- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
MandyR88
member
lurking and scared
MandyR88
member
hey ladies, im lurking over from the third tri board. reality is starting to set in that LO is going to be here shortly. i started thinking about how to take care of a baby and everything and got completely freaked out! this is my boyfriend and i's first child so naturally i am going to be scared, i have read multiple books, heard advice from family and read lots of info online but still i feel as though i am not nearly ready or prepared.
so ladies please help me out here. i would LOVE any advice, secrets, things that worked for you, what to do, what NOT to do, tricks of the trade, just anything that might be able to help me out. i would love to hear as much as i can so all this information can be in the back of my mind when im taking care of my LO.
any information about any little thing would be awesome! im freaking out over here about everything from babys bathtime to taking care of the cord after birth, if i put him to sleep correctly, if he has had enough to eat, should he have socks/mittens on all the time, should he have a pacifier right away, what temperature should he be sleeping in...just EVERYTHING!
sorry this is kind of long but i need help!!!!!!!
TIA ladies
This discussion has been closed.
Re: lurking and scared
TTC since 6/2003. m/c 9/14/03 8 weeks, 5 chemical pregnancies, mmc 6/04 12 weeks, Michael born sleeping 5/25/05 at 22weeks always our angel, fought ovarian cancer and won, m/c 4/06 5.2 weeks and 7/07 6.6 weeks,Our Miracle baby girl born 4/8/10,mc 12/18/11 at 5.3 weeks, BFP 10/26/12 dating u/s on 11/8/12 showing a strong heartbeat!EDD July 4,2013. RCS on 6/27. Baby boy in NICU for 8 long and scary days before he was able to come home. We are now a happy family of 4
.
I know just how you feel! While I was pregnant, I worried to death about everything. It's amazing how much is just plain instinct though. That and the hospital makes sure you know how to feed, change, and bathe them before they let you leave!
As for cord care, it's pretty simple. Just keep it dry, fold the top of the diaper down so it's not rubbing against the cord, and clean it with rubbing alcohol whenever you change them to dry it out. Always put your LO on their back to sleep, and make sure there's nothing in the crib but the baby, you won't even need a blanket now if they've got a sleeper on. Babies self-regulate when they eat. I bottle feed my DD, so I just feed her when she cries and let her stop when she's full. They'll spit up if they do end up eating too much. I put socks on her most of the time b/c her feet feel cold a lot, and the mitts at night or when she scratches her face. I didn't do anything to change the temperature in my home after she arrived, they told me at the hospital to just dress her in one more layer than in what you are wearing. As for the pacifier, that's a matter of personal preference. I heard if you're breastfeeding, they say not to use one before 6mos. My DD had trouble eating at first, so they gave her one in the hospital to get her used to sucking.
The main thing is just not to worry. If you're stressed out, the baby will pick up on your anxiety. The first few weeks are a little rough, while you and the LO are both getting a feel for how to do things. Basically when my DD cries, we just go through the checklist: is it time for her to eat? Is she too cold/warm? Is she wet? Is she tired? Soon you'll see that they keep some sort of schedule, and you'll know about what times they need to eat, nap, be changed, etc. Good luck and congratulations, you'll be fine!
Beautiful & Good
A lot of our same questions were answered by taking a "Newborn CPR & Safety" class. Covered diapering, bathing, "good" and "bad" baby products, the latest in SIDS safety, and taught us CPR. It was super helpful, I recommend looking into something like this!
About the mittens, something our instructor told us that I think was helpful was not to put mittens on their hands because they need to have their hands out to feel things and explore and have that touching sensation, so if you're worried about them scratching themselves, keep their nails filed down. A nail file works SO much better than finger nail clippers.
The first couple weeks are all about survival. Sleep when baby sleeps. Seriously. Don't expect to be productive around the house these weeks, and that's ok. Just take it one day at a time and pretty soon you'll be amazed at how much time has flown by and how you're actually starting to feel like a mamma.
GL!
Stock up on burp rags (honestly the best ones are the big flat cloth diapers) I never knew how many we would need. I am washing a load of laundry right now with a ton in it, lol.
It really is instinct- I remember feeling not ready and freaking out about the cord etc too, and now it doesn't seem like it was a big deal at all! You will do fine!
Mommy to J: Born 5/11/2010 & B: Born 8/26/2013
Both these books are great!
My thing that I wasnt prepared for was that ds won't sleep on his back. You go into it expecting little sleep etc, but I went home and ds fell asleep and when I went to go put him in his bassinet, he cried. Swaddled him, he cried, put him in a positioner, he cried. He was only willing to sleep in our arms, and I think thats how it is for most babies. They don't like being flat on their backs for a little while. They will sleep in the hospital, but once you get them home, only on you it seems. So just be prepared to sit in a recliner with your ds in your arms so that you can get some rest. I said I would never sleep with my child, but its amazing the things you will do so that you both can sleep.
Your baby will most likely break you, and send you into an emotional tizzy wondering what the hel you were thinking, but by day 3 it was a lot better. And it gets better every day.
Good luck! And these message boards are amazing for help!