Postnatal Recovery: Postpartum Care Kit Checklist

May 7, 2019

A postpartum care kit should include heavy-flow maternity pads or brief-style pads, comfortable underwear, a sitz bath or herbal bath soak, a peri bottle or gentle rinse option, perineal spray, cold therapy, nipple balm, breast pads, high-waisted soft knickers, and easy front-opening tops, pain relief guidance, snacks, water and easy-to-reach toiletries. Build it before birth so your recovery items are ready at home. Most can be bought in advance from 34 to 36 weeks pregnant.

The fourth trimester begins the moment you come home from hospital. For many new mums, that is the point where the reality of recovery sets in, when you actually need all the things that were on the "nice to have" list.

This checklist is built around what you will realistically use in the first six weeks. It separates essential recovery items from optional extras, so you can prepare without over-buying.

What do you actually need in a postpartum care kit?

A good postpartum care kit is less about buying everything and more about making the first week easier. The most useful postpartum care items address the most common recovery needs: perineal soreness, heavy bleeding, constipation, breastfeeding discomfort (if applicable), and fatigue. Everything on this list is focused on those areas.

You can build your own kit from scratch using this list, or look for a postpartum essentials bundle that covers several items at once. Either way, have everything at home before your due date. Keep the items where you will actually use them, such as the bathroom, bedside table, feeding station and hospital bag.

Mum Bub Hub Postpartum Essentials Bundle

A simpler way to prepare

Want one ready-made starting point?

If you want extra support, the Postpartum Essentials Bundle can help cover the core the key perineal care and recovery items from this checklist: Peri Spray, Nipple Balm, and Bath Soak, formulated for the fourth trimester.

Shop Postpartum Essentials

Planning note

Recovery after birth looks different for every woman and varies by birth type, stitches, feeding plan and support at home. This list is designed for a vaginal birth with or without a tear. If you have had a C-section, some items (peri bottle, perineal spray) are less relevant, but others (maternity pads, soft high-waisted clothing, gentle mobility support) are even more important. Always follow the specific aftercare guidance from your hospital and community midwife team.

Postpartum essentials checklist

Brief-style maternity pads or large maternity pads for early bleeding.
Soft high-waisted underwear or disposable underwear.
Peri bottle or gentle rinse option for toilet trips.
Perineal spray for external no-touch comfort.
Cold packs or padsicles for swelling.
Perineal balm if you want an external protective layer.
Nipple balm and breast pads if you plan to breastfeed.
Water bottle, snacks and one-handed food.
Pain relief and stool softener guidance from your midwife, pharmacist or GP.

Recovery need	Helpful item	Where to keep it
Bleeding	Brief-style pads and spare underwear	Bathroom and hospital bag
Perineal soreness	Peri bottle, spray, cold pads	Bathroom basket
Breastfeeding comfort	Nipple balm and breast pads	Feeding station
Rest and hydration	Water, snacks, charger	Bedside or sofa area

Checklist

Your complete postpartum care kit

Work through this list before your due date. Have everything in one accessible place, a basket in the bathroom is ideal.

Item	Why it helps	Priority
Extra-long maternity pads (4 to 6 packs)	You will bleed (lochia) for two to six weeks. Maternity pads are softer and safer than sanitary towels postnatally.	Essential
Peri bottle (squeeze bottle for water rinsing)	Gentler than toilet paper for cleaning the perineum — fill with warm water and rinse after each visit	Essential
Witch hazel spray or pads	Anti-inflammatory, reduces swelling and soreness externally	Essential
Perineal balm or barrier cream	Soothes skin in the perineal area through the second and third week of recovery	Essential
Postpartum herbal bath soak	Enhances your sitz bath for perineal healing and general recovery comfort	Helpful extra
Stool softeners (lactulose or movicol) — ask your GP or pharmacist	The first bowel movement after birth can be frightening. Softeners reduce straining near fresh stitches.	Essential
High-waisted soft cotton knickers (6 to 8 pairs)	Hold pads in place and keep the perineal area supported without tight elastic	Essential
Nursing pads (if breastfeeding)	Milk leaks begin within days. Disposable pads for the first weeks; washable for ongoing use.	Essential if breastfeeding
Nipple balm or cream (lanolin or alternative)	Sore nipples in the first week of breastfeeding are common — a good nipple balm makes them manageable	Essential if breastfeeding
Padsicles (pre-made and frozen)	Cold compress relief for the first 48 to 72 hours — prepare before birth	Helpful extra

Setup

Create mini stations instead of one big box

The items you need after a toilet trip are different from the items you need while feeding. Put small baskets in the places you will actually recover, so everything is reachable one-handed.

Postpartum care kit for vaginal birth

If you are planning a vaginal birth, prioritise bleeding, perineal soreness and toilet comfort. Maternity pads, a peri bottle, cold therapy, witch hazel spray and soft underwear are the items most likely to be used in the first few days.

Postpartum care kit for caesarean birth

If you have a caesarean birth, you may still bleed vaginally and may still need maternity pads. You may also want high-waisted underwear that avoids the incision area, easy clothing, hydration and support with moving, coughing and feeding positions.

Optional support

Core postpartum kit items

Start with bleeding, perineal comfort and feeding comfort, then personalise around your birth plan and home setup.

What to prepare first

Get pads and perineal care ready by 36 weeks: These are the items you will reach for on day one. Having them in a bathroom basket before you leave for hospital is ideal.
Make your padsicles at 36 to 38 weeks: Freeze a batch of padsicles so they are ready for when you come home.
Check your clothing situation: Make sure you have enough soft, high-waisted knickers and front-opening tops at home before your due date.

What you probably do not need

Expensive postpartum girdles or compression garments: unless specifically recommended by your physiotherapist for diastasis recti or pelvic floor concerns
Dozens of different recovery products: a small, focused kit of the right things outperforms a large kit of mixed-quality items every time
Anything that promises to "snap back" your body: recovery takes weeks to months, and products that imply otherwise are not worth your money or attention

The Quick-Reference Checklist

Print this and cross it off in your third trimester:

□ Brief-Style Maternity Pads (12–15)
□ Standard Maternity Pads (2 packs)
□ Perineal Spray
□ Peri Bottle
□ Postpartum Herbal Bath Soak
□ Perineal Balm
□ Nipple Balm
□ Breast Pads (10+)
□ Nursing Bras (x2)
□ Comfortable loose clothing
□ Stool softener
□ Pain relief (paracetamol + ibuprofen)
□ Postnatal vitamins
□ Batch-cooked meals in the freezer
□ Hospital snacks

Next helpful guides

FAQs

When should I make a postpartum care kit?

Start gathering items at 34 to 36 weeks pregnant. This gives you time to find everything without rushing, and to make any pre-birth preparations like padsicles. Have everything home and accessible before your due date. If you go into labour early, having your kit ready means you do not need anyone to source things while you are recovering.

What are the most important postpartum essentials?

A postpartum care kit should cover perineal care (pads, peri bottle, witch hazel, perineal balm), bleeding management (extra-long maternity pads), bowel support (stool softeners and fibre), breastfeeding support (nursing pads, nipple cream), and comfortable clothing (high-waisted soft knickers). Optional additions include a herbal bath soak, padsicles, and a sitz bath bowl.

How long do you use postpartum recovery items for?

Maternity pads are typically needed for two to six weeks as lochia (postnatal bleeding) continues. Perineal care items like witch hazel pads and a peri bottle are most needed in the first two weeks. A sitz bath can continue for as long as it provides comfort — many women use one daily for the first three to four weeks. Nipple balm and nursing pads continue for as long as you are breastfeeding.

Do I need a postpartum care kit after a caesarean?

Yes, you will still need support for bleeding, comfort, feeding, hydration and rest, even if your perineal care needs are different.

How many maternity pads do I need postpartum?

Have more than you think you need at home, because bleeding is usually heaviest in the early days. Use your midwife's guidance if bleeding seems excessive.

Is a postpartum kit a good gift?

Yes, a practical postpartum care kit or essentials bundle makes an excellent gift for a new mum because it covers things she genuinely needs but may not have thought to prepare herself, or may feel self-conscious asking for. Focus on practical recovery items over decorative gifts. Perineal care products, bath soaks, and comfortable clothing are all well-received — especially because they signal that you understand the reality of the fourth trimester.

Build your recovery basket before birth

The Postpartum Essentials Bundle is an optional way to prepare practical comfort items before the first week at home.