What is Pregnancy
Pregnancy is typically broken into three periods, or trimesters, each of about three months. While there are no hard and fast rules, these distinctions are useful in describing the...
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Some good advice, or is it? LOL
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So here I am sitting here 12 weeks pregnant with my fourth child and I suddenly got this great idea. Or at least I think it is a great idea, hope you all agree. When your are pregnant you get so much advice from people, some of which you don't even know. I thought it might be fun for the moms on their second or more pregnancy to give some advice to the soon to be first time moms. It could be funny or something that truely seemed to save your sanity as a new mom. This is ment to be fun, I hope everyone enjoy. That being said here is my advice.
1. Baby socks are very small. Not to mention the booties, mittens, and head bands for the baby girls. It is easy for these baby essentials to get lost in the wash or at the bottom of the laundry pail. If you purchase a small mesh bag mad for delicates and closes with zipper you can throw these small items in and not have to worry about loosing them in the wash. 2. Breast feeding, good for you. But I must admite that after sleep deprevasion sets in it is sometimes difficult to remember which side your little one needs to start on. I wear a plastic blaclet on my wrist and when I finish breast feeding the baby I make sure the braclet is on the wrist of the side I need to start on for the next feeding. 3. Baby falling asleep when you trying to get them to finish their meal. I have breast feed all my children, but I am sure that this would work with a bottle as well. If the baby has fallen asleep after feeding on only on side I change his/her diaper. Most of the time the baby wakes up enough to feed on the other side. Remember a baby with a full tummy tends to go longer than a baby who falls asleep with a half full on. I hope everyone enjoys this and we see a lot of great advice. Posted on 11/17/09, 10:50 pm |
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Being 25 weeks with my first I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all these hints and tips.
This is a brilliant idea, thanks 
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Two things - baby sling and breast pump!!
Firstly, a tip about breast milk production. My daughter was sadly wasting away for 6weeks, until I got a double pump. I do not know the science behind it, but a double pump raises prolactin levels (and subsequently milk production) far greater than pumping the breasts separately. Most hospitals have a very cheap lending facility for these pumps, as to bring up supply you often only need it for a week. I went from producing 20mL a breast to 250mL and 230mL from them!!!! :) The baby sling was a life saver for us!! Great to wear if you need to express, or if the baby is cranky or overstimulated. It's the ONLY thing that works for us!! Plus you can shop without the hassle of a pram, and the physical relief of having support carrying the baby makes a huge difference in your energy levels. The slings can also be worn in a cradle position - so just like holding the baby in your arms but without the strain! I have been able to very easily nurse in public with this way of wrapping, in complete discretion and even better hands free!! Tummy to tummy works wonders when your baby is being really unsettled and wants comforting. I have used it every day for months, I would never be able to get dishes done, put on washing or even have some lunch and a coffee with girlfriends without it! Plus no excuses for our men not to use it, as it can be wrapped to fit anyone! (Provided it is of 5m length). If anyone wants the pattern to make a versatile fit anyone sling that costs you the material only, this is it: Cotton (or cotton with 10% elastane if you want the "bounce" factor, cotton will keep the baby high and close to mum) in a 4metre or 5metre continuous length (depending on your size. 4m only for slightly built women!) by 45-50cm finished length. That is it!! Just sew a hem :) As most material comes in a 100cm or 110cm width, you can make two from the same length of material and keep one spare in the nappy bag or car! Below is a link to all the ways it can be worn: http://wearyourbaby.com/ Just click on the folder "By Type of Carrier" at the top left, then select "Wraps". It does all the positions of the K'Tan carrier (for example the "explore" position) that cost my sister a fortune to buy us, but that carrier is only one size! If you want video image the K'Tan website will show you how to position your baby by video. Finally for anyone who wants to nurse in public but is self conscious (or just has a very nosey baby!) but is not using a sling, here are two links (two types of covers) on how to make your own nursing cover in very simple steps: http://www.vanillajoy.com/how-to-n... http://www.blisstree.com/breastfee... Finally, if anyone has a high needs baby like our first has been, these links have so many of the things we found by trial and error!!! If you have a child like this, then these sites will help you save a LOT of time and stress! :) http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/T... (12 features of a high needs baby) - definately worth reading!! This was us...... http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T... (co-sleeping) http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t... (settling high needs baby) http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T... (31 ways settling baby) http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/... (Avoiding mummy burnout) Hope all this info helps some of you!! And just remember, just because you are a first time mum does not mean you don't know best! You will know your children better than anyone!! I had a natural labour, and knew when I was not progressing. I knew my daughter was not breastfeeding, although all the L/Cs, docs, paeds said she was.... And I figured out how to best help her better than the research team could! So we DO know our babies and we WILL do what is best for them. Trust yourselves ladies :) I wish someone would of said that to me!! xx
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Oh - and if you don't want to give your baby a pacifier, don't! Our daughter does not have one, and settles without one just fine :) I did not want the hassle of trying to wean a toddler from the dummy, but we have a teething one for when she is having pains (it is silicone and kind of shaped like a mouthguard and works great!) Also wet face cloths in the freezer for a few minutes to get cold can work well to let them chew on when teething.
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These are great - I'm a first tiemr too so keep them coming!
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I have to second ruth86s post - I got this advice from my grandmother when my first child was born - YOU will know your own baby best.
My own advice: 1. You will be sleep deprived, cranky and exhausted, but the time will FLY by. Enjoy every moment. I blinked, and now that first baby is nearing her 20th birthday. 2. (I suck at this one)ASK FOR HELP if you need it, especially the first time around, and ESPECIALLY from your husband/partner. If you do everything now, you're training the hubs that you don't need help - and he'll be ever so happy to sit on the couch while you do it all. 3. Don't be afraid to stick to your guns on issues where you might differ from other moms. Parenting is not a competition. Every child and every family is different. 4. Breastfeed if you can, even if only for the first few weeks. Get help if you need it, but again, do what works for you. On my third child I had a hospital nurse who insisted I had to hold my child a certain way - a way I knew would give me sore nips. I said, politely but firmly, "Excuse me, but this is my third time breastfeeding. I know what works for me." For your pregnancy, again, ENJOY it. I know it's hard (for me, too) but this is a precious time of your life that you will get to experience so few times - maybe only once. Write down your thoughts and feelings, rejoice with your DH/Partner and savor every beautiful thing - and every not-so-beautiful thing. You're a member of an exclusive club now! Best of luck to you all.
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I am first timer also! Love to read others ideas and I already can agree with Bev "Write down your thoughts and feelings" I wish I had started that long before I did! I sat down the other day and tried to catch up on writing things down from my IVF journey and can not remember some of the dates and things like I wanted to. I just could not bring myself to start writing it until I felt comfortable I was going to have a happy outcome.
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I am currently 18 months along with babies #3 and #4!!
1. When you ar esleep deprived it is sooo hard to remember to write down baby firsts! Buy a special calendar and keep it posted in babys room. When he smiles for that first time, jot it down on the correct date! First time getting peed on, Jot it down! Baby spits up on your face and some got in your mouth... Write it down then go brush your teeth! :) Write down the good and the bad and this will be an incredible keepsake for your child when they are grown! 2. The no scratch mittens for newborns NEVER stayed on my kids! And trust me, noyhing looks worse than a clawed up baby face!! But, baby socks stayed on so securely we have stuck with those! And they work great as mittens in the winter too! 3. When you are having "one of those days" (you'll know what I'm talking about when you have one!) and you don't know whether you want to scream into a pillow or cry, or throw the hubby through a window... Go ahead and have that cry! We ALL do it!! Mine were always in the middle of the night after a week of no sleep and my husband once again did not hear the baby wake up... There is NO SHAME!!! Just let it out. It's almost rejuvinating if you really let yourself bawl it out! 5. No one is allowed to enter the baby shower without a pack of diapers!! Did this for each one of mine and didn't have to buy anhy for like 3 months!! And people buy them in all sizes so you have some for when baby is bigger! Your guests WILL also get registry items, or that cute outfit they just had to get the baby. But you'll be thankful to have the nappies! If you don't feel comfortable making the request, have a pushy friend take care of that!! And she'll most likely act like it was her idea too!
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Hehe, for all those first time mums who are near tears with the constant changing (yes, 10mins after the last nappy!!!!) all throught the night and day... It may feel like it lasts forever, but it doesn't! Neither do the sleepless nights... The first few months feel like the longest. My girl is now 7months old and it feels like I birthed her yesterday! And just when you are getting to that stage of exhaustion where you feel like everyone comes first but you, and all these little babies do is drain you then complain, you will suddenly find your bub interacting more with you! :) It makes it SO much easier to get through the days then!! They laugh and play and miss their mum's (forget nice long showers alone haha and apparently it is terrible if we need to run off and pee!) and it is the most beautiful thing in the world! When you start to see the personalities, it will have all been worth it. And never be afraid to ask for help if you need it. I struggled at first, and I am a great mum now!! But I needed a LOT of breastfeeding help and also needed to call Ngala a few times. You will have all these numbers in the hospital pack..... Keep them somewhere handy like the fridge, and remember many more mums have used the services before! No matter how you are feeling, other women have been there before (even if you are not thinking the nicest of thoughts - sleep deprivation is a form of torture and it DOES get to us all!!!).
My other tip is to leave the hospital as soon as possible. I left hours after the birth, and although I do not think other mums need to do that (it worked well for us and we will do it again) I think staying a night or two instead of 3-5 days where possible would help a lot, as the baby needs to re-settle into your home once you have left the hospital.
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Oh, another thing!! Lol :)
PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really regret this, everyone told me to do this and I did not nearly enough.... Taking photos every month at first, then every week of your growing belly. When you have had the baby you will be so amazed at how big you got looking back! And weekly photos of bub at first, then you can do monthly ones. They grow so quick and I wish I had more from when she was so tiny! One week in pregnnacy and a newborn makes a huge difference in size :)
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