The Postpartum Gift Guide for the Holistic Mother
A checklist and gift guide with ideas to support the mother-to-be in her postpartum season.
Those postpartum days are sweet and blurry and beautiful and chaotic.
No matter how many coffee date chats, instagram posts, or videos you watch from well-seasoned mothers will ever truly prepare you for the fourth trimester - though, i would encourage every woman to meet with other mothers who’ve been through it before.
The truth is – everyone wants to buy something for the new baby, but there are two people being born...
a child + a mother.
And that sweet woman needs as much care, support, and love as she can get SO that she can pour it back into the new babe.
🤍🤍🤍
here’s my intentional, hand-picked, and somewhat crunchy list of all the things I LOVED during postpartum + what i’ll be buying in the future for other women who are about to enter the postpartum season.
TINCTURES, TEAS, AND OTHER HERBAL REMEDIES
AFTER EASE TINCTURE - woof, something i didn’t really know about labor was the post-birth contractions. this is your body’s process of shrinking your uterus back to its original size and it intensifies while breastfeeding (a trick to help this is to NOT have any cold liquids for the first week). this tincture, NO JOKE, stopped that pain within seconds. i would add a couple of drops to some water and shoot it back. voilà!
MILKMOON BRING ME A DREAM TINCTURE - i could write an entire blog (and book) on postpartum “mom rage” but lack of sleep, or in my case — interrupted sleep, messed with me so much. when that happens it disrupts our circadian rhythms which leaves you fatigued during the day but wide awake at night. this tincture may be the number one suggestion on this entire list! non-drowsy, all-natural, BF friendly. and local to norcal ladies! i believe in this product so much i reached out to the company to get a discount code for you! use “JOELLE” for 10% off - and trust me, buy at least 2 because you’ll want to use it like crazy.
MILKMOON NO WORRIES TINCTURE - “This deeply soothing nervous system formula offers quick, grounding relief in anxious moments. May also be taken as a daily tonic for longer-term support.” I kept this tincture near the couch for that late night, everything is done for the day, but I’m feeling anxiety slowly creep in moments. A couple of drops and some instant, organic relief. Same code as above for your discount!
SITZ BATH BREW - a great blend for healing and recovery for your lady bits. i had a love/hate relationship with my sitz baths (which i don’t think is normal, i’ve only ever heard people loooving them) but i DO believe they played a huge part in my healing process!
LOOSE LEAF TEA BLENDS - great for milk supply, hormonal support, emotional balance, and SLEEP! my favorite loose-leaf tea blend for sleep (helps baby with gas too ;) ) is lavender, catnip, chamomile, and lemon balm. i get mine in bulk from a local store but mountainsroseherbs.com is a second favorite!
LOOSE LEAF TEA KETTLE - perfect idea + gift in addition to the above!
MINI ESSENTIAL OIL KIT - this is a beautiful gift and used for pregnancy, labor, AND postpartum. i bought the home harmony mini kit from mountain rose herbs and plan on going back and purchasing more! i’ve tried young living and doterra, but i always come back to mountain rose!
GIFT CERTIFICATES + MONEY PUT TO GOOD USE
Let’s be real, money is the ultimate gift. 😂 Even with gifts being a top love language of mine — sometimes you just need a card with a check or some cash in it OR you completely forgot to purchase the gift in time and now you’re running out of ideas. It happens! Here are some ideas of places and things you can get certificates for or put money towards for the postpartum momma:
MASSAGES - one of the best pieces of advice I was given from a momx4 was to get a massage every week you can after giving birth. Noah and I prioritized our money for me to get at least 2 massages and 1 chiropractic appointment after birth and it was a GAME CHANGER because of the long labor and how tense I was learning to breastfeed. **if you’re in Redding - ARUKAH WELLNESS!!! book an appointment yesterday.
CHIROPRACTOR - similar to above, getting that new mom to the chiro after birth is just as sweet a gift as any. we also had winnie get adjusted and checked for oral ties through our chiro here in redding. spotting any kind of cash towards this is SUCH an intentional gift.
LACTATION CONSULTANT - this should honestly be at the top of the list! everyone has an opinion about how you should breastfeed but every mom is different in her supply and demand. getting an IBLCE (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) will set you up for success in your breastfeeding career, and I do mean career because it is a full-time job. breastfeeding has been challenging but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
POSTPARTUM DOULA - oof, this is the only item on the list I didn’t personally do myself and will absolutely budget for next year (unless you’re reading this and will gift us with one next time ;) ) A postpartum doula provides evidenced-based information on things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother-baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care. Just having someone there to offer relief is better than any gift on your registry.
BOOKS
Books were a saving grace for me during those first 2 to 3 weeks. I would experience anxiety starting to creep in right around dinner time each night and the usual routine of watching a tv show or movie would only intensify it. Finding good fiction helped tremendously to “get lost” in something else for a little bit that wasn’t as overstimulating as television - you can check ALL out my favorite books HERE.
THE FIRST FORTY DAYS: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother - I couldn’t get enough of this book AND it was so helpful to have something tangible Noah could learn from instead of sending him 800 Instagram posts 😂 This book is both visually stunning and rich with information. Based on author Heng Ou’s own postpartum experience with zuo yuezi, a set period of “confinement,” in which a woman remains at home focusing on healing and bonding with her baby, The First Forty Days revives the lost art of caring for the mother after birth.
“The book includes 60 simple recipes for healing soups; replenishing meals and snacks; and calming and lactation-boosting teas, all formulated to support the unique needs of the new mother. In addition to the recipes, this warm and encouraging guide offers advice on arranging a system of help during the postpartum period, navigating relationship challenges, and honoring the significance of pregnancy and birth.”
DIY / FREE BUT INTENTIONAL GIFT IDEAS
Here are some EASY, fun ways to support that postpartum momma that doesn’t have you breaking the bank or spending a dime:
HOME COOKED MEALS - are you already making a warm, nutritious meal for your family or yourself? double your recipe and leave it at the new parent’s doorstep. I can guarantee you that a warm meal or something they can freeze and eat on another day will help them out more than you know.
CLEAN UP THEIR HOME - it’s not easy to invite someone over when your house is messy, let alone ask for help with cleaning. throw it back to elementary school when you would make a little DIY certificate as a present and give the postpartum mom a little help when it comes to cleaning.
TAKE THE OLDER KIDS OUT FOR THE DAY OR WATCH BABY FOR AN HOUR OR TWO - similar to above, it isn’t easy to ask for help especially when it comes to the less glamorous things. DIY a paper certificate to take the older kids out to ice cream or the park for a couple of hours, OR if mom is okay with it, watch over that new sleeping babe for an hour or two so mom can rest, shower, go for a walk, or simply just be alone.
NURSING
Whether nursing is a brand new expedition or it’s the second or third time around, these thoughtful gifts will ease the transition:
PRIMALLY PURE BABY BALM - i know there is an earth mama cult out there for her nipple butter, i tried it - but NOTHING compared to PP’s baby balm. i now have it on subscription. plus, it’s the best-kept secret as an under-eye moisturizer that primally pure fans rave over.. so much so that it is usually out of stock! you can use “JOELLE” for an extra discount!! (I know this is a blog for the momma’s, but this balm + the baby oil from Primally Pure is the ONLY thing we’ve used on our girl’s skin, and it’s been a God send, clearing up cuts and even eczema.)
HAAKA - hands. down. necessity. i’ve filled about 20+ bags in my fridge just from this thing, and this is coming from someone who does NOT have an oversupply or pumps. (I recommend the 3 piece set, I use the “ladybugs” when around the house and not nursing but need the catch, and the “pump” for when breastfeeding as it pulls more than the ladybugs do!
MOON WOMB PILLOW - i love, love, love this pillow. multi-functional, fully organic, pregnancy, and breastfeeding pillows designed using 100% organic, sustainable, and ethical materials from the inside out. when i was first learning how to BF i paired this pillow with the “breastfriend” pillow but now being 4+ months in, i use this solo for breastfeeding, tummy time, gas relief, and will use as extra support when winnie learns to sit up on her own!
SOFT NURSING-FRIENDLY PAJAMAS - milk, spit-up, poop, pee - the works. having multiple sets of great nursing pajamas is unbelievably helpful and needed to keep your sanity. sleep is so important - enjoying what you wear to bed matters. pact has some of theeee softest organic, sustainably farmed clothing and pajamas for not only you but your family too- (you can find my other favorite maternity clothes here!)
THIS BREAST MASSAGE TOOL - this was a last-minute find on amazon but i’ve used it countless times in those months of learning to breastfeed! SOOO needed for getting out clogged ducts, preventing mastitis, and just giving comfort. a great item to have for postpartum!
OTHER
CURATED GIFT BOXES - basically your one-stop shop to create a beautiful, THOUGHTFUL curated box of intentional holistic gifts, delivered straight to the new momma’s doorstep. Hello Postpartum is the cutest online shop where you can build your own postpartum gift box (for yourself or friends!). They have specific categories to make shopping easier like: postpartum recovery, feeding, lifestyle, ebooks, and pre-made meaningful kits! 10/10 recommend.
SALT LAMP - i was gifted a salt lamp before i became pregnant and it’s been a staple in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. ours has a control switch to choose the brightness level which is a necessity or those late-night nursing sessions. the warm light helps keep you in a calmer state of mind than a brighter blue light would. this lamp makes my top five of postpartum gift needs!
SILK EYE MASK - it took me way too long to get a sleep mask again and in * real time * i had one of the best nights of sleep last night (but of course, not without my “bring me a dream” tincture) because of my sleep mask. this is the specific one i got - i’m intentional with choosing the correct fabric for better skin + hair health!
NURSING-FRIENDLY HOUSE DRESS - i’m learning that you don’t always need a full button-down dress to breastfeed. if you can slightly get that boob out, you’re good ;) just depends on your comfortability! but having at least one dress/outfit that you can wear if you want visitors in those early postpartum days is a huge stress reliever - though i did stay in my pajamas all day, * mostly * every day ;) when i didn’t, you could find me in my h&m denim dress (not the exact one, but similar!), amazon house dress, or using my amma breastfeeding cover!
BREAKFAST IN BED TRAY - simple + easy, and something that helps incorporate the partner in those postpartum healing months. we used our breakfast tray every. single. day. and it always felt like a special treat to have it brought to me in bed after a long night of nursing. you can get this tray off amazon or look on etsy for a higher-priced, personalized one :)
BPA-FREE WATER BOTTLE - i was told over and over again how THIRSTY i would be while breastfeeding, and they weren’t lying. whether or not breastfeeding is the reason, staying hydrated is so important in general but especially with a little one to look after. this has been my favorite water bottle and i recommend it to everyone - bonus points because it fits in the car cup holder ;) i got the 28 oz!
Postpartum looks different for every mother - even for each child you have. I hope this list helps the transition from maiden to mother as it did for me. Noah and I made it a priority to make the fourth trimester as “easy” and SIMPLE as it could be. It’s beautiful and freaking hard.
Better than any of these products is receiving genuine support + care from your family, community, partner, etc. Let that be the number one priority when deciding how to bless that momma. 🤍
Did I miss anything that you would add to this list?! Have you tried any of these products above? Let me know in the comments!
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