After you brought baby home...

[Anonymous]

There is so much anxiety and excitement with the run up to the delivery--getting stuff ready, the baby shower....labor and all the stuff that goes with it....I can't help wonder (and could use some advice on this), what was the first thing you did when you brought your first baby home? Sorry if this question sounds dumb, but I'm expecting my first in a couple of months and have been reading everything under the sun about labor, deliveries, c-sections, breast feeding, hospitals, you name it.

However, no one ever talks about the first time you get the little person in their car seat and drive them home....and then what?!!!

[Anonymous]

relax!! We took our kids around the home, showed them around. I took a shower, my husband took the baby and watched tv..we then ordered food and sat around-we talked, ate etc. and I was nursing so tried to feed at least every hour. There is not much to do at first, try to get some sleep but other than that, enjoy your new baby!

[Anonymous]

Then the first night is hell, because the baby is on a reverse schedule (sleep all day, up all night) and you and your husband look at each other like 'what have we done?' because you think that's what it's always going to be like. In truth, it is the worst night and it gets better each day and night after that. It is truly a joy having a baby, though one that starts out a bit rocky. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

My mom says that having a baby is a one-year odyssey -- 9 months PLUS the first 3 months with the baby -- b/c the first 3 mos. are tough -- joyous, but tough. You'll develop your own routine and things will become easier to manage. Three months into it you'll be a pro

[Anonymous]

Sadly, we came home to an empty house. I was a little bummed nobody bothered to make us lunch or anything. Also, neither one of our parents were there to help so it was just three of us...and our beloved dog.

We were discharged in the afternoon so we went out for lunch, came home, and cooed over the baby. We tried for some sleep, hubby checked his blackberry, scheduled an apt with the pediatrician for checkup, I was nursing so every 2 hours I was whipping out the boob, etc.

We ended up having to check into the hospital again for jaundice - talk about upsetting. Like I was crying enough already
So

[Anonymous]

Be prepared for something to happen that first night that will throw you. I had a c-section with # 1 and spent about 3 days in the hospital. No issues - milk was a little slow in coming in but baby was latching, content and all seemed well...

Then, the first night home baby got REALLY fussy/angry. He was obviously hungry and I didn't have enough milk yet. We were new parents, nervous and all the BF advocates had drilled into our head that you don't need to give the baby formula, colustrum is enough. Well I felt like a failure, the baby was screaming and it was 2:00 am. Finally, my husband made the decision to make a bottle of formula and feed our son. Wonderful! Baby was happy and fell asleep. I was less stressed about my milk. After a couple days of having to supplement my milk came in and I was able to exclusively BF with no problems.

Basically, trust your instincts and do what feels right to YOU which may not be what all the books tell you. Don't be afraid to call the pedi if you need advice and enjoy your baby!

[Anonymous]

We had our baby in the car and were so nervous just trying to drive home! We walked in the door and sat down with him in our apartment and just stared at each other and had a big sigh of relief. We were both nervous as heck but it's such a rush to have the baby to yourselves! And to try to figure everything out.

Here's what we learned:

- Before you leave the hospital, be sure to have the nurse walk thorugh everything you are uncomfortable with (how to swaddle, how to diaper, etc)

- Be prepared for that first pediatrician appointment with a diaper bag full of diapers and wipes and extra onesies (in case your baby poops through).

- Know that your baby's tear ducts (in her eyes) may become clogged in the beginning (so don't let it freak you out)...it scared me at first

- make a list of any and all questions for your first pediatrician's appointment....you will be tired and anxious and won't remember everything. Don't be afraid to call your pediatrician a lot in the beginning too....they expect it.


These may be obvious to some people, but it wasn't to us! Still, you make it somehow and all will be well! It is so much fun...enjoy your new baby!

[Anonymous]

As we were carefully putting our sleeping baby in his carseat for the ride home, I was struck by the realization that this new little life was completely dependent on my husband and me. And, as we drove away, I wondered if we would actually be able to properly care for and protect our precious little guy. I seriously wondered whether the hospital people were reckless in allowing us to take the baby home! It was a glorious June afternoon. When we arrived home, the first thing we did was take several photos outside in front of the house. One photo (me holding the baby) is still one of my favorites as it captured the emotion of the day...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, we came home to an empty house. I was a little bummed nobody bothered to make us lunch or anything. Also, neither one of our parents were there to help so it was just three of us...and our beloved dog.

We were discharged in the afternoon so we went out for lunch, came home, and cooed over the baby. We tried for some sleep, hubby checked his blackberry, scheduled an apt with the pediatrician for checkup, I was nursing so every 2 hours I was whipping out the boob, etc.

We ended up having to check into the hospital again for jaundice - talk about upsetting. Like I was crying enough already
So

Went out to lunch? With 2 day old baby? OP, please don't do that!

[Anonymous]

Hey, I'm the previous post that went out to lunch at Chiptoles at 2days old. What is wrong with that? Would it infuriate you even more if I told you that we went for a walk the next morning? It was a warm May morning.

Hec, we were probably more exposed to germs riding in the hospital elevator and waiting in the lobby.

Is this going to turn into a "germ" thread? If you want to gawk about exposure and germs then go after the moms who drop off their infants at daycare.

And FYI - no sickness yet...not even a cough! So obviously it is ok to take a newborn out in public.

[Anonymous]

I had a tough first day home, and we had help! Maybe hormones kicking in. But baby was very fussy, didn't sleep much, I was very stressed about whether he was getting enough milk, and struggling to get a good latch. If you have a breastpump, I would highly recommend you get it ready to go before baby comes. I decided to try to pump the first night home and I have bad memories of trying to get it sterilized (which you may want to do the first time you use it) and reading the directions at 2 a.m. (and crying). I guess I was hormonal, but the first 24 hours were a real struggle for me. Get as much help as you can, and as much sleep as you can.

[Anonymous]

I think the first thing my husband and I did after we brought the baby home was look at each other and say "Oh F*&%, what have we done?".

Get as much help as you can, and as much sleep as you can.

I agree with this completely. My best advice is to ask, plead, beg, or kidnap your family or your in-laws or someone else you like and that may be helpful to spend a few days with you when you get home. I know there are different schools of thought on when the first visitors should arrive, but I was so grateful that my parents were there to care of things like shopping, cooking, laundry, etc. right when we got home-- I was so completely overwhelmed with the baby that I never would have been able to manage those tasks in the first few days. I cried for the first time in a long time when they left!

I would also say to follow the oft-repeated advice of sleep when the baby is sleeping, especially at the beginning. Your body will have just been through a bit of trauma, and you will likely be pretty exhausted, so take the opportunity when you can.

Best of luck to you.

[Anonymous]

It is a good idea to take it easy and that means stay home first few days not just for baby's sake, but for your own. I didn't realize how exhausted and worn out I was until I almost fainted. Some food and rest brought me right back but I was really dizzy and just didn't know it.

Your body goes through so many changes and some people just aren't able to up and go right away. The best thing is to settle in comfortable chair with a baby or sleep whenever you can.

Going outside for walks is great, in fact my children napped outside more then inside, even though it was late fall and winter. But stay close to home and hopefully have someone else come with you.

[Anonymous]

We also took our baby out to grab sandwiches at a deli on the way home. It was great! She's seven months now and doing FINE. I think people are a little nutty about that stuff but I know tons of people who have done the same thing.

All the stuff about the first night being rough is dead on - looking back, the best thing I did was have my mom stay with us those first two weeks! She was really great at helping us get adjusted.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and don't forget crying jags. I cried every night for 3 nights in a row when we sat down for dinner - for absolutely no reason (well, except the hormone fluctuations). I also got teary whenever I had to say the words "my son," like when I made his doctors appointments.