i have a close friend who is pregnant and asked for some tips... i just finished a massive email to her and thought i would post it here too.
p.s a year ago today, i was in labor with my little man...
i was getting a little sentimental about it,
until i wrote this email and remembered how hard pregnancy was
and how i pushed for almost 3 hours,
and those marathon newborn nights..
it made me very grateful for my one year old.
just some of my thoughts:
pregnancy:
- i sent you some noni butter in the package. it is super greasy but i put it on my belly every night and i didn't get any stretch marks.
- you can do it! i don't know how you are feeling.. but i promise it does end! and the baby is so worth it.
- hot baths: my hips really hurt me, especially at night, and the only thing that seemed to help was soaking in the tub. i spent many nights in my tub. it helps take the weight off, and relax your muscles.
delivery:
- when i first started going into labor, i didn't think my contractions were contractions.. everyone says 'you will know!' but i just felt uncomfortable and mostly in my lower back. after a few hours, and walking a bit, they got stronger but they weren't too bad. i even told josh that i could totally do this. my worst contractions came after my water broke. those were bad! but they won't kill you. i wish that i had taking a lamaze class to help me with breathing techniques. i think that would have really helped also.
- EPIDURALS TRULY ARE YOUR FRIEND! i was way nervous about an epidural and wasn't sure if i wanted one (until my water broke, and then i changed my mind). getting my epidural was tricky. it took the dr. a few tries and i went into shock after.. but with that being said. it really wasn't that bad. they will give you a numbing shot that does a great job and you can't feel the rest of the procedure. the worst part is trying to hold still while folding over your contracting belly.
- rest when you can! after getting the epidural, i was too excited to take a nap. i was just chatting with my mom while josh took a nap. o man, i wished i would have gone to sleep. after pushing, i was so exhausted, i could barely hold cal, and wished i would have taken that opportunity to rest.
- i was so happy that my mom was there to record the birth. josh was supporting me, and then taking pictures of cal. i was so delirious at the time, that i am soooo happy to have the video to look back on. (she filmed from the side of the bed... i would recommend having who ever is filming be up by your head.. so you wont blush when you watch it)
- skin to skin: if i learned one thing in my years in nursing school it was the benefit of doing skin to skin with your newborn. this is where you place your babe in just his diaper right on your bare chest and you cuddle the heck out of him. it is really amazing actually. your body temperature with rise and fall to ensure his temperature is correct. his breathing will be more stable listening to your lungs, and it encourages breastfeeding and your milk supply. seriously, i could go on and on and on. do it! it is such a bonding experience too.
breastfeeding and milk supply:
- ugh, i had a rotten nurse who told me that it was okay for cal to sleep for 9 hours without eating when he was 1 day old. while yes, he wasn't going to die... it was terrible for my milk supply! a woman's milk supply is all determined by the baby sucking at the breast. without cal waking up to eat, my breasts were not stimulated enough and my milk took a really long time to come in which led to me starving him.. him not pooping for 2 days, and getting really bad jaundice. (which i will come to in a second). anyways.. the best thing to do is to nurse for 15 minutes on each side, every 2-3 hours those first few days. alternate which side you start feeding him on, and make sure he is latched on correctly... with a good latch and lanolin cream (a must) you will get sore, but not too terribly.
- don't be afraid to ask for help with breastfeeding. most hospitals have lactation specialists and they are golden! utilize them. also, if you have any questions feel free to ask me. i did my big capstone project on breastfeeding, and have lots of resources. if you can go to a class beforehand that would be smart too.
- so while waiting for my milk to come in, calvin was literally starving. it was way sad. but pretty common especially with first babies. most pediatricians will have you supplement with formula while you wait for your milk, but i really didn't want to. (their little guts are one of the last things to develop fully and formula can be so harsh on their tummies.) my pediatrician is amazing and a huge fan of breastfeeding. he suggested we buy noncolored nonflavored pedialyte and drip it into cal's mouth. this would give him enough fluid to sustain his body without overwhelming his gut. hopefully you wont need this. but just in case.
- lastly, breastfeeding is hard. try your best... utilize resources but if it doesn't work out, formula isn't the end of the world. (possibly the end of your wallet). i had to stop breastfeeding cal earlier than planned and felt pretty guilty about it for a while, but we had no other option. and it really wasn't a big deal.
recovery:
- you will be swollen: i had absolutely no idea how swollen everything down there got after having cal. in fact, i nearly passed out the first time i went to the restroom. just fyi. think sausages.
- the hospital pads are the best. they are huge and basically a diaper, but they are the best. stock up.
- use the ice packs!! they will have to be changed out every 20-30 mins because they melt. don't feel dumb asking the nurses for another one. it helps with the above mentioned swelling.
- stool softener: take it. hard poops + stitches = giving birth all over again.
- they have this squirt bottles (called peri bottles) that they give you to rinse off after you use the restroom. ask for an extra one! these are PERFECT for washing baby's hair, or i even took it camping a few months ago and used it to make a shower to clean cal up.
newborn necessities (get these before the babe comes):
- infant gas drops: these were a lifesaver. cal was so gassy and fussy because of it.. (i think the stool softener gets into the breast milk and gives them gas.. because when i weaned myself from the softener this eased up significantly). this is safe for any aged babe. i gave it to him with each night time feeding and he slept so much better.
- boppy: this is one of those things my mom insisted was a waste of money but.. i was attached to it for many reasons. 1. it was perfect for nursing 2. when any of the nieces/nephews or little siblings wanted to hold cal, i would have them sit and put the boppy around them and put cal on the pillow. it was way safer, and more secure. and 3. i would sit on it. i had to have lots of stitches and it took a while before i could sit without pain. the donut shape of the pillow is perfect.
- oxyclean laundry spray: this gets baby poop out the best. spray in on as quickly as you can and then soak the shirt in warm water. give it a little scrub with an old toothbrush, and wash it like normal, and it will get most poop stains out.
- i sent you some noni butter in the package. it is super greasy but i put it on my belly every night and i didn't get any stretch marks.
- you can do it! i don't know how you are feeling.. but i promise it does end! and the baby is so worth it.
- hot baths: my hips really hurt me, especially at night, and the only thing that seemed to help was soaking in the tub. i spent many nights in my tub. it helps take the weight off, and relax your muscles.
delivery:
- when i first started going into labor, i didn't think my contractions were contractions.. everyone says 'you will know!' but i just felt uncomfortable and mostly in my lower back. after a few hours, and walking a bit, they got stronger but they weren't too bad. i even told josh that i could totally do this. my worst contractions came after my water broke. those were bad! but they won't kill you. i wish that i had taking a lamaze class to help me with breathing techniques. i think that would have really helped also.
- EPIDURALS TRULY ARE YOUR FRIEND! i was way nervous about an epidural and wasn't sure if i wanted one (until my water broke, and then i changed my mind). getting my epidural was tricky. it took the dr. a few tries and i went into shock after.. but with that being said. it really wasn't that bad. they will give you a numbing shot that does a great job and you can't feel the rest of the procedure. the worst part is trying to hold still while folding over your contracting belly.
- rest when you can! after getting the epidural, i was too excited to take a nap. i was just chatting with my mom while josh took a nap. o man, i wished i would have gone to sleep. after pushing, i was so exhausted, i could barely hold cal, and wished i would have taken that opportunity to rest.
- i was so happy that my mom was there to record the birth. josh was supporting me, and then taking pictures of cal. i was so delirious at the time, that i am soooo happy to have the video to look back on. (she filmed from the side of the bed... i would recommend having who ever is filming be up by your head.. so you wont blush when you watch it)
- skin to skin: if i learned one thing in my years in nursing school it was the benefit of doing skin to skin with your newborn. this is where you place your babe in just his diaper right on your bare chest and you cuddle the heck out of him. it is really amazing actually. your body temperature with rise and fall to ensure his temperature is correct. his breathing will be more stable listening to your lungs, and it encourages breastfeeding and your milk supply. seriously, i could go on and on and on. do it! it is such a bonding experience too.
breastfeeding and milk supply:
- ugh, i had a rotten nurse who told me that it was okay for cal to sleep for 9 hours without eating when he was 1 day old. while yes, he wasn't going to die... it was terrible for my milk supply! a woman's milk supply is all determined by the baby sucking at the breast. without cal waking up to eat, my breasts were not stimulated enough and my milk took a really long time to come in which led to me starving him.. him not pooping for 2 days, and getting really bad jaundice. (which i will come to in a second). anyways.. the best thing to do is to nurse for 15 minutes on each side, every 2-3 hours those first few days. alternate which side you start feeding him on, and make sure he is latched on correctly... with a good latch and lanolin cream (a must) you will get sore, but not too terribly.
- don't be afraid to ask for help with breastfeeding. most hospitals have lactation specialists and they are golden! utilize them. also, if you have any questions feel free to ask me. i did my big capstone project on breastfeeding, and have lots of resources. if you can go to a class beforehand that would be smart too.
- so while waiting for my milk to come in, calvin was literally starving. it was way sad. but pretty common especially with first babies. most pediatricians will have you supplement with formula while you wait for your milk, but i really didn't want to. (their little guts are one of the last things to develop fully and formula can be so harsh on their tummies.) my pediatrician is amazing and a huge fan of breastfeeding. he suggested we buy noncolored nonflavored pedialyte and drip it into cal's mouth. this would give him enough fluid to sustain his body without overwhelming his gut. hopefully you wont need this. but just in case.
- lastly, breastfeeding is hard. try your best... utilize resources but if it doesn't work out, formula isn't the end of the world. (possibly the end of your wallet). i had to stop breastfeeding cal earlier than planned and felt pretty guilty about it for a while, but we had no other option. and it really wasn't a big deal.
recovery:
- you will be swollen: i had absolutely no idea how swollen everything down there got after having cal. in fact, i nearly passed out the first time i went to the restroom. just fyi. think sausages.
- the hospital pads are the best. they are huge and basically a diaper, but they are the best. stock up.
- use the ice packs!! they will have to be changed out every 20-30 mins because they melt. don't feel dumb asking the nurses for another one. it helps with the above mentioned swelling.
- stool softener: take it. hard poops + stitches = giving birth all over again.
- they have this squirt bottles (called peri bottles) that they give you to rinse off after you use the restroom. ask for an extra one! these are PERFECT for washing baby's hair, or i even took it camping a few months ago and used it to make a shower to clean cal up.
newborn necessities (get these before the babe comes):
- infant gas drops: these were a lifesaver. cal was so gassy and fussy because of it.. (i think the stool softener gets into the breast milk and gives them gas.. because when i weaned myself from the softener this eased up significantly). this is safe for any aged babe. i gave it to him with each night time feeding and he slept so much better.
- boppy: this is one of those things my mom insisted was a waste of money but.. i was attached to it for many reasons. 1. it was perfect for nursing 2. when any of the nieces/nephews or little siblings wanted to hold cal, i would have them sit and put the boppy around them and put cal on the pillow. it was way safer, and more secure. and 3. i would sit on it. i had to have lots of stitches and it took a while before i could sit without pain. the donut shape of the pillow is perfect.
- oxyclean laundry spray: this gets baby poop out the best. spray in on as quickly as you can and then soak the shirt in warm water. give it a little scrub with an old toothbrush, and wash it like normal, and it will get most poop stains out.
what are some of your favorite pregancy/baby tips??
1 comment:
I love this! I totally agree about the epidural and the wonderfulness of a boppy and sleeping when you can while in labor. One thing I wish someone had told me was to not stock up on nursing bras before I had my baby. I figured that since I had gone up in size while I was pregnant, that that was as big as I was going to get, which is totally wrong (at least it was for me). Maybe get one nursing bra before you have your baby so that you can have it for the first week, but after the first week or two, go get a bra fitting to get your actual new size. I resisted doing this for so long because I had already stocked up on bras but I was seriously in SO MUCH PAIN because my bra was WAY too tight. My breasts hurt more than any other part of my body for the whole month after I had Ella, which is saying something after you have a baby. Maybe that's an obvious point to wait to get bras until after your milk comes in, but I wasn't smart enough to figure it out. So that's what I wish someone had told me.
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