Postpartum Must Haves and Real Talk: What I actually used with my three babies

Updated: April 2026

Written by Meg — mom of three (ages 5, 3, and 1) in Atlanta. I've been through the postpartum period three times — including a PICU hospitalization with my third — and this is the honest, no-fluff version of what actually helped. 🫶

Looking for honest postpartum recommendations from someone who has actually been through it? This covers what I use for supplements, postpartum hair loss, skincare, mental health, and how to actually survive those first months — from a mom of three who knows that the physical recovery is only part of the story. The emotional and mental side rarely gets talked about enough, and that's what I most want to share here.

I did a whole series of chats around Postpartum on Instagram if helpful to watch!

My postpartum essentials.

• Supplements

  • Postnatal vitamins - after I finished up my prenatals I switched to the Anya postpartum supplements and have been loving them after baby #3!

    • I was so obsessed with Anya's whole approach that I reached out to them and asked for a code for y'all - MeganK15 will save 15%

    • Their kits are perfectly developed for every month based on what you're going through postpartum. Their scalp serum for the postpartum shed has been AMAZING. The energy drops in the first box were... a lifesaver. Point being, they have figured out how to support the full postpartum experience which I really love.

  • Electrolyte supplement - I admittedly found this online (@drjamesdinic - my "Instagram doctor") but I really do find it makes a difference for me and my energy! My husband and I have both taken it daily for three years or so now. My kids love to steal a sip of the Mango flavor too and I don't mind because the ingredients are really good.

    • I do autoship from the brand, Amazon has it but it's more expensive

  • MaryRuths Organic Liquid Probiotic - I've tried a lot of different probiotics but use this one for my kids now too. It's super easy to put into my morning electrolytes since it's a liquid.

    • As always, with ANY supplements, you should check w/ your doctor about what is best for you. I had come across Anya during my pregnancy and had my doctor and OBGYN confirm they were okay for me to use. But I am not you. Ask your doctor.

    • I also run things through ChatGPT and say "act like a doctor and analyze these ingredients and if they're safe for breastfeeding and if I'm getting too much of any one vitamin" but again your medical history could play a factor here too.

• Hair products - for the postpartum shed. I will say my best friend is almost six months PP and hasn't had this at all, the lucky thing, so you may not get this!

  • I've tried different things over the years but with baby #3 I have been loving the Virtue line. It's too early to say anything definitive but my hair FEELS really healthy right now and the products smell amazing.

  • Anya's Scalp Serum I mentioned above is definitely helping me out this time around, I started using it daily ish and am already seeing regrowth. Baby hairs come throuuuuugh!

• Barefaced Skincare by Jordan Harper - I developed rosacea during my first pregnancy and with all of the hormonal changes and broken sleep I felt like my skin just looked awful. I think generally my confidence was a bit low those first few months PP and while I couldn't lose all the baby weight immediately, my skin felt like something I could improve.

  • I ended up doing an online consultation for Jordan Harper skincare and the regimen recommended for me has been AMAZING. Some of the products are $$$$ but they’re medical grade and they definitely work.

    • She still does the consults but now also has a free skin quiz on her website that I'd recommend checking out! Skincare is so personal, which is why I never buy the latest trending TikTok skincare things.

    • I use the Toning Pads, Liquid Gold, Overachiever, the RetinAL Skin and the Papaya Enzyme Cleanser - all linked here on Amazon for same price as her website

      • Over the years I've also tried her Moisturizer and Eye Creams as well but felt I couldn't continue getting ALL the products at this pricepoint and found some cheaper options for those. Her serums are incredible though, I've put my mom and sister onto them and they love them too.

    • Facial Razor - I got her shaving oil to use with this and it totally works but I think you can use any oil you want and save some $$$$. Her razor is fab though, 10/10. It is SHARP so you'll want to watch her IG highlights / videos before using.

    • I have used the routine they recommended religiously since then and my skin has never looked better. I never had the confidence to leave my house without makeup before and now do it daily. Amazing skincare plus a sheer lack of fucks to give, honestly.

  • If this is out of your budget, I would still recommend following her on Instagram and putting together a routine at your price point, following her general principles (vitamin C and sunscreen every day, double cleansing at night to remove makeup, etc. etc). She has some great blog posts on her website with drug store recommendations. Love this post on skincare recommendations by decade too.

  • I follow her recommendation for removing makeup as well with Micellar Water, these pads, patting dry with clean cloths, and then using your regular cleanser. This step ALONE if you're not doing it already will help your skin immensely. So much crap gets left behind in your pores otherwise. It's always crazy to me when I double cleanse and use a Toning Pad and there's still a little makeup on there.

• Freezer tape - I bought this initially to label breastmilk that was being stored in my pump containers but then started using it to label leftover food in my refrigerator too. You’ll go through a few months of feeling like your brain is just never going to be the same again. It will, but I had “brain fog” BAD after my first baby especially. Labeling things helps as you have more important things to remember than “When did I make that chicken?” or “Is that breastmilk still good?”

  • I also labeled our larger baby items (swing, activity seat, etc.) with this tape and just write the max weight limit. Again, you probably don’t have brainspace to remember all of the weight limits for each baby item in your house! This could be a safety concern and you may have to think about it sooner than you think if you have babies who are on the bigger side like me!

  • For more about knowing how long breastmilk is good, see here in the breastfeeding section!

My PP Mama Principles.

• Accept any help offered - if you're like me, this may not come naturally to you. I love helping others and don't typically want to "put anyone out" or accept help myself. I made a conscious effort to throw that out the window once I brought baby home. If you're lucky enough to have a support circle who wants to help, let them. Eventually people will stop offering if you won't let them in.

  • Try to think about what you'll be comfortable having others help with in advance so when they offer, you have a clear task to give them. Some ideas: taking out the trash, doing the dishes, bringing a meal, throwing some of the baby's clothes in the wash, taking the dog for a walk.

• Make time to do something for you, regularly and away from the baby - whatever that is, make time for it. With my boys, mine was a nail appointment and coffee date every few weeks with my mom and sister. It was only a few hours but it helped me feel like a human again. With baby #3 we've had some things going on that have made this harder (TLDR, she was hospitalized at 2.5 weeks old and now your girl is terrified of germs), but I am prioritizing solo walks and more selfcare than ever.

  • This IS an essential - your mental health as a new mom is so very important. Daily self care is also imperative (working out, reading, talking to friends, etc.) but this dedicated time away from baby, however brief, can be really great for both of you.

• Create your village - especially if you do not have family or friends nearby who you trust with your children, it's incredibly important for you to find, or make your village. There's an amazing book I love [Hunt, Gather, Parent] that talks about how children really do benefit from multiple caregivers in their lives. It will also help you be a better parent, simply to have that support. I realize not everyone is as lucky as I am to have involved grandparents and family nearby, but I've seen friends have great success finding other mom friends in local groups, at mommy and me classes and even at local parks. The reality is that so many parents are looking for support but it's not going to happen on its own.

  • I HIGHLY recommend finding a newborn class where you can meet other mamas going through the same things you are. There's nothing better than having someone who can relate to this so completely as they're in that same moment.

    • For Atlanta friends, The Bunny Hive is excellent!

• Keep a pulse on how you are REALLY feeling - I could probably devote an entirely post to just this topic but the TLDR is: tune into your mental health in this period. You will be busy with baby, you will be sleep deprived, you will feel like you are constantly behind on housework and, well, everything else in your life too. And it can be tempting to ignore how you are really feeling. With my second, I started having horrible intrusive thoughts that got so bad I had to go on anti-anxiety medication. I knew it was time to talk to my doctor when I could hardly leave my house without having irrational fears of something happening to one of my kids - car accidents, getting hit by a car, drowning in a pool, bitten by a dog, you name it. The medication helped a TON and I'm so glad that I didn't ignore the feeling that something wasn't quite right. Listen to that mama gut you are developing and take care of yourself, too. It's the single most important thing you can do to be a better mom.

• At minimum, shower & skincare daily, and the days you're up to it, put on a spot of makeup. I don't do this every day by any means but once I hit 3 months PP, most days I put on a little makeup and it just makes me feel more ME!

  • My five minute makeup routine is linked in my IG Highlights

FAQ

What supplements should I take postpartum? I switched from prenatals to Anya postpartum supplements after baby #3 and loved them — their kits are developed specifically for each month of postpartum based on what your body is actually going through. I also take Redmond Re/Lyte electrolytes daily (I've been doing this for four years) and MaryRuth's Liquid Probiotic. Always run anything by your doctor first, especially if you're breastfeeding. Use code MeganK15 for 15% off Anya.

How do I deal with postpartum hair loss? First — it's completely normal and it will stop. With baby #3 I've had great results with the Anya scalp serum (comes in their kit) and the Virtue hair care line. The hair loss is hormonal so no product will stop it entirely but these genuinely helped with my regrowth. The good news is the baby hairs that come in are adorable.

How do I take care of my skin postpartum? I developed rosacea during my first pregnancy and finding the right routine changed everything for me — I now leave the house without makeup daily which was unthinkable before. I use Barefaced Skincare by Jordan Harper (she does online consultations and also has a free skin quiz). Her serums are medical grade and worth every penny. The double cleansing step alone will transform your skin.

How do I protect my mental health postpartum? This is the one I feel most strongly about. Tune in to how you're actually feeling. After my second I developed severe anxiety with intrusive thoughts and went on medication — it helped enormously and I'm so glad I didn't ignore it. Signs to watch for: irrational fears that feel overwhelming, inability to leave the house, feeling like something is deeply wrong. Talk to your doctor. It's not weakness, it's a medical condition and it's incredibly common. At minimum: shower daily, basic skincare, and get out of the house alone even briefly. Fill your cup first.

How do I build a postpartum support system? Accept every single offer of help — have tasks ready when people ask. My family does porch drop-offs when we're sick or overwhelmed. Find a newborn class to meet other mamas in the same season (The Bunny Hive in Atlanta is excellent). Read Hunt, Gather, Parent — it changed how I think about raising kids with a village. And let your partner in from day one, both for the help and for the bonding.

What is the Anya postpartum supplement kit? Anya makes monthly kits specifically designed for each phase of postpartum — different supplements for month 1, month 2, month 3 and beyond based on what your body needs at each stage. Their scalp serum for postpartum shedding has been amazing for me. I reached out to them personally because I loved the brand so much — use code MeganK15 for 15% off.

How long does postpartum recovery take? Longer than anyone tells you — your body takes a full year to recover from pregnancy and delivery, sometimes more. The first 6 weeks are the most intense physically, but the hormonal shifts, hair loss, mental health adjustments, and identity recalibration can take much longer. Be patient with yourself. You grew and delivered a human being.

→ See my full postpartum recovery recommendations — physical recovery products and tips here

→ All things breastfeeding and combo feeding here

→ Bringing home baby — what to expect in those first weeks here

→ See all my current discount codes including Anya postnatals here

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Your friendly reminder that this blog is not medical advice! This blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if they seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment for you or your family.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you click through and purchase — at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I only share products I genuinely use myself.