How to have an Eco-Friendly Postpartum

Postpartum is messy, cuddly, sore, beautiful, intense, and all of the things. One thing it doesn't have to be is wasteful. If you are eco-minded like me, you might feel a sense of guilt going through garbage bags of disposable products during those first few weeks. I want to give you some options to take care of yourself during this time in a sustainable way.

You may feel like throwing in the towel with living eco during postpartum because you feel like crap and the planet can wait but with a little bit of preparation postpartum waste is totally avoidable.

Making a list of everything you need to make your postpartum experience comfortable and acquiring sustainable solutions create a low waste postpartum kit.

Cloth Pads and or Menstrual Underwear

You will have an open wound in your womb where your placenta detached from and will probably bleed heavier than any of your menstrual periods and the bleeding may last for 2-8 weeks. Substitute disposable postpartum pads with cloth pads and/or menstrual leakproof underwear. I used a set of 10 cloth postpartum pads off eBay (an eco small business would be more sustainable but they can be quite expensive) and 4 period undies that helped as back up. I can use these for years to come during my period or after any babies I have in the future (not really the kind of thing to sell preloved). In saying all this sometime the first 3 days are so heavy cloth pads just don't cut it so buying just 1 pack of those disposable granny panties can get you through those first couple of days. You could also use absorbable nappy inserts for the first few days while the flow is SUPER heavy and you will just need to soak them to avoid staining.

Reusable Breast Pads

Once your milk comes in your boobs are likely to leak. You can avoid using boxes of disposable breast pads over the next few months by getting your hands on some reusable breast pads. There are some real quality ones with waterproof backing and pretty designs. There are also some basic cheap ones that are just bamboo or cotton circles, that make for great washable makeup remover pads when you are done with them. I recommend also getting a small wet bag for putting used ones in if you have to change them while you are out. 

Premade meals and low waste snacks.

The first week is very sore. You are likely to spend most of it in bed. Then the following weeks are rough too. You are not exactly in the space to be whipping up a storm in the kitchen. Uber eats and pizza delivery can be a new mums best friend but the pile of takeaway rubbish will quickly stack up. Have on hand a bunch of nourishing pre-made meals ready to heat for those times when your personal chef (partner or someone else) is not available. I highly recommend the book 'The first 40 days' for everything postpartum recovery including epic healing meal recipes. You will also get really hungry while breastfeeding and will want some grab and eat snacks. You could also organise a meal train set up where your loved ones deliver premade meals on different days is an alternative to baby shower gifts.

Reusable Water Bottle

You are going to need lots of hydration while breastfeeding so getting a good water bottle with a straw is a fantastic idea. Why with a straw? Because you can get incredibly thirsty in weird breastfeeding positions where drinking from a cup or balancing a water bottle with a wide mouth can often lead to spills.

 A Perry bottle

After birth, you will be crazy sensitive down especially if you have any tears there so having a squirting bottle to use in the bathroom instead of wiping rough toilet paper to clean yourself. You can get clean with the water and then just dry off dabbing toilet paper. You could even google some herbal remedies to add to the water that help with postpartum healing.

 I wish you the most nourishing time recovering soaking up your little bundle of joy. With just a little preparation this can be a sustainable experience for you and for the effect the time period has on the planet. If you are reading this, You are probably still pregnant so it is not too late to download my Ultimate Sustainable Pregnancy Guide here