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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
my friends are looking for advice
I have 3 different friends who are preggo right now with their first baby. They keep asking me for all kinds of advice which I LOVE b/c somehow I jumped on the baby bandwagon a few months early.
What I want to know is what is the one thing you wish someone would have told you while you were preggo about the baby or birth?
Mine would have to be that while BF-ing is completely natural that doesn't mean you or baby will be good at it. It takes work. And even with work BF-ing still may not work out b/c of various different reasons. And if they are like me and need to make the switch to FF-ing to stay sane that they shouldn't feel guilty. It's a personal choice.
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Re: my friends are looking for advice
I think that I received too much warning about the lack of sleep because it was really starting to piss me off in the days leading up to LOs arrival. I didn't think that was very helpful because there isn't anything you can do to prepare for that in advance. And each labor and delivery is different, so you just have to go into it with a birth plan but be flexible. So - the best advice that I would have for your friends is how to pack for the hospital!
Things I was glad that I packed: earplugs (ticking clock on wall was SO loud!), eye mask so I could sleep during daylight hours post-epidural and pre-pushing, shampoo/conditioner, razor/shave gel, robe, slippers (I was never offered any), hair clips/headband, iPhone/charger, camera/batteries/sync cord, makeup, toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash (mouthwash rinse was great for when I was vomiting and mouth felt really dry while pushing), chap stick, a few magazines, anti-stretch mark oil/lotions, belly bandit, birth plan, pediatrician contact info
Things I wished I packed: body wash/soap for shower, blow dryer
Things I packed but didn't use: snacks (since I was vomiting I had absolutely no appetite whatsoever!), my own pajamas/nightgown (I bled on several hospital gowns), lots of things to do/read (shouldn't have brought any movies or those baby-prep books I thought I would flip through once LO arrived), laptop (though I did use it a little on the last night), CDs/relaxation things (aromatherapy, massage balls), so many baby outfits (she was happy in the hospital's onesie and swaddle wrap, though I had planned to take lots of pictures of her in the hospital - I just couldn't easily get out of bed to do so), hospital provides labor/bounce ball - I didn't use it, nursing pads (weren't necessary since I didn't leak much initially), Lanisoh cream (I didn't need it right away)
Things I'm glad I didn't pack: boppy (I used hospital pillows), breast pump
Things I'm glad that I already had at home: overnight maxi pads, hemorrhoid cream, witch hazel (for hemorrhoids), nursing bras, nursing pads, Lanisoh cream, diapers, wipes, bath products for LO, plenty of food, toiletries and clean laundry. Basically - everything that one needs during the first week since I didn't leave the house...
TMI warning, but
when I was actively pushing, the nurse started rubbing my vaginal wall to help me find where I have to push. I tried and tried, but never got far. A couple hours later I figured out that it really feels more like pushing out your bum, than anything else. I'll never give this advice to any of my RL friends, because I feel a little embaressed, but I wish someone had told me!.
Mine would be expect the unexpected! I had my baby on Monday 12/13 and all throughout my pregnancy was determined to breastfeed well that didn't quite happen for me. I tried for 4 days straight only to end up in tears every single time. I had 5 different lactation nurses try to help, tried every position possible, nipple shields, pumping (for stimulation), lanisoh, hand expression, you name it. The pain was unbearable, my baby just could not latch properly and according to the nurses my nipples are a bit 'flat' so that is why its so difficult. It was extremely heart breaking for me, I have never felt so much guilt in my life but when it came down to it I decided I couldn't become a crazy emotional/frustrated mama so I choose to formula feed. It was something that I really didn't think about my whole pregnancy- I didn't even have any bottles in the house.
Sorry for the long story, but point is you never know what could happen and being flexible and able to take whatever comes your way is probably the best thing I can come up with
DEPENDS. Yes, the adult diapers.
My hospital was way stingy with the mesh panties (only 2 pair for the whole stay), and I thought they sucked anyway. The Depends rocked. Soaked up all the PP bleeding and made keeping ice packs in place easy.
Have plenty of super absorb maxi pads on hand. I was not prepared for how much bleeding I would have after I went home. I couldn't ask DH to buy me some so I ventured to Target by myself a couple of days after coming home.
I also didn't get a pump before delivery, I thought I could wait until closer to returning to work to pump. But LO was not BF well so I had to buy a pump on my outing to Target too. I was so engorged those first couple of days until the LC came to our house.
Find a good LC if you want to breastfeed. I was ready to give up but the LC helped so much!
Lastly, schedule yourself a couple of hours a day at the hospital with no visitors to take a nap. I delivered on Friday evening and had non-stop visitors on Saturday. I was so tired by the end of the day. DH actually took a nap while I was BF, urgg (I'm still bitter). Also, we put the baby in the nursery at night and I'm glad we did. I don't feel like I missed out on anything by getting a couple of nights sleep before going home.