16 Must Have C-Section Recovery Kit Items

After your cesarean section, your midsection will need love, care, and as few belly laughs as possible during your healing process. This is where Belly Bandit has got you covered…um, literally. Their Power Compress Core provides stretchy compression around your belly to encourage muscles back together, making it an ideal diastasis recti belly band.

All moms need support after giving birth, and this belly binder might be more supportive than your partner. A super must-have in my C-section recovery kit, this wrap supported my weak and sore abdominal muscles in a way no propped-up pillow or warm compress could. This band is easily adjustable and can be worn daily to help minimize pain and swelling. It even has built-in back-boning to offer back support! I was surprised to discover that the band improved my range of motion, so I could take care of my newborn with less pain during those first weeks.  Amazon reviewers love it as much as I did!

Frida Mom knows her stuff, and these disposable briefs are better than the mesh underwear the hospital hands out. They’re designed stretchy to keep pads in place without making you feel uncomfortable. Bobbie Mom, Angeline, highly recommends them and adds that their high-waisted underwear is comfy!

Even though you’ve had a cesarean section, you may bleed from your vagina for up to six weeks. This is where investing in postpartum underwear becomes a necessity. Postpartum underwear works to control moisture and keep your skin dry and healthy. Amazon Basics uses Dri-Fit technology and contains a cotton top sheet to prevent rubbing and has a “dual odor system” that neutralizes odors. This has more than 39,000 reviews on Amazon— women are loving these for everything from incontinence to postpartum recovery.

If you’re looking for some one-stop shopping in your C-section recovery kit, then look no further than the Frida Mom. This contains all the big essentials for your recovery with items like an upside-down peri bottle, disposable postpartum underwear, and an abdominal support binder. This was designed with C-section mamas in mind, so there are other excellent things inside such as silicone scar patches (a lifesaver) and “skip the shower wipes.” Let the Frida Mom kit think of everything, so you can think about your recovery and your little one. 

More than 17,000 people have reviewed this gel wrap set on Amazon, many of them postpartum moms who know that when dealing with the pain a C-section causes, hot and cold therapies can really help. After this type of major abdominal surgery, you may feel a warm compress eases your belly pain, and don’t forget using a cold pack can reduce swelling and stop itching around your incision site. Reusable hot and cold gel packs are fast and simple to use. Stick them in the freezer or pop them in the microwave and you’re good to go. These are non-toxic and BPA-free, so use them whenever your sore parts need a little (or a lot of) TLC. 

Ingrid & Isabel Basics designed these leggings for new mamas to give you the right amount of compression for your belly while you care for your baby, do all of your errands or are busy folding all of those burp cloths. A comfy essential to add to your wardrobe, and your list of C-section recovery items, these leggings are machine washable and safe to dry on a low setting. These will carry you from pregnancy through postpartum, so definitely a worth-while investment.

Abdominal muscles go through a lot during pregnancy and post-op. Your regular 6-pack turns into a 1-pack, and regaining your core strength takes time and care. After my C-section, I needed help getting in and out of bed, and hoisting myself out of the car felt like leaping from a tall building in a single bound. This is when a step stool came in super handy. The Delxo is just the ticket with its non-slip step and easy-to-hold handle. 

Trust me, you need a grabber postpartum. A grabber tool is great to have because this prevents you from bending over to retrieve that fallen diaper or reaching up too high to grab that a cup on the top shelf—your core will thank you for the time off. The FiPlus has texturized rubberized ends with an easy grip handle to help you get whatever looms just out of hand. Overreaching can be painful with an abdominal scar and sore muscles, so let a grabber tool help you out. I saw a mom using a grabber on IG recently to take the laundry out of the washer— just one more thing our partners will never understand.

This skin and scar balm is made with organic ingredients that aid in your body’s natural healing ability. The herbs and oils Mama Earth has mixed together help reduce the appearance of C-section scars and stretch marks. A big bonus here is that there are no artificial fragrances to irritate a new mom’s sensitive nose. Make this part of your self-care routine during your recovery time. 

This type of over-the-counter medicine falls into the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) classification which is known to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. When you and your doctor design a birth plan, take a minute to come up with a pain reduction plan that works for you, too. If taking ibuprofen is on your list (and is doctor recommended), know that this pain reliever helps reduce muscle aches and can soothe the pain associated with your C-section incision. 

After my cesarean birth experience, I had no idea how much I’d be focused on poop—my own and my little one’s. I couldn’t leave the hospital until I went #2 and that was only after being given a stool softener. All the heavier drugs left me constipated, and I felt this way for several weeks. Colace relieves symptoms of constipation so you can concentrate less on your bowel movements and more on your newborn’s. (If you’re breastfeeding check with your doctor before taking a new medicine.) 

This pillow is everything! Created by a mom who knows, the Boppy Pillow is firmer than a regular pillow and its c-shaped design offers support to your back and arms while bottle or breastfeeding. One C-section side effect is having tender feeling inside the abdomen, and I certainly wasn’t able to hold my infant for long periods of time without support. The Boppy was the perfect shape and height for feeding time and cuddle time, and I didn’t leave home without it for the first few months. 

Fresh moves like standing and sitting are tough for tummy muscles in postpartum recovery. Bobbie Moms unanimously suggest adding a glider to your list of needs because these types of chairs offer more sturdy support and an easier rise than standing up from a mushy couch or plush chair. The Storkcraft Glider has a strong wooden back with a padded cushion to offer support while you cuddle with your newborn. Once you are past recovery, this will be your nursing and reading chair for years to come, so it’s an ‘add to cart’ item for sure!

While your usual bed pillows might be your favorites, after a C-section you’ll need a firmer option to give your back and belly the comfort you need. C-section moms recommend a supportive back pillow to help, and one that’s constructed to keep you sitting up rather than reclining gives you that little bit of extra that’s a must.

One of my husband’s go-to methods to help me feel better was to make me laugh—admittedly not helpful after a C-section. Laughing, coughing, and sneezing increased my pain levels, but gently pressing a small pillow over my sore belly lessened the pain and decreased the chance of my incision opening. Buckwheat pillows are traditional, and many women who’ve gone back to using them swear by them! One woman on Amazon said, “The buckwheat filling is so much more supportive and comfortable than traditional foam or feather pillows. It conforms to the shape of my head and neck, providing the perfect amount of support and alignment. I have noticed a significant improvement in my posture and overall comfort since switching to this pillow.”