Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Just thought I'd share some helpful tips and "what to expects" in the days/weeks PP:

- The hospital pads are great, but the ones mine gave out had no adhesive backing, making them tough to stay in place. I bought and used ALWAYS OVERNIGHT EXTRA HEAVY FLOW. They are huge and great for that 1st week PP.

- Disposable undies - I did a search on Amazon. Buy the briefs, they will cover your incision if you're having a C. Buy about a week's supply.

- After a week, you'll want to get into regular undies again. I would recommend a supportive brief. My tummy became a bit like a deflated tire and is hanging quite low, so it feels good to be in something with support.

- If you're having a C, get up a move! I struggled with the balance of getting enough rest and moving around in the hospital. Take the pain killers and move. I wound up with pneumonia, and I really feel like it was b/c I didn't move around enough.

- Also C ladies - the hospital should give you a breathing apparatus to make sure you're taking enough deep breaths after surgery. USE THIS. Another reason I feel like the pneumonia set in.

- WATER. Keep drinking it, and use it as a reason to get out of bed.

- What to Wear: I was in the hospital gown for the 1st 24 hours. I believe they keep the IV in you until you show regular urination. The next 3 days I did shower and wear sweats everyday, and then put a nightgown on for sleeping.

- Def be sure to pack shower shoes / flip flops. The hospital floors get dirty, esp in the winter with visitors tracking in sand and snow. You'll want something you can get in out of easily, and something you can walk around in. Don't walk around in your slippers and then return to bed - you'll just get your sheets filthy.

- Towels and pillows - don't bother packing your own. Just ask the hospital for tons of extras.

- Boppy - I am not BFing, so I did not find this useful in the hospital. I would leave it home.

- Keep breadsticks or crackers near by as well. It's not good to take pain killers on an empty stomach, and these will help settle it, and are good to snack on in the middle of the night when you do need a dose of meds.

- Don't expect to get great rest in the hospital, esp the 1st night. I always felt like I was the only one up, and then I'd get up to get water, and walk by all the rooms, and see all the other moms up as well.

- However, I would still recommend leaving the baby in the nursery at night. DH would come every morning by 9-10am, and the baby would be there. He'd stay all day until about 11 or even midnight, and we'd walk the baby back to the nursery together and kiss him good night. If I wanted, I could've gone to get the baby to do a feeding, but I chose to let them take care of him at night - esp the 1st few nights are tough getting out of bed with the incision.

- Peri bottle - use it every time you go to the BR, and take it home with you. You'll want it the 1st week PP to keep yourself feeling clean down there.

Most useful packed items:
Lip balm
Toothbrush and paste
Shower shoes (I brought addidas slides and wore them with socks when I was walking around).
Nightgown and robe (to walk around in at night)
Always Pads mentioned above
Disposable Undies
Headbands and elastics

- Nothing can really you prepare you for 1st night home w/ baby, but know its the "worst" night. They are adjusting to their new home and sleeping environment, so don't fret if the baby (or you) doesn't sleep that night. Jake showed drastic improvement from night 1 to night 2, and is now on a great sleeping schedule at 2 weeks.

- Swaddle Mes have been a life saver. We swaddle him at night since his flailing wakes him. The Swaddle allows him to have a restful night sleep, so he really only wakes or cries to be fed.

- Every baby is different, so best of luck and congrats with your new bundle of joy! It is a roller coaster of emotion, but worth it.

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thanks for the great info!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thanks for the great info!!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thanks for the great info! I saved it to my notebook and will look at it again when I am closer to my DD!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thank you! Added this to my notebook

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

As someone who is due in 4 weeks, thank you from the bottom of my heart for this list!!!!!!!!!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thank you! this is great!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thanks for this. It was very helpful!!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

thanks, i love these posts with advice. i notebook each one. thanks ladies :)

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thank you for such honest and helpful tips! I always love the advice from new moms! Congrats on your new addition!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

all great advice

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Wow! Thanks for this post! Notebooked it for future referance!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thanks for the great info.

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Great info! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your new son!

Posted by Kris516
- Don't expect to get great rest in the hospital, esp the 1st night. I always felt like I was the only one up, and then I'd get up to get water, and walk by all the rooms, and see all the other moms up as well.

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Great info! I just copied that and saved it in word for when my time comes!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

thanks for the info, congrats again.

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

Thank you so much for this advice! I am going to add this thread to my notebook.

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

The only major thing I can add as a new mom is this:

For those of you bottlefeeding:

The nurses may tell you to only feed the DC some crazy small amount like 20 cc's. Our first 2 nights home were HELL until we figured out the reason for his screaming was because he was hungry.

This was the only major complaint I had about the hospital.

Feed DC what he wants. This is the advice of my pediatrician and all BTDT moms I have spoken too. The worst DC will do is spit-up. They let you know if they've had too much to eat.

Also, I learned as well very quickly not to wake a sleeping baby to feed. As long as they are gaining weight, let them sleep!

DS is now a month old and is sleeping about 5 hours per night!!!

Re: Advice from a new Mom (while its Fresh in my mind!)

this is very helpful, thanks so much for sharing!!