Jenny McQueen

I found the early months of postpartum to be deeply exhausting. I didn’t have family close by for reliable support, I’m a little bit older than the average new parent, and well…twins. That’s why this isn’t your standard “must-have” postpartum list; you won’t find disposable undies, nursing bras or breast pumps here-there are plenty of other people who have done that well. I enjoy an opportunity to be crunchy, but I really love things that are practical.

We are blessed with a stable income, but we don’t have much margin within that, so affordability is important. Only two things on this list are over $40, and most are under $20. Lastly some (not all) of the things on this list include affiliate links to help support my family, but none are sponsored, because they are all products I truly love.

Okay, let’s dig in!

1. A portable basket is a must. I stocked mine daily with clean pump parts, snacks, and really anything I wanted to be easily accessible. It felt like I never had enough hands for everything, especially with twins. Curling up on the couch at 3 am to pump, knowing I had my snacks, phone and water ready to go was extra comforting.

2. This book gave me so many good ideas for navigating postpartum rest and nourishment. Reading it really made me think about how our culture doesn’t address postpartum healing. I made some of the recipes before the twins were born, and borrowed as many ideas as I could. I loved it so much that I have been gifting copies to expecting parents!

3. This weighted blanket was a game changer. I struggled with postpartum anxiety that manifested at bedtime. My husband and I took turns sleeping in shifts. I would crawl in for mine, and the countdown clock to when I had to wake up would start ticking in my head INSTANTLY. And God forbid I could hear a baby crying, my heart would actually start racing. I was already getting so little opportunity to sleep, and this cycle made me even more exhausted. Then I got a really great piece of advice from my postpartum vitality coach (more on that in a minute). She encouraged me to do everything possibly to maximize the sleep I was getting. I pulled out allll the stops, including ordering a 20 lb blanket. I’d heard so many people talk about how much they loved theirs, and once I got it, I understood the hype. Curling up under it, combined with a few other things I did, calmed me down and I fell asleep WAY faster.

4. A quality CBD oil. Before you comment, I am fully aware this is controversial when nursing or pumping. Please do your own research, and talk to your doctor and your pediatrician. I spoke with both of mine, and discussed my dosage as well as timing. I won’t give the specifics because it’s so individual, and this is not medical advice. Once I found one I liked (specifically formulated for sleep), I started ordering in bulk from Thrive market. Taking a dose about 15 minutes before bed, along with my favorite melatonin gummies, ear plugs and a good sleeping mask really improved how deeply I was sleeping. In the end, since there isn’t much clear research on this, the deciding factor for me was that having parent who is mentally well is super important to infants thriving.

5. The Frida peri bottle is a nice little bathroom luxury. I loved how easy the upside-down design was to use, and pretty purple color looked less medical on my bathroom counter. The one the hospital sends you home with is just fine, so if you’re trying to save money, skip this one or get the dupe for a few dollars less!

6. Virtual Postpartum support. The women in my anti-racism education cohort generously gifted me with a package from Elephant Baby, whose founder, Kilah, is a postpartum vitality coach. She is literally changing what postpartum support looks like. Her focus is on community, deep healing, and replenishment, even a few years after giving birth. I wish I lived where she offers in-person services, (if you are in Saint Louis, book her team immediately) but her online support is the next best thing.

7. These Lactation vitamins. I struggled with milk production, and although we switched one twin to speciality formula, I really wanted to keep pumping as much as possible for the other twin. I had a friend make me lactation brownies, and that helped, but I really saw an uptick in production when I started focusing on hydration and taking the sunflower lecithin regularly. It’s technically for preventing clogged ducks, but I think it helped my milk flow better. Again, this is not medical advice, just what worked for me.

8. These super comfy joggers. Listen, comfy pants are life at all stages, but especially when everything is sore from birthing children. I saw these on another new twin mom’s instagram and ordered immediately. They are high-waisted, soft and have nice deep pockets for holding phones and snacks. I ordered mine in black, but they come in lots of colors, and definitely size up for comfort. I still wear mine around the house!

10. Speaking of pants, I loved these support leggings. A friend passed hers on to me, which was so generous because they aren’t cheap! Having used and loved them now, I would happily invest in a pair. No one told me that my insides would feel like jello for a few weeks after giving birth, and these really helped my core feel more stable.

11. Sipping this honey vanilla chamomile tea in the evenings. I would get 6 ounces of hot water from our keurig, add a heavy splash of oat milk, and drink about an hour before bedtime. Again, anything to help sooth my nerves, even if it was small, became a crucial part of my routine.

12. This ready-to-eat meal kit was a lifesaver. My sisters signed us up for two months of deliveries, and I was so thankful! Think of a TV dinner, but better ingredients and more satisfying. It helped fill in the gaps of our meal train, plus when I was hungry, I didn’t have to wait for a door dash order to show up. When we had company, I could point them in the direction of the fridge to choose what they wanted for lunch. The link will give you 12 free meals across five orders. Bonus; they offer gluten free, dairy free and plant based options.

13. This melatonin bubble bath from Target. I actually have some strong feeling about people recommending a bath as self-care for new parents. The truth is, when the load is heavy, it’s still just as heavy when you get out of the tub. In my head, I was always counting down to when I had to be back on duty, or feeling sure that whomever was caring for the twins was probably overwhelmed, so I should get back out there. I think some of that was PPA, but I digress. What I did find a bath to be great for was sensory overwhelm, and the melatonin bubble bath smells heavenly. It really is calming, and I’m still keeping it on roation!

That brings me to the end of my faves. Someday I will write a post about my newborn recs, but just know that postpartum is freaking hard, and you aren’t alone. My hope is that some of these things can bring you a some support, relief and healing…maybe even a little joy!