@BarefootContessa I had to chuckle about the post labor hunger. After my 14 hour labor I was wheeled to me room and left there. I asked for food and the nurse was like "oh.... You're hungry?" She's lucky I didn't stab her right there
I knew this then to a point but really get it now-enjoy your first pregnancy without having to care for a little one. You get to be selfish for the last time, truly.
Don't worry so much. I still do, I can't help it, but I'm trying not to because it's only when you're on the other side can you see what an amazing experience pregnancy is.
Pumping at work is like a secret break you can take without repercussion. Bring a magazine and make the most out of it!
Get those belly pictures taken, you'll want them some day.
@BarefootContessa@booksandlace Yesssssss, post-labor hunger! The morning after my daughter was born, I had my brother bring me a HUGE turkey sandwich on one of my favorite bagels... it was one of the top five food moments of my life!
Another food-related wish-I-had-known: to just have easy, not-terrible-for-you food lying around, for both pregnancy and after birth. I had to buy a big box of Atkins bars after N was born because I never wanted to leave her for long enough to make myself real food!
@ashtuesday oh yes that's right! Have food nearby when you're feeding/breastfeeding. My daughter would nurse so long and I'd trapped on the couch hungry lol
Ugh the new growth baby hair post hair fall out is so frustrating. I constantly look like Albert Einstein.
Oh something I wish I'd known.... The second night after the baby is born is particularly rough. The first night not as much but the second night you'll be up A LOT! Don't be afraid to use the nursing staff for help if you're in a hospital and your baby doesn't need to be fed. Apparently night two being particularly bad and nonstop crying is a common thing yet I had no idea. Look it up. It's a thing.
On a positive note - baby snuggles are THE BEST THING EVER!!! I now understand why people do drugs. It's for that high you get when a tiny head is nuzzled into you neck and the full weight of their body is on your chest in complete trust and love. GAH! This was me during that time...
I wish someone had told me it can take 3-4 days for your milk to come in if you're a ftm. The nurses at the hospital kept asking me if mine had come in yet and I was panicked because it definitely hadn't. I was stupid enough to avoid giving DS any donor breast milk or formula because i wanted him to have my milk, but he SCREAMED all night the first night we were home because he was starving. By morning, my husband and mom finally talked me into giving him some donor milk which he sucked down and then slept for the first time in 24 hours. UGH.
Also, we moved when my son was 3 weeks old to a different state. i highly recommend NOT doing that. My son was a trooper in the car, but the stress of packing up a house and moving to a place where I didn't know a soul was not smart. It really does take a village - its going to be really nice going into life with a new baby with a better support system in place this time.
I wish i would have known to be joyful about adding to my family without fear of judgment. I was so scared to tell anyone about baby #5 that I missed out on being in the moment and loving my journey. I have learned that no one elses opinion matters. Just me my husband and our kiddos. We work to take care of them and build up their bodies and souls so why is it anyone's else's business? We don't ask anyone for anything, but even so.. Family and friends will still make rude comments that cut deep. Why someone who isn't even effected by my family at all would ask me "when am I gonna get a clue and use birth control" or " You have so many I can't keep up".. Well friend, the awesome thing is I don't care if you can keep up! lol and btw I didn't use birth control bc I WANTED SIX KIDS! Shocking I know. Lol. My husband and myself have the patience, love, and resources to have a big family. We sacrifice for our dreams. I'm sure everyone sacrifices for their dreams actually. I guess when your dream is to have a big family it's different somehow and everyone is feeling some type of way. Lol. Hugs to everyone and a tip of my hat to those who choose to have large families in such a judgy time.
LOVE all the great words of wisdom and advice already shared! So here is my 2 cents and apologies if its a repeat. 1. Embrace the mesh panties, they are your friends and try and take every last pair home they let you! 2.Don't buy a fancy birthing hospital gown...the Blood looks like a KILL BILL episode, seriously. If you LOVE it and don't want to toss it out Don't bring it! 3. Nursing...don't beat yourself up. It's hard for you AND baby. If its not going great there is no Shame if formula. the end of the day you are still a MOM and as we all know Mom's ROCK! 4. If you can get your hands on some disposable bed pads do so! Sometime you can get them from the hospital, there is also amazon. these babies are great for leaky books under your sheet too and for layering in baby's bed...and for chaining tables sprays! and yes girls spray too!
@lesliechnc your comment just reminded me, don’t bother with soft cloth changing pad covers (except disposable ones, like you said)
This is something I knew well before baby because I used to be a teacher of kids with severe disabilities so I was an expert in the field of diaper changing. My mom and I got into an argument before DS was born about how I needed covers for the changing pad, and I explained to her that when he makes a mess on the vinyl I can just wipe it down, as opposed to washing a cover every time. So she kept the cover she bought for the changing pad at her house, and sure enough the first time we changed him there, he made a mess and the cover never got put back on.
I loved the changing pad covers, I felt like it was more comfortable for baby. On the other hand, we did cloth so if a cover got dirty I just threw it in with the cloth diapers to be washed.
- nipple shields are amazing - saved my BF journey and i never got sore or cracked nipples. if you have smaller nips and latch issues they are bae. - you don't need to buy maternity for most clothing items. size up in or stretch panties, leggings, tights, tees, etc and you will be fine. jackets and dresses i did eventually need to size up in.
i have so many more but these are the first that came to mind
Re: Things I wish I had known...
@RainNFyre yes the night sweats! Ugh!
Don't worry so much. I still do, I can't help it, but I'm trying not to because it's only when you're on the other side can you see what an amazing experience pregnancy is.
Pumping at work is like a secret break you can take without repercussion. Bring a magazine and make the most out of it!
Get those belly pictures taken, you'll want them some day.
Another food-related wish-I-had-known: to just have easy, not-terrible-for-you food lying around, for both pregnancy and after birth. I had to buy a big box of Atkins bars after N was born because I never wanted to leave her for long enough to make myself real food!
Oh something I wish I'd known.... The second night after the baby is born is particularly rough. The first night not as much but the second night you'll be up A LOT! Don't be afraid to use the nursing staff for help if you're in a hospital and your baby doesn't need to be fed. Apparently night two being particularly bad and nonstop crying is a common thing yet I had no idea. Look it up. It's a thing.
On a positive note - baby snuggles are THE BEST THING EVER!!! I now understand why people do drugs. It's for that high you get when a tiny head is nuzzled into you neck and the full weight of their body is on your chest in complete trust and love. GAH! This was me during that time...
1. Embrace the mesh panties, they are your friends and try and take every last pair home they let you!
2.Don't buy a fancy birthing hospital gown...the Blood looks like a KILL BILL episode, seriously. If you LOVE it and don't want to toss it out Don't bring it!
3. Nursing...don't beat yourself up. It's hard for you AND baby. If its not going great there is no Shame if formula. the end of the day you are still a MOM and as we all know Mom's ROCK!
4. If you can get your hands on some disposable bed pads do so! Sometime you can get them from the hospital, there is also amazon. these babies are great for leaky books under your sheet too and for layering in baby's bed...and for chaining tables sprays! and yes girls spray too!
This is something I knew well before baby because I used to be a teacher of kids with severe disabilities so I was an expert in the field of diaper changing. My mom and I got into an argument before DS was born about how I needed covers for the changing pad, and I explained to her that when he makes a mess on the vinyl I can just wipe it down, as opposed to washing a cover every time. So she kept the cover she bought for the changing pad at her house, and sure enough the first time we changed him there, he made a mess and the cover never got put back on.
- you don't need to buy maternity for most clothing items. size up in or stretch panties, leggings, tights, tees, etc and you will be fine. jackets and dresses i did eventually need to size up in.
i have so many more but these are the first that came to mind