meals as possible so I don’t have to worry about cooking
•Stock up on healthy snacks
•Take time away from my writing and freelance work so I am not overwhelmed with work responsibilities
•Put together my mama caddy so I won’t have to run around the house looking for things the baby and I need
So, what is in my mama caddy? Here’s the full rundown:
•Snacks – I prefer Larabars, Epic Bars, and other easy snacks
•Water bottle - Breastfeeding makes me incredibly thirsty!
•Diapers
•Wipes
•Burp cloths
•Hand sanitizer
•Lotion (when all the hand sanitizer dries out my hands!) – I love the Earth Mama Belly Butter
•Earth Mama Lip Balm - Seriously, nursing dehydration is real
•Pacifier
•Breast pads
•Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter
•Earth Mama Booby Tubes – to help with clogged ducts and/or engorgement
I’ve been so grateful for my Earth Mama products during pregnancy and I can’t wait to use all of their postpartum and baby products once my little one arrives.