The Complete MP List: 15 Must-Haves for New Moms
After giving birth, moms need to remember to take care of themselves, too! Here are some top picks and must-haves for new moms.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and eventually, motherhood. The journey of starting a family comes with its share of ups and downs, but we can all agree that the whole thing is no easy feat. Yes, there are good days and picture-perfect moments, but realistically speaking, it comes with responsibilities, stress, fatigue, and so much more. Thing is, all moms tend to focus so much on their baby—zeroing in on his or her health, food, well-being, and everything else in between. But it’s important to remember that as moms, you need to take care of yourself, too! And so, we’ve asked moms to share what their 15 must-haves are—perfect as gifts for fellow moms or even for yourself if you’re a new mom. Check it out!
Healthy Eats and Treats
15. Healthy Juices

Having a nutritious diet is important both during and after your pregnancy. But with a busy schedule, it can be hard to get your fix of vitamins and minerals. The solution? Drinking healthy juices!
Pure Nectar’s For-soon-to-be Mamas bundle includes a curated series of juices—available in different blends and combinations. Highlights include the Moringa Magic (Malunggay, Green Apple, Cucumber, Celery) and Mango Yogurt (Mango, Sweetened Low-fat Yogurt), with the former being good for milk production and the latter for your overall digestive health. (Tip: fiber-rich juices help when you have post-partum constipation, too!)
14. Lactation Treats

For breastfeeding moms, having a steady supply of milk is essential. While some find it easy (lucky you!), others may need a little helping hand. Enter lactation treats—baked goodies that are fortified with galactagogues to stimulate the production of breastmilk—which help you produce more milk and satisfy your sweet cravings, too!
From cookies to revel bars, crinkles, and even brownies, Lactation Treats By RCG offers a wide range of lactation sweets to choose from. Their selection includes classics like Chocolate Chip, Brookies, and even Chocolate Chip with Pecans, which make perfect snacks when hit with a case of the munchies.
13. Supplements

When you think about keeping healthy, supplements are a top-of-mind choice. Moms, most especially, need to replenish on vitamins and minerals that they give to their babies—both during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
An all-in-one pill that most moms need, Mega-Malunggay Capsules are made with Moringa Oleifera—which not only helps produce more milk for breastfeeding, but also contains more vitamin C than oranges, thrice the amount of iron in spinach, and 4 times the calcium amount in milk. What’s more, these contain essential proteins and oils that help heal inflamed joints and tendons and even normalize blood pressure and sugar levels.
12. Post-Partum Meals

After giving birth, moms need to take in as many nutrients as they can by eating food that is easily digested and absorbed by the body. That way, they can regain their strength and build up their immunity. Gelai or “sitting the month” in Chinese refers to a holistic post-pregnancy recovery regimen that many Fil-Chi moms practice. And nourishing post-partum meals are part of the program.
Since the process of preparing these meals is a forgotten art among the younger generation and tedious for those who remember it, Gelai.ph makes it easier for new moms by delivering meal plans that are specially curated for their needs. These include warming medicinal soups (Chicken Red Dates with Ginger Soup), dishes like Black Chicken Sibut, as well as herbal teas, and even chocolate drinks.
Nursing Essentials
11. Nursing Clothes

Who says you can’t look good before and after your pregnancy? Modern fashion is evolving these days, with clothes that not only look stylish but fit the part of convenience and ease.
Whether you’re looking for wrap-around dresses, nursing tops, maxi dresses, and more, Love Mama offers a wide range of clothes that provide easy access for nursing your baby. What’s more, they come in flattering designs that feel soft and breezy. Perfect for those #OOTD goals!
10. Nursing Pillow

Holding up your baby while breastfeeding can be tiring, especially when you have to do it pretty often. This is why it’s good to invest in a nursing pillow that keeps you and your baby comfy during feeding time. And we’re talking about one with excellent head support and just the right balance of soft and firm, too.
Made with organic cotton, these nursing pillows from Little Tots PH feature a removable cover for easy cleanup, as well as a removable small pillow for your baby. Plus, they come in so many cute designs—overall a must for nursing moms!
9. Nursing Bras

A good nursing bra is a must for breastfeeding moms. Not only do they provide easy access for feeding your baby, but they also allow you to pump milk with ease. For that, you’ll need a bra that’s structured, supportive, and soft, especially since your breast size may change during your nursing experience. And not just any bra will do.
Bosom Buds understands that need. With an arsenal of stylish and comfortable bras, they offer a wide range of options, colors, and designs for every kind of mom—from lacey numbers to the classics, and even tank tops.
8. Nipple Cream

Chapped, swollen, and sore nipples are the enemy of every breastfeeding mom. That’s why nipple cream exists—to soothe and protect them before and after every feeding session with your baby.
Made with an ultra-purified grade of lanolin—refined using a unique process to make it safe for both mum and baby—Lasinoh HPA Lanolin is a nipple cream that you can use, even without wiping it off before breastfeeding. Their cream is 100% natural, free from preservatives and additives, plus naturally hypoallergenic. Plus, it even got the British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval. Can’t get any safer than that!
For Down Below
7. Postpartum Girdle

A medical-grade garment that improves your profile as most girdles do, postpartum girdles are a must for moms who have just given birth. Designed to fit snugly around your belly to aid in recovery. Benefits include improving your posture, stabilizing your pelvic floor, reducing back pain, swelling, and fluid retention, as well as providing support while you go about your day.
Wink Shapewear’s postpartum girdles are made with silky strong and comfortable compression material, which provides compression and support post-pregnancy. What’s more, it does the trick in eliminating lax skin and baby pooch, following delivery and abdominal surgeries.
6. Menstrual Pants

Just like your pregnancy, the first few weeks of post-pregnancy recovery can come with unexpected leaks. This is why menstrual pants—the maternity kind, that is—are a must. With better coverage than your average sanitary napkin, they provide much-needed support and softness—a welcoming comfort down there for moms.
Designed with an elastic waistband and breathable cover, Charmee’s Menstrual Pads feature a super absorbent pad—perfect during your heaviest days or even overnight—since it locks liquid in and keeps your skin dry. It’s basically an extended pad that you can wear as underwear!
5. Witch Hazel Spray

Whether you give birth via normal delivery or c-section, Witch Hazel is a natural and effective postpartum solution that helps ease hemorrhoids, reduces swelling, and relieves pain from tearing and soreness. Aside from its antibacterial properties, it doubles as cooling pain relief for postpartum recovery. In fact, you can apply it to both stitches and hemorrhoids, too.
The Buds and Blooms Perineal Spray features a blend of natural herbs, including Witch Hazel and Australian Berries. Safe, gentle, and cooling, this spray cleanses your tender skin down there and provides you that much-needed relief. You can even use it as a feminine spray before and after childbirth. Just spray directly down there and dry gently with soft tissue—no need to rinse off.
Pampering and Staying Fresh
4. Dry Shampoo

Amid the hustle and bustle of taking care of your baby (and the one-month post-pregnancy recovery “Gelai” program where you can’t wash your hair), the challenge lies in staying fresh and clean. The solution? Dry shampoo!
Quick and convenient to use, spraying dry shampoo helps soak up excess oil and grease in your hair to give it a clean and fresh appearance. Palmolive Naturals does the trick easily and even comes in your choice of Natural Geranium or Mixed Berries scent.
3. Face Masks

Just when you thought you could have some relief after childbirth, the real work begins with motherhood. But even so, that doesn’t mean that all your attention should be focused on your baby alone. Treat yourself by using face masks every now and then—not only to reduce swelling and puffiness but also to keep your skin moisturized.
If you’re especially busy or feeling particularly lazy, these sheet masks from Saborino are a must-have! They’re packed with skin-loving ingredients that help make skin look good and feel good and even come in an easy-to-pull packaging. Plus, one minute is all you need for your skin to take in those nutrients. So easy!
2. Bath Soaks

Call it a part of the aging process or an add-on to motherhood, but body aches and pains are sure to afflict every mother. Even more so after just giving birth!
To aid new moms with the recovery process, Buds and Blooms debuted their Recovery Herbal Bath Soak—a calm and soothing blend of natural herbs that you can infuse with your bathwater. Its botanical properties work wonders for sore muscles, aching bodies, and can help with post-natal recovery. To use, steep it in hot water like you would a tea bag for 10 to 15 minutes, then add cold water until the bathwater reaches your desired temperature.
1. Massages

Looking for another way to combat the post-pregnancy soreness and aches? Try getting a much-needed massage! Home service massage parlors like MassageMNL offer specialized post-pregnancy massages that target common problem areas for new moms. These include soreness and pain in the abdomen, lower back, and hips, as well as your upper back due to improper breastfeeding posture, among many other reasons.
Their Postnatal with Lactation Massage, for example, helps increase the flow of blood and oxygen to your muscles, which gets rid of toxins and helps increase milk production. In fact, it can even help remove blockages in milk ducts—a common problem among breastfeeding moms.
Read more stories on Modern Parenting:
Ava Daza Zanirato: On Life as a New Mom and Normalizing the Talk on Pleasure
Why It’s Important for New Moms to Find Support in Fellow Moms