Stuff you want {and stuff you totally do NOT need!}

This covers pregnancy, birth + postpartum. Depending on your personality... at some point in your pregnancy journey you'll start thinking {or hearing!} about STUFF. Stuff for the pregnancy, stuff for the birth and ESPECIALLY stuff for the baby.

I tend to be a bit minimalist.

​Plus we live in a VERY small house and I need my yoga space! That's me... but there are a few reasons to be more minimalist and not {literally} buy in to the stuff frenzy! 
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In spite of what people {and books, blogs, and mothers' in law ~ although mothers' in law are people too} tell you... you do not need THAT much.

What you DO need people will gift you...

So use this list to create a gift list before you spend your cash. You can also find a lot used from friends or through community resources like neighborhood list serves or parent groups.

Remember that if you are going to parent holistically, your baby's favorite toy is going to be YOU {your boobs, your voice, your presence}. And give your baby time to let you know what he or she likes before you start up with a bunch of toys and gadgets 

Stuff ~ Things

First of all Mama, Get This 

  • Just get this... it has it all... Belly Butter for massaging during pregnancy, Perineal Massage Oil {also doubles as Baby Massage oil}, Nipple Cream, Rash Cream for baby, SItz Bath Spray. It is everything I would recommend. You'll see the *asterisk below when I mention a product in this package.
  • Natural Hand Sanitizer ~ one big pump {this one is moisturizing and natural and lasts forever} for home; a few carry-around ones ~ spray, gel or wipes for diaper bag / stroller / car. Yes, soap and water is always best... but they are not always immediately available. For your own use post-diaper change when you are on your own with baby and when you are out and there is no soap + water in sight... even when people come over and need to wash hands immediately {I have a grandmother who does NOT use soap, so I always made her use the pump when she came over}.

For Pregnant Mama

Please also see the Botanicals for Pregnancy page for remedies, teas, herbs. See Prenatal Superfoods page for food + Vedicook for meal ideas and search #mayurveda
  • *Belly Butter {or any shea butter or cocoa butter}
  • Nettles Tea, I recommend Traditional Medicinals Brand 
  • Pregnancy Tea, Traditional Medicinals Brand start closer to 36 weeks, daily
  • *Birth Massage Oil, start perineal massage at 36 weeks
  • Maternity clothes ~ first off... no tight jeans okay? Let your belly BREATHE! Wear natural materials as much as possible... and you can likely get away with non-maternity clothes except a few items. You can wear lots of skirts and yoga pants with a fold-down waist. A few tanks or tops with a ruched look work great during pregnancy and postpartum. Choose tops with easy boob access so you can keep wearing them postpartum. If you need a "professional look" a few places to get stuff are ~ Target ~ Figure8 ~ Loft ~ have good options. 

For Birthing Mama

Okay, hopefully you don't need much! Don't plan to make a 3 day affair of it! One midwife said when she sees candles and pretty nightgown she knows she's in for a long birth. 
  • Your birth plan written out for all to see, including your choices regarding VitKshot, eyegoop etc. for baby. More on postpartum to be discussed in your session. 
  • Your focal point ~ you'll figure this out during birth class... it may be an image, a song or guided relaxation that you'll want to have ready to go on your mobile device, or a particular aroma. 
  • Rescue Remedy ~ this may be MORE helpful for your partner, if you are in natural labor your hormones will take care of your mind. 
  • Waterbottle ~ drink A LOT during labor
  • Snacks ~ yes you can have snacks during labor. Dates are a great choice. Think high calorie and protein. Some women prefer savory.  
  • Postpartum plan in place, including your support system of people to cook for you! 

Wardrobe + Spa for Postpartum Mama

  • *Sitz Bath Spray for postpartum. Spray on your pads and your crotch daily. ​ 
  • Arnica homeopathic {take postpartum for couple of days}
  • Mama Massage Oil ~ for self massage or receiving treatments. Begin after 3 days post natural birth or 10-14 days post cesarean birth. You can simply purchase organic Sesame Oil and make your own with herbs or essential oils {I'll tell you how in our pre-birth postpartum session}... or a Vata-Type Massage Oil, Post-Partum Oil as recommended by your midwife, or here are a few good ones ~ Pratima Love Oil, Hamsa's Rejuvenation Oil, 
  • DHA ~ take daily throughout breastfeeding. I like Nordic Naturals, which has a vegan option. 
  • Belly Binding ~ You can DIY with a LONG fabric a la naturalista / indigenous style, but to get it tight enough you need someone to help you and someone to hold the baby. Then everytime you pee or change your pad you have to do it over again. To keep it easy, this or this one. 
  • Natural Maxi Pads for first 2 weeks postpartum. You can keep them in the freezer to help with healing, and spray with Sitz bath spray before you put them on. 
  • A cotton, comfortable, easy to nurse in nightgown or pajamas that you will wear during your postpartum homestay
  • Boyshort undies to wear with the big pads. Personally I just got simple cotton stuff... but if you want to go sexy for your panties and nursing bras try HotMilkLingerie and Primrose+Lace, plenty from Figure8Maternity and model Elle Macpherson has a line too. Once your flow returns, I recommend using Thinx. 
  • Postpartum food recommendations here in the postpartum pages + in your one-on-one session with me. 

Wardrobe + Spa For Newborn {first 3 months}

  • Some baby clothes...  Mostly 3-6 month size. Your baby will grow out of newborn size the first month, and at the beginning just needs onesies and blankets because you'll be home doing skin-to-skin. People love to gift clothes, try UndertheNile and Lov'd Baby
  • Diapers + Natural wipes. We used these hybrid / cloth GDiapers and were able to find almost all of them used in good condition. Start with newborn size, but after a month you'll need bigger. Changing mat / station / spot we like this one... cover it with one of the many baby blankets people gift you. 
  • Shelving for baby stuff + clothes. We preferred open shelves and baskets which could adapt for other purposes as baby grows + a set of drawers. 
  • *Baby Massage Oil
  • Baby Soap, we like California Baby
  • Baby Nail clippers
  • Teething - Chamomilla homeopathic and Sophie
  • Snot sucker, which hopefully you don't have to use and Thermometer which hopefully you don't have to use. 
  • Natural laundry detergent for the whole family {you don't need to spend extra money on "baby detergent", which is a marketing trick. Just get nontoxic detergent for everyone's clothing, your baby will be all over you so it makes no sense to use a special soap for baby and not for yourself {that is true of any hair and body products for YOU too... baby will be all over you. If you wouldn't put a product on your baby, don't put it on yourself... there is no difference during postpartum.}
  • A few thin light blankets for swaddle like these
  • A velcro swaddle for strong babies
  • Information about safe co-sleeping {talk to me + your doula!}... and / or some kind of baby co-sleeper... such as a Moby Basket or this one that attaches to your bed {both nontoxic materials}. Here is great info on non-toxic baby items. Most parents end up sleeping with their baby for at least part of the night, making for better sleep for the whole family... so it's best to learn how to do it safely, and about the benefits. 
  • A little seat for when you need to pee or do some yoga! Choose one that is safe for newborns, and has the option to vibrate {some babies like that and some don't}... don't get something too overstimulating with a ton of sounds or flashing lights or PLEASE not an ipad attachment. Here is an example... we found on used for $10 and it was priceless! Scroll down for the kinds of seats to avoid. 

Breastfeeding 

  • Breast pump and glass or stainless steel bottles, if you plan to pump. If so, you should start trying to pump and bottle feed around 2 months, not before and not much longer after 15 weeks. These are paid for through your insurance under the affordable care act. 
  • Easy low light situation for nighttime nursing + diaper changing so you don't have to do it in the dark {once you and baby get the hang of latching you'll be able to} and you don't have to turn on bright lights. I think THESE are a great idea to have one next to your bed or wherever you'll nurse + diaper change at night. Much safer than real candles... and whenever you can enjoy a sex life again they will make a little romance. 
  • *Nipple Cream for postpartum {it is for sure worth having at first, but if you need this more than a week or two into nursing, you and baby need some help with latching}. PLEASE avoid anything with lanolin, it is unsafe. This product is safe for baby to eat. 
  • Mothers Milk Tea, Traditional Medicinals Brand; or Milk Plus from MotherLove. You will want to drink several cups a day during postpartum period, and then continue at least one cup a day for the duration of nursing.
  • Comfortable bras without underwire + nightgown + tops with easy boob access. See all the links for sexy options above. Personally I got cotton bralettes from the Gap. 

 Baby Wearing and Getting Around

This is where you can go crazy with "stuff having"... get a few. You and your partner may have different faves. I am available to coach you through the process, but you'll want to be able to baby wear by week 2. 
  • Moby Wrap 
  • Ring Sling like Tula or Maya or Sakura
  • Soft Structured Carrier we used the Beco... here's a nice comparison chart. If you can borrow or get a used one go for it. 
  • We splurged on an Uppababy Stroller, which we found through Craigslist. Though we did not use a stroller for the first couple of months. We also got a Maclaren Stroller for use starting at 6 months which folds easily and we keep in the car and use for travel. We walk alot so these were worth it. 
  • Carseat ~ if you are birthing anywhere but home you'll need this. 

Resources ~ People

People For Mama + Baby

  • Birth Doula ~ interview around, get a recommendation from a friend. She supports you and your partner during birth... she knows what to do. She meets with you several times before you give birth to help teach you what you need to go, and get to know you and your partner so that she is clear on how to work with you and you create a birth plan together. The Birthing from Within book has a great chapter on the importance of doulas. 
  • Birth Partner ~ baby's other parent ideally, otherwise a best friend or sister. If not a life partner, someone who has been through birth is best. 
  • Prenatal and Postpartum Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist, Network Chiropractor, Yoga Therapist {or all of the above!}. Find people who specifically are trained to work with Mamas 
  • Midwife or ObGyn
  • Pediatrician ~ ideally you interview and choose one before the baby comes. He or she will do the first checkup. Ask simple questions to assess if his or her philosophy fits yours. You are the employer in this scenario. It's your baby {which is what our pediatrician said when we interviewed}. 
  • Birthclass + Birthteacher. Ours was called "Zen Birthing"... find one that is a good match for you, and then practice the measures with your partner at 36 weeks during perineal massage {it ain't romantic but it's effective}. 
  • Someone to cook and clean for you postpartum. Partner, mother, friend, mother in law, or postpartum doula. Your job is to be with the baby. You are not to cook + clean for several weeks!

Books on Pregnancy + Birth

Even better is a natural birth class. Pregnancy is not a high school course. You don't have to read every page and report back. Just take what is meaningful and skip the rest. 
  • Natural Pregnancy Book, Aviva Romm. A good reference book to have around. 
  • Yoga Mama, Yoga Baby, an Ayurvedic and Yogic reference book by trimester
  • Birthing from Within, a birthing book with art therapy projects which you can do or not, and practical information about natural birth, from doulas to conscious Cesareans. 
  • Ina Mae's Guide To Childbirth {first half is birth stories, which you can skip if you want, they are to help you recover from any fear-based stories you may have heard, second half is to inspire you about how amazing your body is built to give birth.  

Books on Parenting 

You don't need these yet. Parenting your newborn = breastfeeding, diaper changing, singing and cooing. But if you want them for when your child is 2... 

Online Resources

  • MotherLove blog + Products ~ Blog has a TON of information about mothering, nursing and natural product considerations
  • Aviva Romm ~ birth, women's health, herbs for kids
  • Dr. Sears ~ health questions, highly sensitive children, attachment parenting. 
  • Organic Grace ~ My friend's online store + amazing information about a nontoxic home, baby stuff etc. Totally trust their knowledge. 

Stuff You Don't Need {and maybe shouldn't get}

  • Baby Bath tub ~ you can take a bath WITH your baby. It is safe and sweet and you clean two bodies with one bath! 
  • Gadgets that help your baby sit or stand before he or she is ready. Like this seat or this jumper. This is unnecessary, potentially dangerous and risks damage to their forming spine. For example, the sacrum at birth is 5 separate vertebrae which fuse naturally when your child begins to stand and walk. This process is not supposed to happen until baby is ready. Many internal processes in the bones, organs, muscles and nervous system are taking place to prepare your baby for these stages. There is no hurry and your baby will sit, stand and read when ready. 
  • Lanolin for Nipples ~ this is often recommended for breastfeeding Mamas but has shown to be VERY high in pesticides which are dangerous for your infant.
  • Nipple Shield ~ This are something you should not become dependent on. If you think you need a nipple shield then what you really need is breastfeeding support. You and baby may also benefit from gentle Chiropractic or Sacral Cranial work to resolve breastfeeding issues. 
  • Ugly or uncomfortable Diaper Bag ~ Okay, this is optional. You DO need something to carry diaper changing things in... but it doesn't HAVE To be a diaper bag necessarily. You can also turn a backpack, Hobo bag or anything you like into a "diaper bag" by keeping what you need for baby in smaller sacks like these or these that transfer in and out of any bag you or your partner need. Plus if there is a Papa in the picture or a partner who doesn't like "girly" bags or purses... a backpack is a great option. Of course, when you wear your baby on your back, a backpack won't work. 
  • Conventional / unnatural things diapers, baby products {like soaps and diaper cream}, sunscreens, synthetic baby or Mama clothes and all products with yuck ingredients. 
  • Baby Tylenol ~ more studies are now coming out about the dangers of baby tylenol, that your pediatrician may not be up on yet. There are other options to bringing down a fever {such as homeopathy, skin-to-skin, essential oils, and lots of breastfeeding... not to mention preventing fevers in the first place}
  • Crib or books on "Sleep Training" ~ this is a choice each family needs to make... however I urge you to consider co-sleeping in {this can mean anything from baby in the bed with you, in a bassinet that attaches to your bed, to in a bassinet next to you}. Eventually your child will have his or her own space... but in the beginning, the studies are now clear {and support what the majority of the world has done for thousands of years} that room-sharing or bed-sharing is the safest choice for babies and better supports Mama in the 4th trimester. Sleep Training {aka Cry it out} methods are now shown to be damaging to baby's nervous system, increase their levels of cortisol {the stress hormone} and that co-sleeping children grow up to be MORE {not less} independent with healthier sexual relationships as adults. Here is more on the Dangers of Crying it Out. 
  • Baby Wipe Warmer ~ can encourage bacteria growth on baby and electric shock on parents! See articleDiaper Disposal System 
  • Diaper disposal system. Not necessary at all if you are using cloth diapers. If you do use natural disposable diapers or, like us, you use a hybrid diaper then ew... why would you want to keep a load of poopy diapers inside? Just dispose... if you are using disposable diapers... or flush if you are using 
  • Books on Child Development - I didn't read any. I also felt confident that my own natural instinct and experience with children would support me, and that the baby would let me know how and when he was ready to develop. Every time I tell a doctor or natural practitioner that I don't read anything about what children should be doing when, they say "that's the best choice". The one time I did read something, I got anxious because it didn't line up with our experience. To me these books give a lot of opportunity for excessive comparison and either thinking your baby is an over or under achiever. But that's me. I did at the beginning enjoy visiting www.askdrsears.com and found that the recommendations (essentially "attachment parenting") were what papa and I did instinctively.