Saturday, January 23, 2010

Tips for New Mommies

Updated: I thought that I would repost this, because it has helped me to remember so much with my second little one!

Original: Last November I had my first child, Jackson, and I soon realized a lot of things! Things that no one told me. I decided that I would create an on-going list of tips, hopefully helping another new mother out. Having your first child is difficult enough, and you should have every tool you can to make motherhood a little bit easier.

Here are my list of tips, and feel free to add your suggestions. Remember, these are just my opinions....so, you may disagree and that's alright. But, I really feel this is a good baseline for new moms. I can't wait to hear what you think!!! (Make sure to let me know if you agree with one of the tips).

  1. Baby goes through 8-10 diapers a day, so plan on stocking up prior to giving birth because you will not feel like going to the store.
  2. When you are buying clothes, stick to 3-6 month sizes or larger because when people get you gifts it is primarily newborn or 0-3 month.
  3. Do not buy Equate baby wipes, they gave my son diaper rash. Felt like sand paper on my little one's sensitive skin.
  4. Target brand wipes are the best and least expensive.
  5. Wal-Mart brand diapers are terrible, your child will leak through the diapers easily.
  6. My personal favorite diapers are Target's Up Brand, my second choice is Pampers.
  7. The hospital should give you a nasal aspirator, underarm thermometer, diaper bag, and infant hat.
  8. Using an emery board in the beginning is the easiest way to trim baby's nails.
  9. Vaseline can be used for diaper rash or dry skin (per doctor recommendation) and is also used in the case of a male circumcision.
  10. When/if your water breaks it is not a big gush like in the movies, but more of a constant shower until you deliver.
  11. Rubbing alcohol is used to help dry up the umbilical cord and for cleaning of the belly button.
  12. Aquaphor is great for clearing up dry skin patches, or "baby pimples" that may occur.
  13. Jackson general goes through a baby wipe refill each week, so keep that in mind when you go shopping prior/after baby.
  14. Sex, nipple stimulation, spicy foods, masturbation, caster oil are all known to induce labor if you get desperate. Do not do any of these options until you are at least 37 weeks along. At that time you are considered to be full-term, prior to this date you may run the risk of your child's lungs not being fully developed.
  15. Keep at least one large storage container to store out-grown childrens clothing.
  16. I wouldn't waste your money on toys, you will get a lot of toys at Christmas and other holidays.
  17. Keep a blog/calender updated with new and exciting things that are happening in your baby's life. It is a lot easier to jot something down than dig out the baby book and write in it.
  18. If you are planning on nursing make sure to be well hydrated because if you don't you will not build up a sufficient milk supply, and you will have painful bowel movements (especially immediately after delivery).
  19. It is normal to not have a bowel movement for 1-3 days after a vaginal delivery. Your body doesn't want to go through that pain again, and bowel movements and labor are similar (although not exactly, but the best way to describe it to someone who has not gone through it). You can take a stool softener or a mild laxative.
  20. Your child can not sleep with any stuffed animals or blankets near his/her face because of possible suffocation.
  21. If your child wants to be held all the time, even when sleeping, a bobby pillow is a great way to give the child the illusion of being held.
  22. However you sleep in the hospital is what the baby will get used to.
  23. In order for you child to become accustomed to your "scent" you and the new Daddy should only use soap/shampoo/etc. with very little scent. This allows you both to bond, and he/she will be able to tell the difference between Mom/Dad and strangers. This is especially important if you choose to breast feed.
  24. Buy cloth diapers for your burb cloths. They are much more absorbant.
  25. When you are creating your registry, try to stick with the things that you will need. That way people are more likely to get you the items you really need, and you can go out and buy the "fun" stuff ;o).
  26. You will get some sanitary pads from the hospital, but it will not be enough to last. You will bleed for several weeks following a vaginal delivery. Anywhere from 2-6 weeks is the average.

6 comments:

  1. We always like the walmart brand diapers (not the parents choice though- I believe white cloud), but Target brand was def our fav!

    I buy a pack of "granny panties" before baby is born, since my regular underwear really won't hold the giant pads you will want to wear- the mesh panties are great too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ooh I have another good one. With both my kids I bought a blank calander the kind for baby's you are suppose to personalize and start the month they are born- I've seen them at Hallmark- I use this for the first 2 years. Instead of getting out the baby book and writing stuff in that (which is a pain in my opinion) I hang this by the changing table and write everything on it, I have a record of way more stuff than if I would just use the book and eventually I can go fill in the baby book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "2. When you are buying clothes, stick to 3-6 month sizes or larger because when people get you gifts it is primarily newborn or 0-3 month."-- this is SOO true, I had butt loads of that size for baby #1, and she wasnt even in that size for maybe 1 1/2 - 2 mo, she was a chunker (we did get alot of use out of the 0-3 for baby #2 though) I would suggest even buying larger than 3-6 mo cause I got alot of that size too at baby shower, esp if you are having a baby girl, people LOVE to buy clothes for baby girls.
    10 When/if your water breaks it is not a big gush like in the movies, but more of a constant shower until you deliver.
    my water broke on its own 3rd pregnancy, (surro baby #1) and it was a pop and a trickle, and then it trickled and trickled, she was breech though and only gushed if I was being checked for dilation and dr had to push up on the baby. now the other 3 deliveries I had my water broken and that was a gush while lying in the bed followed by trickling.
    11. Rubbing alcohol is used to help dry up the umbilical cord and for cleaning of the belly button.
    I only used alcohol a couple of times until the cord fell off at 2 weeks. they say use it no more than once a day
    14. Sex, nipple stimulation, spicy foods, masturbation, caster oil are all known to induce labor if you get desperate. Do not do any of these options until you are at least 37 weeks along. At that time you are considered to be full-term, prior to this date you may run the risk of your child's lungs not being fully developed.
    I used castor oil 3 out of the 4 pregnancies, and it worked 2 out of those 3 times.. the 3rd time which was this last baby, it did NOTHING but give me diarrhea and cramps. oh and I was 38 -39 weeks no earlier
    16. I wouldn't waste your money on toys, you will get a lot of toys at Christmas and other holidays.
    its hard to not buy toys during the year, as both daughters are so close to christmas, DD #! is Dec 27th, and DD #2 is Jan 24, we have their b-day parties together though to save time and $$ after the holidays, and have the party 2 weeks after DD#1 b-day, and 2 weeks before DD #2s b-day.... then I try and put away toys from christmas and b-day, since it is a yr inbetween gifting days.. they do get special toys sometimes during the year. combine with sales acn even getting reat clearance items, oh craigslist and garage sales that is a great budget helper too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My water actually DID break in a huge gush which soaked me, Par, the cats and our bed where we were all laying. So, sometimes, depending on the position of the baby, it can be like Hollywood.

    Target wipes are the best, and Huggie's wipes are the worst.

    I would buy a few toys, since some families, like mine, give money toward college rather than toys at holidays and birthdays, and the baby will need SOMETHING to start playing with around 12 weeks, when the grabbing begins.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beth - Really, your water broke like in the movies? Wow! Both of mine were more like a constant leak rather than one giant gush. TMI, I am sure. Haha.

    I don't think I have ever tried Huggie's wipes...I will have to remember that.

    That is true, if you family gives money/clothes/etc than you should pick up a few toys. Hubs family only gives toys...so we are currently on toy OVERLOAD! Lol.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beth - Really, your water broke like in the movies? Wow! Both of mine were more like a constant leak rather than one giant gush. TMI, I am sure. Haha.

    I don't think I have ever tried Huggie's wipes...I will have to remember that.

    That is true, if you family gives money/clothes/etc than you should pick up a few toys. Hubs family only gives toys...so we are currently on toy OVERLOAD! Lol.

    ReplyDelete

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