XP: What do you wish you had known?

lutzcowgirlie

Hoping for some ideas from the BTDT crew...

I'm working on some articles/tips I'm writing for a baby/pg website. Just curious as I'm developing topics - what are some things you wish you had known about pg or the early days of having babies?

 

I'm no doc, so I'm not really looking for serious medical things. More like the "Will I poop when I deliver?" and "How do I pick a stroller?" type things

 

Thanks for any and all feedback!

KrisBriMcBunny

I wish I had gotten a video monitor.  It really comes in handy with toddlers

winery

Lots.

But in the first two weeks, I wish I had enjoyed the sleepy baby-ness more with my first.  Because then they wake up and it's all downhill (uphill?) from there.

And ditto the video monitor.

HasteTheDay

I wish I could have anticipated the emotions and depression I went through after delivery. No one had ever talked to me about it, really. So when it hit me like a truck, I was totally caught off guard and didn't know what to do. I was much more prepared the second time around and I know that really helped everyone involved. 

bebemama

It wouldn't have made a difference but I wish I had known so I could have been prepared how heart wrenching being a parent can be. ?It has amazed and surprised me the level of both joy and sorrow that parenting can bring. ?The quote is true, "Having a child is wearing your heart on the outside of you body." ? I could not have anticipated these feelings. ??

?

mamarazzi

I wish I'd known how horribly constipated I'd be and that the pain meds were likely a big part of the cause.

I wish I would have believed my nurse when she said a hot bath would help the healing process.

I wish I had invested in good nursing bras.  I didn't want to "waste" the money, but I nursed past a year and looked like crap the entire time.

I wish I wouldn't have gotten a travel system.  I hate that stroller now.

I wish I would have recognized the symptoms and sought treatment for my PPD a lot sooner.

I wish I would have invested in a nice camera and a video camera prior to DS1's birth.

I wish I would have enjoyed #1 more as a newborn.

 

Brideofranken

I wish I was a little bit taller

I wish I was a baller....

veloelle

I wish I would have not worried so much about BF to the point of obsession and just enjoyed my newborn with a bottle. 

I should have spent the $$ on the really important items up front-nice, quality stroller for birth - age 4 and a carrier for birth - weight limit.

I wish I would have know how swollen and very uncomfortable the first two weeks PP would be. No one told me I wouldn't be able to sit or stand for 5 minutes w/out being in pain. 

 

marrymemylove

I wish I had known I would not get more than 1 hour sleep at a time for aYEAR. I probably would have put off having kids at least another year if I had known.

I  wish I had known that the whole "STTN by 8 weeks/12 weeks/16 weeks" is a cross between freaky and lying. Seriously I think half the moms who claim that are lying. All the babies I know IRL woke ever 2-3 hours for nearly a year.

Wish I had not bought the crib. DS wouldn't sleep in it anyway, total waste. Buy one when you know what they're like. Mine had radar and couldn't put him down. Cosleeper might have been better but by then we'd spent the dosh so we ended up with him in our bed instead.

 Ditto video monitor.

 Wish I had known the nurses would drag their feet with the epidural. I went in with no pain (but waters broken) and they had 3 hours to get it sorted but I still ended up with 3 hours of agony (so it took them SIX hours!). Totally unnecessary. Next time I'll take a note from the Dr saying give this woman an epi asap when she asks for it. 

Rebekah1021

I wish someone would have told me that I will NEVER use the bathroom again in peace.

mamarazzi

I thought of another one.

I wish I had spent the money on better quality clothing.  I bought a lot of cheapie stuff and it hasn't held up well with all the washing.  The nicer stuff has held up and still looks good.  Since I had another boy, I could have reused the stuff from #2, but it's all so trashed that I hate to put him in it.  If I'd ended up with a girl, I would have just sold the nicer stuff on eBay or at a consignment sale.  Now I'm rebuying clothes and have a pile of crap I'll never put #2 in.