Baby Help Advice

1. Before baby

a. Take a photo of yourself before you leave for the hospital. I know you may not think you want that photo now, but you can always burn it/delete it later.

b. Make sure the carseat is installed properly

c. Crib is set up

d. Newborn and 3 month clothes are washed and ready to go. Baby might only be in newborns for a week or two (or you could be lucky baby will last up to 2-3 months in newborn clothes and diapers).

e. Some premade meals in the freezer. That way, no one will have to cook right after you get home.

f. Have your hospital bag packed, and make sure you have 2 outfits for baby to come home in. Baby may poop/pee/spit up on the original outfit so it’s always good to have a backup!

2. L&D and post hospital stay

a. Tell SO to throw the phone out the window while you’re in labor. Ignore everyone who is trying to call for updates, etc. If you want to announce it on Facebook, make sure you say, “Please don’t call/bug us while I’m in labor. We WILL let you know when the baby makes his/her grand arrival. Calling/texting during labor may slow the processes so please be patient!”

b. Kick out anyone when you get too tired. Don’t feel guilty.

c. Make sure you bring something to write who brought what gifts. Better yet, make SO do it!

d. Write up your L&D story for yourself (if it’s not too horrific) while hanging out there. You might not remember it all later.

e. Get sleep while you can. It’s exhausting later.

3. Getting home

a. Remember, the first night is the hardest. And thinking you’re prepared won’t help! I mean that with every ounce of love. I knew it was going to be hard, but nothing prepares you for lack of sleep all night with a crying baby!

b. Keep yourself in PJ’s or whatever makes you comfortable. Don’t feel you need to dress up when anyone comes to visit.

c. Don’t feel guilty

d. When people come to visit, have them either bring food, or do something at the house for you (cook dinner, make a sandwich, take a load of laundry to the washer/dryer, etc).

e. Don’t forget to kick people out if you’re too tired to entertain. Everyone will see the baby at some point. Don’t feel guilty, baby will NOT expire

f. Hormones will be crazy. It is normal to feel you are going nuts. You most likely are not, but if you feel you are, call the doctor in case of PPD. Just remember if you get too frustrated, put the baby down, and walk away. Get SO to take him for a bit, or just go hide in the bathroom for a minute or two until you regain your calmness. Sanity is important.
- Babies are like dogs (kinda). They can sense when you’re upset. So, when they start becoming upset, breathe, smile, and giggle with them. Smile at them while you’re calming them down.

g. DON’T FEEL GUILTY!!!

h. Make sure SO helps you as much as possible. You will both be sleep deprived and probably fighting, but just try to remember you love each other and this doesn’t last forever!

i. Take photos like crazy. Make sure you videos too, if you have the ability. They sound different even 6 months later!
- Try to make sure you take monthly shots with cards saying “1 Month” “2 Months” etc, but you don’t have too. I didn’t but I knew exactly when I was taking the photos and made sure to date them in my computer folders.

j. Don’t forget to eat. Yes, you will forget.

k. Shower daily. It will be hard to find time to jump in the shower, especially when it’s just you and the baby. I used to bring the bouncer in the bathroom to take a quick one.

l. Get outside for a bit every day, even if it’s to sip coffee or juice on the porch. It will make you feel good not to be cooped up in the house all day.

m. You can’t always nap when the baby naps. So make sure you get at least one or two hours during the day to nap.

n. You won’t want to do anything for the first month. As much as I enjoy knitting, I had no desire to do it for the first 2 months then I didn’t feel like doing it until baby was around 4-5 months before I even picked up my knitting needles. It’s normal.

o. You will feel like a cow/milk machine. Newborns nurse every 1.5-3 hours. They clusterfeed at night too. Baby would nurse every hour on the hour from 4-7 at night.

p. Start a bedtime routine. I usually did nursing at one time, then reading to her in the rocking chair, then bath time (newborns don’t need one every night), then read to her upstairs in her room. The sooner you start this, the better.

q. Make sure baby can take a bottle before you take baby to daycare!!!

4. Diapers

a. Always keep a new diaper under the old one before changing the baby. NEVER stand in the line of fire. Girls, as well as boys, tend to have a far aim!

b. Keep the diaper held over baby until the absolute necessary time to remove it. You will get faster at it as you go!

c. Get used to the fact that you might go through 10-15 more diapers a day than normal when they decide to poop, and then poop again as your changing them. Just remember to wait to remove the old diaper until they’re completely done!

d. Get used to getting pooped, peed, or spit on. Always have an extra clean shirt nearby just in case.

e. Keep a spare outfit for the baby AND yourself with you at all times when you go out!

5. Pumping

a. Build up your stash before you go back to work. DO NOT wait until the day/week before to start stocking up. Even though it’ll be a pain, I’d say, wait 2 weeks after baby is born and do one pumping session a day. Don’t worry; you will produce enough even if you pump one extra time a day. However, every mom is different. I’ve had friends who could pump 10-12 oz in one session that I could pump 1-2 oz.

b. I have the medela free style (not the hands free kind). I find it easiest to use the bottles that came with the pump. Then I pour the milk into the bags. I feel like I waste a bag if I use them with the pump.

c. Milk will last 5-8 days in the fridge, then 3-6 months in a normal freezer. You can put it in the fridge for a few days then transfer it to the freezer if you don’t get to it in time. But don’t pull it out of the freezer to use it unless you use it within 24 hours.
- Thawing the breastmilk is easiest by heating a cup of water in the microwave, then putting the bag of milk in it. It should take about 5 minutes for it to thaw.

6. Breastfeeding

a. Lansinoh lanolin cream is a wonderful thing. I think there are other kinds but that’s the one I used. Put it on before AND after breastfeeding. Think of it like chap stick for your breasts. It will help prevent cracking. Don’t wait for the cracking to start. TRUST ME!

b. Do not be surprised if you aren’t able to stand under the shower because your breasts hurt. Not to scare you but it took almost 4 months for me to go back to normal with being able to deal with that. They also lie when they say you’ll be able to sleep on your stomach after the baby is born…

c. Drink a glass of water every time you breastfeed. It will help you to keep hydrated. I have a 20 oz bottle that I make sure I drink at every pumping session (right after), and every time I nurse. Even at night.

d. It will hurt to have the baby latch. Extremely bad. It will go away. When you think you won’t be able to do it, just think, I WILL get to the point where I can walk with baby and nurse. I think I was around 7.5 weeks before it finally didn’t hurt for baby to latch.

e. The moment you feel like you’re getting the flu with achiness, freezing for a few hours then dying of heat, you most likely have mastitis. Call the doctor ASAP and get antibiotics.

f. The easiest way to remove a clogged duct is to nurse like crazy!

7. Bath time
a. Leave the towel open on the floor before you put baby in the bath. That way, you won’t have to rush around to get the towel open when you pull baby out of the tub.

b. Have 2 washcloths on hand at all times.

c. Have a cup or something to pour water over baby’s head to get out all shampoo from hair.

d. Before a full bath, dip baby’s feet in the water with the diaper still on. Wait about 2 minutes before taking the diaper off to make sure baby doesn’t pee in the water because attempting to empty out a baby tub with a half wet infant is not fun or easy.