***DISCLAIMER*** I don't know much, these are just some things I learned, if they help you great. If you are pregnant and they scare you, sorry but I come from a place of truth. Decide for yourself what works for you. I am missing some things in here, but they are mostly on breastfeeding, travel with baby and things that are really single posts anyways.
THE NEWBORN STAGE SUCKS It stinks. It sucks, it's horrible. This might sound harsh and I am sure not everyone feels this way. There is no sugar coating it. I hated the newborn stage, and there's no guilt if you do too. They don't smile, they can't even focus on you, all they do is take take take and leave you sleep deprived, fat, crying (damn hormones) and leaking. Newborns are just crying blobs and you'll wonder why you spent 9 months baking this thing when it is always attached to your boob, crying, pooping or sleeping. HANG IN THERE! The first smile makes it all worth it as does all the good stuff that comes after. After a couple of months (or more) you might find yourself craving the newborn stage again (and the reason siblings are born).
BUY EARPLUGS No one told me about "mommy ears" - no matter what you will hear the baby's every breath when you are trying to sleep! Newborns are loud little things when they are sleeping! We live in a small two bedroom apartment. No need for baby monitors, you will have Superman hearing and your Husband (if like mine), will snore through every baby grunt, moan and cry. Buy a pair! They are amazing when you need a nap and you've got someone else in the house to listen for your baby.
SWADDLE Do yourself (and your partner) a favour, watch The Happiest Baby on the Block on DVD and get yourself a swaddle blanket, like the Miracle Blanket. L loved to be swaddled pretty tightly and would settle at the sight of this blanket. Worth the $40! Never would I have imagined I would need to buy a blanket that came with an instruction manual, but this thing was truly a "miracle".
FIND MOMMY FRIENDS You don't have to go around chasing other mommies on the street asking them to be your friend, mommies all have something in common - their children. For me, my network started with the women from my pre-natal class. They saved my life. It is very refreshing to speak to other moms and have adult conversations even if those conversations include sleep (or lack thereof), boobs and poop (more on that later). They say it takes a village and if you can have a network, it can make your sometimes isolating days much more fun and it is great for your baby to interact with other babies too (even if they do just sleep in the beginning and then try to suck on each others toes).
YOUR HAIR WILL FALL OUT I'd heard about this, but didn't think it would happen to me. Around 3-4 months post partum your beautiful pregnancy locks will fall out in clumps. There is hair literally on every surface, and pulling it out in the shower is disgusting. It did not subside for me until around 6 months. Gross.
YOU WILL TOUCH POOP You will touch it, clean it off walls, ruin clothes, get excited about it and even watch it come out. I completely underestimated the amount of time and energy (not to mention proximity) I would spend with poop. You'll also talk about it all the time with other moms. When you have a toddler the topic still will come up with your mommy friends, but will also include snot. Lovely.
BUY A SWIFFER No matter how much you want to neglect housework, it will be there. You are spending more time at home, and more time on the floor, so you are bound to start to notice some serious dust bunnies. It was also helpful when I didn't feel like lugging out the vacuum. Plus, it helps pick up all that hair that starts falling out!
BUY PANTS WITH FEET After the 180th time of shoving a baby sock back on a newborns' tiny foot you'll know what I mean. While your at it get yourself some sleepers with zippers. They are hard to find but SO worth it. Changing a million diapers at night with those damn snaps will make you understand why a zipper is a great invention.
NAP WHEN BABY NAPS Everyone will tell you this. So cliche and annoying to hear this statement used all of the time but it really is true!! I still do this on the weekends when L naps!
EVERYONE will give you advice, even if they're just passing you in the mall. It's easiest to just smile and nod, and ignore. The best is when strangers will tell you why your baby is crying. "Oh poor thing is hungry" -- "No she's not as a matter of fact... I literally just fed her." Oh and on a side note - thank you to the lady in the mall who made me cry when L was 2 months old because "she could tell" I was a new mom. I don't know if you meant cause I am so amazing or I obviously suck at it, but you sure did my post pregnancy, sleep deprived self in!
PACK YOUR BAG NOW I had a friend's deliver babies at 30, 32, 34 and 36 weeks. By 30 weeks, have a bag packed and by the door. Take it with you! Keep it close by! You absolutely cannot pack too soon or be too prepared - you never know when that baby is coming (ask my friends who have had preemies).
CREEPY PEOPLE WILL (TRY TO) TOUCH YOUR BABY You never get used to that and it gets super annoying. I know I know everyone loves babies, but I was unprepared for this during the H1N1 of Fall 2009. You are a stranger, please back away from my baby with your unwashed hand! Oh and to answer your question, SHE is a SHE! If the all pink outfit didn't give it away. I am not some crazy who dresses my son in all pink. Think before you ask if it is a boy or a girl. A little common sense would go a long way!
SPIT UP Every shirt you wear will be involved in some sort of baby fluid EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. There are days when I think I got away unscathed, only to notice that I've been walking around oblivious to the giant blob of vomit/poop/baby food on my clothes.
DON'T HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS! Go into everything, be it pregnancy, labour, and motherhood with an open mind. You have no idea what your baby will be like, and just when you think you've got him/her figured out, s/he'll surprise you...again! And I mean that in both good and bad ways!
Babies are pretty amazing and I can't wait (and on some days am terrified) that I am doing this adventure all over again!
Why they have sleepers with snaps is beyond me. My faves were the ones that were more like dresses for newborns, since Aiden had short legs and even the zip up sleepers were a pain when his legs would curl up inside the sleeper!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the info Nicole!
ReplyDeleteI agree on the sleeper subject...zippers or the "nighty gown" style sleeper. Its nice not to have the tummies exposed when changing at 2am!
The problem is I can't find the night gown style of sleeper anywhere! I have one and love it. So if anyone knows where to buy them, post it!