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When you can’t give the gift of sleep, give the next best thing!

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By Rose, CN Director of People Operations & Mother of Two Kids Under Four

​​New babies are an absolute joy. The warmth, love, excitement, and happy tears that are shed. It’s a feeling quite like none other. And as many know, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Lack of sleep, physical pain and recovery after labor and delivery, limited opportunities for taking care of oneself… the list goes on. The simplest things like eating, drinking water, and even showering can feel and be impossible.

I’ve had two babies, and have experienced quite a bit in my own birth and postpartum journeys including some difficult physical challenges and emotional hurdles. I consider myself lucky to have been able to carry those pregnancies, and despite two not so straightforward births or postpartum periods (I’m talking to you 2020 Covid shut down with a newborn!) it's been a wonderful and wild ride.

When I think about the early days of having an infant at home and the amazing gifts that people dropped off for me, I think about the thoughtful and generous care packages I received from friends and family. Here at Cambridge Naturals, we have a robust selection of items to help support during the postpartum period. Below are a selection of products that I believe make excellent gifts for new moms and parents!

Image courtesy of The New Yorker, Becky Barnicoat.

Post-birth Recovery:

  • Motherlove Sitz Bath Spray

  • Motherlove Rhoid Balm

  • Motherlove C-Section Cream - while the scar from a c-section will never go away, it is generally recommended that the scar is massaged to help aid in blood flow, reduce itchiness, and help with healing. On a purely emotional level, some women experience complicated and negative feelings about their c-section, stemming from societal messages, rhetoric from friends and family, or simply from within. It’s my strong belief that birth is birth and c-section recovery is- to be frank- pretty bad a**! (Picture this: You have major surgery and within just a few hours you’re typically up and at it caring for an infant, contorting your body to try breastfeeding and/or pumping, mixing bottles, changing diapers, etc.) C-section massage can be one small step in trying to get more comfortable with and proud of this amazing feat!

Breastfeeding:

  • Silverettes - In the hospital with my second baby, the lactation consultant recommended these to me over any other product. Honestly I was skeptical, but they truly did wonders for me in those first weeks and months of marathon breastfeeding sessions.

  • Mother Love- Nipple Cream - helpful in combating sore, cracked, and dry nipples. Does not need to be removed prior to breastfeeding or pumping.

  • Fenugreek - this tea has a combination of fennel, fenugreek, and other herbs which can help to support and promote lactation.

Bodycare:

  • Acure Dry Shampoo and Ursa Major Face Wipes - for when showers just aren’t happening!

  • Deodorant - after childbirth, it’s common to experience significant postpartum sweating due to hormonal shift. While deodorant choices can be quite personal, we have so many great ones to choose from!

Supplements:

  • Iron*- can help combat low iron levels due to blood loss during labor and/or low iron levels during pregnancy.

  • Ashwagandha*- can help with mood and anxiety.

*While generally the above supplements are considered safe to take while breastfeeding, there is limited testing done on these and how much passes through milk. Please consult with a doctor before taking any of these to ensure they are safe and won’t interact with any medications.

Snacks:

My first attempt at a long walk, two weeks post birth.

Miscellaneous:

For Baby:

For fur babies that are getting neglected because of the new human baby: