For all of my mamas-to-be out there, this is for you! Please know that I am a *planner* extraordinaire; I prepped our hospital bags with linens and post-delivery items and had the whole game plan in place…

What I didn’t plan for was having a last-minute C-section.

I went in for an induction and ended up needing a C-section. While I knew it was entirely possible, I hadn’t really considered what an unplanned C-section would mean in terms of recovery time.

My only birth plan was to be pain-free; I made it to 4cm, and got an epidural, but I got an infection and started running a fever so I needed to have a C-section. While the initial prognosis was upsetting, I had a very positive birth experience.

The recovery was the most difficult part — you can’t lift more than 10lbs for 6 weeks, and even sitting up is painful for the first two weeks.

Anyway, regardless of if you are having a vaginal or C-section delivery, there are postpartum items that will be particularly useful.

Based on my experience, I’d recommend having the items that are useful for any type of delivery on hand; but I would wait to order anything else unless you know you’re having a scheduled C-section. I’ll detail this all below!

Whether you have a vaginal and C-section delivery, here are my tips for preparing postpartum essentials.