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The Pregnancy Posse
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What's It Going to Be: Gender Reveal Parties Announce Baby's Sex
Beaner
Saved 8/11/10 to The Pregnancy Posse

Any Advice For an Almost Mommy?

25

Well I'm 38 weeks prego, and finally realize that really, the baby could come at any time. My hubby and I feel ready mentally, but I know nothing can prepare us for what it's going to be like to give birth and have a newborn. So fellow mommies — can you offer and advice or tips for new parents? Anything you wish someone told you before your little one arrived? Maybe about the birth, breastfeeding, or the first few weeks? Or things we should do now before the baby is born? We really appreciate it!

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Dearfoams Dearfoams
Relax and keep comfortable! http://www.facebook.com/Dearfoams
I agree that you should always try to be well rested, fed and hydrated. I went in thinking I was leaking amniotic fluid, but they kept me and induced me. I had slept horribly and was so thirsty the entire labor. It was quite annoying.
wiggle wiggle
Enjoy your time before the baby arrives as much as you can. Go out to eat, hang out together, do nice thing for yourself alone. Once the baby comes, enjoy the random schedule the little puts you on and the quiet. Houses with newborns are so quiet compared to houses with 2-year-olds. Listen to your docs and take it really really really easy the first week after the baby is born. Breast feeding can be hard at first,but don't give up and seek help. Number one piece of advice is join a mom's group. Hanging out with other new mother is great; they know exactly what you're going through where other mom friends with older kids will have forgotten what it's like. You might make some lifelong friends. Good luck! You look great.
snowysakurasky snowysakurasky
book some photo shoots (look into which studio you want to use) before the baby is born so you can do newborn shots..... they chage their appearance weekly and the newborn shots i think must be done in the first week or two
MissSushi MissSushi
oh another thing, i dont know if you were planning on it or not, but i would definitely try a few carriers, because it is SO nice to have your little one close and be hands free while you do whatever you need to do. I was too afraid to try learning a wrap/sling/whatever my first time around, and i really regret it. It would have helped with her colic a ton. We got the sleepy wrap this time and LOVED using it.
"DON'T LISTEN TO ANY HORROR STORIES!! It just freaks you out and makes you nervous." Amen. And people who share horror stories with a pregnant woman are crap friends anyway, ignore them and cut them out. Rather than shower through tears (which is certainly fine if that's your choice), which never made me feel cleansed, I got a shower sling. Baby showered with me, got comfort, we both got clean, boom, done.
i LOVE each and every one of these suggestions! the one thing i was most unprepared for was the postpartum depression. it was only mild to moderate, but was still very upsetting. i was afraid to let people (including hubby) know how i was feeling and it was terrible. it started about a week after giving birth, and got better after several weeks, once i was able to start getting out of the house, off the couch, and away from my tv. i once secretly called my OB to ask what was 'normal' and what wasn't. just be sure to share what you're feeling with those who will listen and help. and i also like the comment about letting your hubby do things his way. it won't be your way, and you will probably want to correct him. bite your tongue and love every second of help that he offers!! :) good luck, beaner!
DON'T LISTEN TO ANY HORROR STORIES!! It just freaks you out and makes you nervous.
Asche Asche
SLEEP. And, shower. Even if your baby is crying, SHOWER. He or she won't be traumatized from 5 minutes of tears, and feeling fresh and clean will make you feel partially human again!
And take lots of pictures of your husband, too. With the waxing thing, be sure to do a test spot first. My skin does not take well to waxing when pregnant, and waxing would be the worst possible idea.
starbucks starbucks
Go get a haircut, a mani and pedi! You deserve it. Maybe have you legs waxed...you won't have a lot of time to shower in the next weeks! And although it's gonna be stressful don't forget to enjoy it! Every second of it is magical. They grow up so fast and there's nothing quite like holding your newborn. Make your husband take lots and lots of pictures! You look amazing and I love that quilt! Did you make that?
jenni5 jenni5
That obnoxious comment you have probably heard 500x already...sleep when the baby sleeps...DO IT!!!! Let the housework go and seriously take cat naps when the baby does.
On the flip side, if who you want to be for awhile is Mom, that's ok too. Don't feel pressured into doing anything you don't want to do. If you want to go out, go out. If you want to stay in, stay in. I personally am miserable going out for awhile, I don't feel guilty, I'm just miserable. It's not where I want to be. After my second child, I stopped listening to people tell me what I needed and started deciding for myself what I needed. You know what you want and need, follow that. I wholeheartedly agree with trusting your husband and allowing him to do things his way even if they're not the same as yours.
amandachalynn amandachalynn
Don't lose yourself. I know a lot of moms who totally lose who they are after the little one is born, and they just become MOM. Don't forget that you are also a wife, a sister, daughter, friend, etc. Take the time to go on date nights with your husband and girls nights with your friends, and don't feel guilty about it! Also, trust your husband. It's his baby too, and even if he doesn't do things the way you would, he's doing what he feels is right. I never second guess my husband or tell him he's wrong, because what he does works for him.
Let housework go. Don't be afraid to tell people no, you can't stop by, I'm too tired and transfixed with my baby to care about visitors. And if people do stop by, don't be afraid to tell them it's time to leave. If you're breastfeeding, don't schedule with a newborn. Breastfeed on demand, which can often mean "constantly" nursing or nursing every hour while your milk is established. Always keep a basket of snacks, water, reading material, and the remote next to wherever you nurse most often. (Which is also true of formula feeding.) You can't force a baby with mixed up days and nights to straighten them out. Try to force a baby to stay awake all day and you'll end up with a baby that's still up at night, but now they're cranky. They eventually even out. Go with the flow, don't try to keep on track those first few weeks. Sleep when you can, eat when you can. Don't be afraid to ask people to do things for you. Oh and you'll cry a lot, all kinds of tears. Happiness, depression, feeling of pride, feeling of failure. It's a wonderful roller coaster. And above all, if you don't fit into the stereotypical new mom, that's ok. You're you, not anyone else. Whether you're exhausted or flying high with energy, whether you want a constant stream of visitors or don't want to see anyone, whether you gaze at your baby endlessly or enjoy baby while you're out and about, you're doing the right thing. Everyone's different in how they feel upon becoming a parent.
MonkiChriz MonkiChriz
Get a haircut. I haven't had my haircut since before my 9 month old was born because I can't stand to be away from him for an hour... Make sure you and your husband discuss who will do what: diaper change, baths, midnight feedings, etc. No sleep and frustration leads to some difficult times in your marriage, especially the first three months when both of you are exhausted. Babies aren't that interesting until they hit about 4 months. That's when they have real awake times and start developing a personality.l
Girl Jen Girl Jen
From now until the baby is born, make sure that you always have enough to eat, are as well-rested as you can possibly be, and are clean. I went to my last doctor appointment, the one where I was induced, first thing in the morning. I hadn't eaten or showered...and then I was at the hospital, NPO (not allowed to eat), having a baby and surgery and visitors and constant nurse traffic while starving and dirty and cranky. >:(
MissSushi MissSushi
I think the absolute most important thing is attitude. You're so tired and overwhelmed and there are 10,000 things to do and a baby depending completely on you and its stressful. It took me a while to realize how incredibly important the right attitude is. For example - When you're about to fall over with exhaustion and the baby wont sleep, don't sit there wishing/trying to get them back to sleep. That seems liek common sense, but if your baby isn't a great sleeper, its easy to find yourself in that situation. Get up no matter how tired you are, and do something else with the baby that will wake you up and give the baby a change of pace. You can overcome ANYTHING with way less stress and more enjoyment with the right attitude, even if you are getting zero sleep.
What kept me going on the hard days is something that my best mamma friend told me - she's got twin girls turning two this month. "some days are harder than others, but every day is a blessing" What I learned, take the help from other people when it's offered and don't worry about what the house looks like. My husband's "job" was to make sure I always had a bottle of water handy. I loved The Happiest Baby on the Block and as he got a little older The No Cry Sleep Solution. Oh... and I totally didn't expect to still look 6 months pregnant after delivery! Stupid people will ask you when you are delivering while holding a newborn - amazing.
lickety split lickety split
You're going to be SO tired in the first few weeks. It might feel like you'll ways feel that way, and that can be overwhelming. But then one day you just sort of hit your stride and it comes together. The really tired days don't last that long in retrospect, but when you're in the middle of them, it's hard to realize that. Enjoy :baby:
1: Make a birthing plan, but don't expect to follow it. I had one with my first and stressed myself out to the max worrying because it wasn't going exactly as I had wanted and that made my labour and delivery a nightmare. With my second I had a vague outline of what I would like (epidural, just my husband in the room, short stay in the hospital) and let it go from there..he was a much easier labour and delivery. The same goes for breastfeeding, plan to try but don't feel bad if it doesn't work out. The baby will get fed some way or another 2: (this is one we always seem to forget) Drink lots of water! Every time you pause for a breath, or just a quiet moment, drink a glass of water. It helps with sleep deprivation and other things that are going on in your body and trust me you don't want to go back to the hospital for forgetting to take a drink for two day's because you're so busy with the newest addition. Other than those things( and what other commenters have suggested) it's really just a learn as you go type job. Good luck with the new babe!! P.s you look fabulous!
Sleep when the baby sleeps. This was really difficult for me - there were too many other things to do (laundry, meals, dishes...). I tried to do everything, and I paid for it with exhaustion, a sinus infection, and pinkeye. Don't feel bad about asking someone for help around the house. Take care of yourself, so you can take care of that baby!
Niami Niami
You really do look great! Breastfeeding was difficult for me, he had trouble latching on and then I had a milk blister. Breast shields are good to have when your nipples hurt, make sure you ask the nurse for some. If you need a breast pump and have trouble with breastfeeding while in the hospital, some insurance companies will cover the cost of the breast pump if the lactation consultant recommends it.
aembry396 aembry396
Definitely go out and enjoy as a couple...and when the little one comes, try and take opportunities for yourself. Accept help. OH! and if you have a lot of people dropping off meals and presents, have a notepad and a pen next to the door to write down who, when and what they brought. I forgot half of what was given and by whom in my baby-daze brain (but at the time, I thought I would of course remember!).
babysugar babysugar
You look fabulous Beaner!! My advice is to relax and enjoy yourselves as a couple - go to the movies, go out to dinner and sleep!