Two years on from giving birth to my daughter, I can finally look back with a little distance and perspective. The early days feel like a blur — equal parts beautiful, raw, and transformative — but there are a few things that genuinely made a difference for me through labour, recovery, and those early months of breastfeeding.

Every birth and body is different, but these were the practical tools and small comforts that helped me feel supported and in control through each stage.

DURING LABOUR

TENS machine
I used this early in labour to distract from the intensity of contractions. It gave me a sense of control, and I continued using it in the days after birth for uterine cramps, something I didn’t realise could be so strong!

A box of Postpartum Pads
For when my waters broke. Super absorbent, these were perfect to allow me to keep moving whilst losing my waters.

Birth ball and movement
Looking back, staying mobile during labour was one of the best things I did. Using a birth ball helped me find rhythm and relief — rocking, circling, or leaning forward to release tension. It encouraged my baby’s descent and gave me something to focus on through each surge.

Acupressure balls for pain relief
A simple but powerful tool. My partner used these to apply firm pressure on my lower back and hips during contractions, helping to counterbalance the pain. That grounding sensation made a world of difference when everything else felt overwhelming.

IN THE FIRST DAYS AFTER BIRTH

Postpartum Pads & Perineal Foam
Whilst the hospital usually offers maternity pads, I used Bare Mum pads during and after birth as they were a much better size, more absorbent, softer and don’t catch onto stitches. I used the peri foam as a gentle intimate wash in the shower to help soothe and clean tender skin. I also popped some straight onto pads 2-3 times a day for the following week to help the area heal quicker.

Postpartum Briefs & Ice Pack
Straight after birth for abdominal and pelvic floor support and ice to bring down the swelling and help numb the pain every few hours for the first 3-4 days. I wore the briefs during pregnancy and immediately after birth. 3-4 days after birth I switched back to my pre-pregnancy brief size for extra support.

A perineal wash bottle
If you’ve never given birth before, you might underestimate how much this little bottle will mean to you. Warm water after using the bathroom helps reduce stinging and keeps things clean and gentle while healing.

WHEN BREASTFEEDING BEGAN

Nipple Balm
I used this as a preventative measure weeks before birth to keep the skin hydrated and build a protective barrier.

Colostrum Collectors
I started hand expressing from 37 weeks using these. Our baby girl was born very little and so we topped up the first few feeds with colostrum. I also had nipple damage as she was little and struggling to latch so these were so helpful to use in between feeds to give my skin time to recover.

Postpartum Bralette
I wore this straight after birth for support with nipple shells in anticipation for breastfeeding. I then expressed a little bit of breastmilk on my breasts and let them air dry in between feeds and only wore the nipple shells as protection from friction when needed.

Warm & Cool Inserts
I started wearing these in my bralette 2-3 days after birth, once I noticed my milk started coming in to bring down inflammation when engorged.

Breast pads
I started wearing these 2-3 days post birth when my milk started coming in as I started leaking milk… which never really stopped!

WHAT I'D TELL MY NEW-MUM SELF

Looking back, I wish I’d known how much the little things matter — the small rituals, the right tools, the moments of rest. None of these items magically fixed the exhaustion or uncertainty, but they made me feel prepared, capable, and cared for when I needed it most.

Motherhood keeps evolving, but the lesson stays the same: you don’t have to do it all alone, and there’s no one “right” way to recover. Listen to your body, gather what helps, and take it one gentle step at a time.