Postpartum essentials checklist: the unglamorous things you need for the first six weeks, what they cost in Singapore, and what to skip

A postpartum essentials checklist is mostly unglamorous: maternity pads and disposable briefs for the bleeding, something to keep your stitches clean and cool, breast pads and a nursing bra, fibre and water for your first poo, and a way to rest. KKH's going-home advice covers the basics: change pads every two to three hours, use cooling gel pads and a salt sitz bath for stitches, and keep a caesarean dressing dry. Most of it costs less than S$100 at Mothercare or FairPrice, at the prices on their own websites on 12 October 2026. Below is a printable checklist, what each item costs, what the hospital gives you, and what you can skip.

The printable postpartum essentials checklist

Tick off what you already have. The first two groups go in your hospital bag; the rest can wait at home.

What it costs

Prices are from each seller's own website on 12 October 2026, and they change often. We list examples, not recommendations.

Two packs of pads, a pack of briefs, breast pads and two nursing bras come to about S$73 at those prices. Add a peri bottle and a feeding pillow and you're at about S$133. Our guides to postpartum bleeding and nursing clothes compare more pads and bras.

What the hospital gives you

• At KKH, maternity pads, disposable panties and waterproof sheets for your stay, and unused ones can go home with you; private hospitals vary, so check your package. Our hospital bag checklist lists what each Singapore hospital supplies.
• Perineal cool packs on the ward at SGH, according to its after-birth page.
• Free use of electric breast pumps on KKH's ward; you buy the pre-sterilised disposable funnel and bottles, KKH says.
• Painkillers, and often iron tablets and a stool softener to take home. HealthHub's postnatal medicines leaflet says iron may be given to replace blood lost at delivery.

Extra items after a C-section

Add high-waisted cotton underwear, loose dresses, a pillow to brace the wound, and slip-on shoes. SGH finds an abdominal binder eases the pain of moving after a caesarean, so ask whether you should use one. KKH says no heavy lifting for at least two months, so line up someone to carry the laundry and the car seat. Our C-section recovery guide has a full kit list.

Where to buy in Singapore

Maternity pads, breast pads and peri bottles are at Mothercare, FairPrice, Guardian and Watsons; baby fairs and online stores often bundle them. Order before your due date so you aren't sending someone out on day two. Our guide to where to buy baby essentials compares shop types.

What you can skip

• Tampons and menstrual cups while you're bleeding; use pads, as the NHS advises, to lower the risk of infection.
• Herbal pastes and traditional medicines until your doctor has checked them; KKH asks mothers to consult a doctor before any traditional or complementary medicine.
• Expensive tummy-shaping garments; a binder is optional and only helps if it's comfortable.
• Bulk buys of one size of nursing bra before your milk comes in; buy two, then more once your size settles.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for postpartum recovery?

Maternity pads and disposable briefs, cooling pads and a sitz bath basin for stitches, a peri bottle, breast pads, two or three nursing bras, fibre-rich snacks and a water bottle. After a C-section, add high-waisted underwear and a pillow to brace the wound.

How many maternity pads do I need?

KKH says to change pads every two to three hours, so plan for 8 to 12 a day in the first week. Most mums stop bleeding within three to four weeks, KKH says, and switch to lighter pads as it eases.

Can I use tampons after giving birth?

No. Use pads while you're bleeding. The NHS says pads lower the risk of infection while the womb heals.

Does the hospital give you pads after birth?

KKH supplies maternity pads and disposable panties during your stay, and you can take unused ones home. Private hospitals differ, so check your package and pack a few of your own.

What is a peri bottle for?

It's a squeeze bottle for rinsing the area between your vagina and anus after the toilet, which keeps stitches clean without wiping. KKH advises washing with water and patting dry after every toilet visit.

What should I buy for a C-section recovery?

High-waisted cotton underwear, loose clothes, a pillow to hold over the wound, a feeding pillow, maternity pads and slip-on shoes. Ask your hospital whether an abdominal binder suits you.