The Ultimate Vag Bag: Your Postpartum Care Essentials for Down There

Hey there, mamas-to-be and new moms! Let’s talk frankly about something that gets a little less attention than adorable baby outfits but is just as, if not more, important: your postpartum recovery, specifically, the care of your vag. Yes, the vag. We spend so much time preparing the perfect hospital bag filled with cute outfits for the little one and comfy pajamas for ourselves, dreaming of those precious first moments. But what about you, mama? What about the incredible area that just brought life into the world?

I know, I know, planning the hospital bag is exciting! It’s a tangible way to feel prepared and in control amidst the whirlwind of impending parenthood. My first time around, I meticulously researched and packed, convinced I needed to be ready for anything. (Confession: for baby number two, I was lucky if I remembered pajamas, let alone a matching homecoming outfit for myself or the baby!).

Alt text: Comfortable and essential mesh underwear for postpartum recovery, providing gentle support and breathability.

Why a Dedicated “Vag Bag” is a Must-Have

The hospital bag is crucial, absolutely. It’s an act of love and preparation. But let’s be real, after delivery, your vag (and maybe your tummy too!) is going to need some serious TLC. That’s why, alongside your hospital bag, you need to create what I affectionately call a “vag bag.” Think of it as your postpartum recovery kit, specifically curated for your nether regions. Having this ready when you get home is the kindest thing you can do for yourself. It ensures you have everything on hand to heal and find relief after the monumental task of birthing a human.

Because let’s face it, while your baby will be stealing hearts in their adorable going-home ensemble, you might be shuffling through the door, wonderfully exhausted, likely bleeding, and definitely sporting some swollen lady bits. Hospital-grade mesh underwear (seriously, these mesh undies are lifesavers!) will be your new best friend, and the thought of that first postpartum poop? Let’s just say it’s an experience. Those initial days and weeks after delivery are no walk in the park for your vag.

But don’t worry, mama. You don’t need to frantically search the internet for postpartum vag care advice. I’ve done the groundwork for you. After years of guiding new mothers through their postpartum journeys and navigating my own two watermelon-sized human deliveries, I’ve compiled what I believe to be the ultimate “vag bag” essentials. Below are my top five must-haves for your postpartum vag recovery.

The Top 5 Vag Bag Essentials for Postpartum Relief

1. The Peri Bottle: Your New Best Friend for Vaginal Cleansing

Okay, seriously, give it up for the FridaBaby Fridet peri bottle. This is a total game-changer and makes those flimsy hospital bottles look like ancient relics. The Fridet is designed to be used upside down with an angled nozzle, so you can easily direct warm water to cleanse your vag while sitting on the toilet. Genius, right?

Alt text: The FridaBaby Fridet peri bottle, an essential tool for gentle and effective postpartum vaginal cleansing, featuring an angled nozzle for easy use.

Postpartum perineal care is so important. Whether you experienced a tear, stitches, hemorrhoids, or just general soreness down there, using a peri bottle to cleanse after urination or bowel movements is pure heaven. The gentle stream of warm water washes away urine, dried blood, and any, ahem, other particles, saving you from the discomfort of wiping your sensitive vag with scratchy toilet paper. And trust me, when that first postpartum poop looms, the Fridet will be your absolute savior.

2. Ice Packs: Cooling Relief for Your Swollen Vag

Stock up on ice packs. Let’s be real – labor, pushing a baby out, and any perineal tearing or repairs are traumatic for those delicate tissues. In simpler terms: your vag is going to be swollen, my friend. Ice is your superhero in this situation. It helps reduce swelling, eases pain and discomfort, and promotes faster healing. And even if you had a C-section, ice can still alleviate soreness in the pelvic area, especially if you labored beforehand.

Alt text: Reusable gel ice packs designed for postpartum comfort and swelling reduction, providing soothing coolness and pain relief.

Make sure your vag bag includes several disposable, single-use ice packs with soft cloth covers. Apply these to your vulva and perineum as soon as you get home. Lie down with your feet elevated against a wall or with a pillow under your hips. Elevating your lady bits combined with the cooling power of ice is a winning strategy. Think about it – when you sprain an ankle, you ice and elevate it, right? Same principle applies to the vag. Remember to always use a thin barrier, like a paper towel, between the ice pack and your skin, and ice your “pink taco” (as some affectionately call it) for about 10-15 minutes several times a day.

3. Sitz Baths & Witch Hazel: Natural Soothing for Down There

Pregnancy and childbirth are notorious contributors to hemorrhoids (pushing a baby out also pushes… well, other things out). Witch hazel is a natural astringent, a time-honored remedy for inflammation and bleeding, especially for hemorrhoids. Witch hazel contains tannins, which help constrict blood vessels, reducing bleeding and the discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.

Similarly, witch hazel helps reduce general swelling of the vulva and perineum. Earth Mama Organics offers fantastic products to soothe a sore and swollen vag and perineum and relieve hemorrhoid pain. Their Herbal Perineal Spray and Herbal Sitz Bath Kit are amazing. The spray is perfect for topical relief after using your peri bottle. I personally loved spraying it on my vulva and then applying an ice pack. The sitz bath kit can be used for traditional sitz baths, or to create “padsicles” (more on that next!). You can also refrigerate the herbal bags and apply them directly to your perineum for cool relief. (Earth Mama Organics also has a Perineal Balm and C-Section Scar Balm, which are also wonderful additions for healing and comfort).

Alt text: Earth Mama Organics Herbal Sitz Bath Kit, featuring soothing herbs for postpartum perineal care and hemorrhoid relief.

4. Pads: Postpartum Vaginal Bleeding and Padsicles

Confession time: I’ve never been a pad enthusiast; tampons were always my go-to. But now, post-babies, I’m all about the Diva Cup (for when the postpartum period is over, not during!). TMI? Maybe, but no tampons are allowed for six weeks postpartum, ladies. You’ll need pads to manage the lochia – postpartum bleeding – which starts immediately after birth. Remember, your uterus needs to heal too! So, pack pads you find comfortable, because you’ll be using them a lot, and for longer than you might expect – typically around six to eight weeks postpartum.

Alt text: Absorbent Always Maxi Pads, essential for managing postpartum bleeding and creating soothing padsicles.

And here’s a pro tip: turn those pads into padsicles! Soak a pad in water steeped with the Earth Mama Organics Sitz Bath herbs. Then, pop the wet pad into the fridge or freezer. Voila! Instant cooling relief and absorbency in one. Some moms prefer incontinence products like Depends or Poise underpants for extra absorbency and convenience.

5. Compression Garments: Support and Healing for Your Vag and Abdomen

Compression garments are incredibly helpful postpartum. Your abdomen will feel weak and swollen. Many new moms struggle to re-engage their core muscles after delivery. A wobbly abdomen, swollen vag, and a newborn to care for? It’s a lot! Enter SRC Health Recovery Shorts. They provide gentle compression to your vulva, perineum, and abdomen, reducing swelling and offering support. This is a game-changer when you’re suddenly expected to carry around a watermelon-sized baby, plus tackle all the other demands of new motherhood (laundry, cooking, chasing older kids, you know, life).

Alt text: SRC Health Recovery Shorts, providing postpartum compression and support for the vagina, perineum, and abdomen to aid in healing and muscle recovery.

These shorts gently lift and support your vag and abdomen, helping you engage your muscles and stabilize your trunk and pelvic girdle. It’s not about intense squeezing, just a gentle “hug” for your lady bits and tummy. You can wear a thin pad and underwear underneath. They’re fantastic for the first few weeks postpartum, especially before you can see a pelvic floor physical therapist around the six to eight-week mark (which I highly recommend! Pelvic floor PTs are essential for postpartum recovery, addressing everything from pain to incontinence).

Other compression garment options include the It’s You Babe PF Press or the V2 Supporter. Think of it as a female jockstrap (I know, roll with it!). It offers more targeted perineal and vulvar support than the SRC shorts and can be worn over underwear. It’s especially helpful for prolapse, but not ideal to wear with pads, making it better for later in your recovery.

In Conclusion: Prioritizing Your Postpartum Vaginal Health

So there you have it – my top five essentials for your ultimate “vag bag.” Know it, love it, be it prepared! It’s time to be proactive about healing your vag, booty, and tummy after baby arrives. By all means, enjoy planning those adorable baby outfits and your matching PJs, but please, remember to prioritize your own postpartum recovery and give your incredible vag the care and attention it deserves.

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Are you currently pregnant or planning to conceive? Make sure to download my FREE resource — How to Prepare Your Pelvic Floor & Core for Childbirth + 8 Must-Dos for C-Section and Vaginal Deliveries.