From a Brand New Mom to Expectant Moms. . .

[Anonymous]

My baby is now three weeks old. I used to check these threads all the time while I was pregnant. These are some thoughts I wanted to share. Others, please add.

Take as many of the baby swaddling blankets from the hosptital that you can legally get away with (I delivered at Alexandria INOVA). I have tons of really pretty blankets, but you will find that you need to wrap you baby constantly, and it is easier to watch them spit up on the hospital blankets (not to mention they simply are easier and cut in just the right dimensions)

I thought I would not need the mesh underwear. In fact, I made a point of buying new "big girl" underpants. I now think the mesh things are a great invention, and designed by a woman.

Make sure you approve all pictures that go out immediately. My husband sent a few out on his blackberry because he was so joyous. Yeah.

If someone offers you help in the shower straight away, do it. I felt like a rockstar, and then go very lightheaded. I had low blood pressure immediately after birth and didn't know it.

Don't be afraid to call the Lacatation Consultatant while you are in the hospital. Seriously.

Enjoy you new child. And don't worry if you have clean sheets on the bed when you get home.

[Anonymous]

OP here- also realize that now your posts on this board will be riddled with typos. I am sleep deprived and just reread what I wrote. Content is correct, grammer and spelling not so much. . .

[Anonymous]

There was a post similar to this a few months ago, but it had more a little bit more comic relief.

The ones I wrote to it were-
...don't put away those maternity pants yet - they're saving grace leaving the hospital

...didn't think Junior would use those inflatable swim rings until he was able to swim- well, inflate and it and use NOW so you can sit down with a little more cushion

...how is it that the house has been completely taken over by baby shower gifts, thank you cards, and miscellaneous baby gear? Just wait a few more months when Junior starts interacting and playing with toys, you want be able to find the couch (and yes, the left over baby shower gifts will probably still be there)


There was more, but it was awhile back and I don't remember any more of them.

Have fun and congrats!

[Anonymous]

Each week it gets easier and easier

[Anonymous]

OP-- I am delivering my first in a few weeks. This might be a dumb question, but what is mesh underwear and is this something that I should buy before I go to the hospital? They did not cover this topic in my childbirth class!

[Anonymous]

This is not the OP but I have already had a baby so can answer. The mesh underwear is given to you at the hospital to wear after the birth. It is super stretchy and dries fast. It allows you to wear the gigantic pads in it. I lived in them the first couple of weeks.

[Anonymous]

THANKS! we soon-to-be moms appreciate these helpful hints! (and frankly, we're probably sleep-deprived enough to not notice or care about any spelling grammar errors.)

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I am going to have to disagree about the mesh panties. I did NOT find them comfortable at all. I was very glad that I packed some "granny" panties. I had a c-section, so they were good for the incision too (my regular bikinis would've been to rough against the incision).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-- I am delivering my first in a few weeks. This might be a dumb question, but what is mesh underwear and is this something that I should buy before I go to the hospital? They did not cover this topic in my childbirth class!

There is a TON of stuff that isn't ever covered in those birth class. I wish they would touch base on things like the mesh underwear, the Sitz bath, the lochia that seems to last forever, and all the sweating/peeing that your body goes through to shed the 9 months worth of fluid retention. Even have a brief discussion on PP. Sure, you don't have to focus the whole class on it, but maybe a quick overview. Plus, it would be a great relief to hear about other aspects of L&D than breathing techniques.

Plus, I wish those classes would give a quick overview of newborns fresh out of the oven. Obviously, they don't come out like they do in tv and movies, so it would be nice to know to expect baby acne, jaundice issues, umbilical cord care/infection, circumsicion care, etc.

Sorry for the rant, maybe I just had a lousy teacher for my class and so my experience may be (hopefully) non-typical.

[Anonymous]

And also a bit more information about trying to deal with your body going through the post-birth process while trying to deal with an often unhappy (in my case) infant. Good luck attempting to take a shower, to eat more than two bites of food, getting out of your pajamas, people coming in and out of your house visiting you, but offering very little help...you not getting more than a few hours' sleep for weeks (or months!) and the list goes on. No one EVER tells you this stuff before you have a baby. It sucks to have to be shocked into reality without much warning.
Then things get better of course and you will soon start thinking about another one (maybe).

[Anonymous]

Okay, another dumb question. What is a sitz bath? (I am delivering in less than a month and am feeling unprepared after reading these posts!)

[Anonymous]

I just had hemroid surgery and am intimately aware of these. You can buy in any drug store--they fit over the toilet seat and are sort of like a mine bathtub that fits over the top of toilet sit. Are they important? Yes!! I used it several times a day for but healing--you soak your but in water and then use the nozzle to spritz more water (warm) on your but and it promotes healing.. Seriously it does something for swelling and while I had hemroids before delivery that were awful. Some people get them afterwards as wella some people have stiching from an episiotomy. Buy one-it's very useful. FYI--don't try the bath soaking since you have a lot of germs going on and can wind up with a UTI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had hemroid surgery and am intimately aware of these. You can buy in any drug store--they fit over the toilet seat and are sort of like a mine bathtub that fits over the top of toilet sit. Are they important? Yes!! I used it several times a day for but healing--you soak your but in water and then use the nozzle to spritz more water (warm) on your but and it promotes healing.. Seriously it does something for swelling and while I had hemroids before delivery that were awful. Some people get them afterwards as wella some people have stiching from an episiotomy. Buy one-it's very useful. FYI--don't try the bath soaking since you have a lot of germs going on and can wind up with a UTI

The hospital gave me one to use while I was there and I just took it home with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, another dumb question. What is a sitz bath? (I am delivering in less than a month and am feeling unprepared after reading these posts!)

See!! I told you there is a ton of stuff nobody EVER tells you about during L&D, the recovery, etc.

I guess it's a rite of passage that you have to figure it out yourself. I guess it's initiation into motherhood - Juggling newborn and trying to take care of yourself at the same time (not to mention family dog, cluttered house, nervous DH, and nosey family/in laws).

Sitz baths are used to help heal/keep clean any incisions in the vaginal/anal area. You sit on this toilet-type thing (sorta what toddlers use when they are learning to go potty!) which you can easily mount in the toilet. You fill it with water or you can use the shower head to gently stream in water and you sit there and soak.

[Anonymous]

Think the worse-so you're not disappointed. The first 6 months are pure "hell". I'm not trying to scare anyone, but no one tells you how bad you'll feel, or how you'll question yourself as to why you wanted a baby, how it affects your marriage, and how lonely the days are. Having said that, if you can get through the first 6 months, a right a passage for a new mother AND father, you'll wonder how you ever lived without this child, how the big concerns in our life take a backseat, how much closer you feel to your spouse and you MIGHT forget some of the hell during the first 6 months.

To see the world through a child's eye is awesome