Ladies who just had their babies...

Any tips to give those of us who are almost there?

Tips/advice about the hospital stay, labor and delivery, the first day home, and the first few weeks?

I know nothing can fully prepare me, but would love to hear some of your insight :)

Re: Ladies who just had their babies...

Get the epidural. It was a lifesaver for me. Labor was a breeze bc of it, I thought I would be numb to the toes and I was nervous but they only numb from ur belly button to your mid-thigh, I felt pressure and was able to push without feeling pain.

Ask the nurses as many questions as you want, they're full of info. I used to buzz them to ask questions, they were great to me.

While at the hospital, keep the baby in the nursery at night, get your sleep. You're going to need it. I would bring DS back at 9pm, go to sleep and go get him bright and early -- if you plan to BF they will bring the baby to you when it's time to eat, in the meantime you can sleep.

Take all the formula, diapers, etc. that they put under the baby's bassinet. We took tons and the nurses gave us even more...I went home with shopping bags full of things. The formula lasted long enough for us not to have to buy for the first week.

If your friends/family offer to help, let them. Rest while you can, the first few days are exhausting and overwhelming, especially since you're recovering as well. Even if they offer to do laundry, house chores, errands...let them and enjoy your little one.

hold your little one and just look at them, they grow soo fast. My DS is going to be 2 months already and I feel like I gave birth yesterday. I love to hold him and just stare at him, it still amazes me that I'm his mommy

Re: Ladies who just had their babies...

Two things that I feel like no one really mentions on here that I experienced:

C-section: I know it's a big thing but it seems like no one really talks about just how serious it is and how tough the recovery can be. I'd hoped I wouldn't have to have one, but it did come to that and the next day I was in such a world of hurt. A simple thing as getting up the first time to go to the bathroom was positively awful. You don't realize how much you use your abdominal muscles for everything, until they've been cut open for surgery! I'm not trying to scare you or anything - more like just giving a reality check.

If you or anyone reading this winds up with a c/s - pride must go out the window. You WILL need help to wipe yourself, go to the bathroom, change your pad, etc. so do not feel bad about having to let someone do the dirty work the first day or two.

Breastfeeding/pumping: I never knew that when you BF or pump, it causes your uterus to contract. This will make you bleed more as the uterus is pushing out the blood. The contractions will be a bit painful the first week or so and subside.

Those are two things fresh off my mind!

Re: Ladies who just had their babies...

I had a pretty positive experience overall and I think that was in large part due the epidural.

Pushing was the most painful part, but it wasn't awful. Listen to the nurses when they say you are pushing well and do more of that. Give pushing your all and remember the better you push the quicker it is over.

My second night I had the baby stay in the nursery, I planned on EBF, but had no milk, she had not had a wet diaper so she got one formula feeding and we've been EBF since then. Honestly, I was all no no formula it will confuse her. It didn't. The only thing that happened was I got to recover a bit.

If you can swing it get the private room- having my husband there and having my own bathroom were key.

Bf-ing hurts, but it gets better!! After the 2nd week it gets better. Stick with it (if you want to BF).

Take as many diapers, formula, receiving blankets as they let you.

Lots of pictures!!!

Re: Ladies who just had their babies...

Re: Ladies who just had their babies...

Could not agree more with Maggie!!!

Re: Ladies who just had their babies...

Posted by babylove628

Get the epidural. It was a lifesaver for me. Labor was a breeze bc of it, I thought I would be numb to the toes and I was nervous but they only numb from ur belly button to your mid-thigh, I felt pressure and was able to push without feeling pain.

Ask the nurses as many questions as you want, they're full of info. I used to buzz them to ask questions, they were great to me.

While at the hospital, keep the baby in the nursery at night, get your sleep. You're going to need it. I would bring DS back at 9pm, go to sleep and go get him bright and early -- if you plan to BF they will bring the baby to you when it's time to eat, in the meantime you can sleep.

Take all the formula, diapers, etc. that they put under the baby's bassinet. We took tons and the nurses gave us even more...I went home with shopping bags full of things. The formula lasted long enough for us not to have to buy for the first week.

If your friends/family offer to help, let them. Rest while you can, the first few days are exhausting and overwhelming, especially since you're recovering as well. Even if they offer to do laundry, house chores, errands...let them and enjoy your little one.

hold your little one and just look at them, they grow soo fast. My DS is going to be 2 months already and I feel like I gave birth yesterday. I love to hold him and just stare at him, it still amazes me that I'm his mommy