You've probably thought of all the things you'll need for your new baby, but have you thought about what things might be nice to have for yourself? Just as you need to make sure all your baby's needs are met, it's equally important that you have all the tools and support necessary to keep you feeling strong, healthy, and energized during your first few weeks and months as a mom. From a good nursing pillow to a good book, there are a number of things that can make your experience more pleasant and comfortable.

Nursing Pillow

Nursing pillows can save your back and neck from strain and are a useful purchase even if you won't be breastfeeding. They make a nice perch in your lap for a sleeping or bottle-fed baby, and the doughnutshaped type can double as a pillow to sit on if you have hemorrhoids or a painful perineum after birth. Nursing pillows are readily available at toy and baby stores or department stores like Wal-Mart and Target, and you can buy one for less than $20 and up to $50 or more. Another option is a long c-shaped body pillow that you can wrap around your body in a way that's comfortable for both you and your baby.

Rice Sock

Rice-filled pillows or socks retain heat and cold and make easy, cheap, portable, and reusable heating or cooling pads, which can be nice to use during labor or for after-delivery muscle soreness or uterine cramps. Just put rice in a clean tube sock, and tie or stitch the top shut. You can put it in the fridge, or microwave it for a couple of minutes. Adding dried herbs like peppermint or lavender will give the rice sock a nice smell. The pack is inexpensive to make and will retain heat for a long time. You may need to wrap it in a towel if it's too hot for direct skin contact at first.

Good Reading

During the early weeks postpartum, you'll be doing a lot of resting, and your baby will sleep a lot. Get some books or magazines you've been wanting to read — once your baby starts to stay awake more, you won't have nearly as much time for reading!

Check online for discounted magazine subscriptions, but be sure to place your order a couple of months in advance of your due date, since it can take six to eight weeks to receive your first issue of a magazine subscription. Some good parenting-related magazines to try include Parenting, Wondertime, and Mothering. Don't feel like all your reading has to be motherhood related, though — sometimes, reading up on the latest celebrity gossip or flipping through a fashion mag can help you feel a little bit connected to the “old you.”

Sanitary Pads

You'll need a variety of sanitary pads for the first few weeks postpartum. Some women wear Depends or another pull-up incontinence garment for the first few days — they're more absorbent, and can be easier than messing with pads and underwear on those first days. You'll probably need overnight-absorbency pads for the first week and will then be able to switch to a lighter pad. Eventually, your bleeding will taper off so much that you may just want to wear a panty liner. Tampons aren't safe to use postpartum, so you won't need any of those.

Comfy Clothes

Most women don't jump right back into their prepregnancy clothes immediately after giving birth. Wider hips, a swollen belly, and larger breasts are just a few of the changes that may stick around for some time. Get a few pair of comfortable cotton pants with elastic or drawstring waists, and larger shirts that can accommodate your new breasts and pull up easily for nursing. Just don't spend too much money on your new garments — new motherhood can be a messy job!

Supportive Bras

You'll want to have a few supportive bras in the house that will accommodate the breast changes you'll experience when your milk comes in. Your cup size will change, probably by at least one size, in the early days of nursing, so keep that in mind while shopping. You'll want to make sure the bra is comfortable and supportive, but not tight or constricting. Push-up bras or pinching underwires can constrict milk ducts, causing clogs, breast infections, or a reduced milk supply. Breathable, 100-percent cotton bras are best, since locked-in moisture can become a breeding ground for bacteria or yeast.

Choose a bra with adjustable straps and several rows of hooks. You can also buy bra extenders — they can increase the band width of your bra by several inches and allow you to achieve a custom fit while your breasts are still fluctuating in size.

If you'll be nursing, your bra should be easy to open and close in the front with one hand. Small-breasted women sometimes prefer a soft, stretchy bra, with cups that can lift right over the breast, in place of a nursing bra. This is okay as long as the cup doesn't press on or constrict the breast.