We are down to 3 weeks folks... that's right 3 weeks. This pregnancy has gone by so fast and now with the end fast approaching it's hard for me to say I feel 100% ready. Even with the back aches, contractions, puffy feet, sciatic pain, nasty belly button, sleepless nights and overall uncomfortableness (is that even a word?) I can honestly say I am outright scared to have a baby. It's not even the labor/delivery part that scares me... though it probably should. It's the growing up part, the becoming a mom part, the having another life in my hands part that really gets me. Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to meet this little guy and have him become a part of our family... but wow, me and Preston being parents? When all is said and done I know we will be fine, and I don't write this fishing for any sort of compliment, I am just stating the the simple fact, becoming parents is a scary thing! I have so many wonderful examples of parents and parenting skills around me and I hope to live up to them. Speaking of fabulous parents, my wonderful mother laughed at me as I tried to buy a HUGE bottle of hand sanitizer this last week. Here I thought I was being a good mom, providing hand sanitizer for all the people who will want to hold and touch my beautiful baby... So, what do I REALLY need? What was the most useful item you had with your kids? What is vital that I have at the hospital, for me and baby? ADVICE!
Ha, can't help you there, I also thought the hand sanitizer was a good idea. Maybe it's a nurse thing. I am excited for you!
ReplyDeleteEeek! Exciting! You looks so cute. So the thing is...NOTHING that anyone says can prepare you for the INSANE change you are about to experience. You just have to go through it to really understand. That is what I learned. But with that said, here is what I wish I had understood better before my baby girl got here...
ReplyDeleteThose first few weeks are hard. You are tired...overwhelmed...FREAKED out. And you think to yourself, 'will I ever sleep again???' ... 'will I ever feel less panicked?' ... 'will I ever figure this out?!'. And guess what? The answer is YES!!! It gets so much easier with every day that passes. Just remember that. With every day that goes buy you get the hang of things better, your baby starts sleeping better, you get into the swing of things. Just be calm and patient and remember that every day is a little easier than the last. :)
I am so excited for you guys. Even though its hard and a huge adjustment there is just NOTHING better. The love you feel for that little person when you look at them is incomparable. They are just amazing! And you will just love your husband a million times more than before. It's so awesome.
At the hospital...they seriously provide everything. I actually loved my hospital stay. It was relaxing. I liked wearing the hospital gowns. Comfy. Ha. But, what I was actually happy to have at the hospital and would never go back without... a laptop and some dvds...we watched some movies and it was so fun to be able to post photos to the blog from the hospital and then read all the comments from friends and family. Also, I would have loved to have my own shampoo/conditioner.
The stuff I have loved...
A swing. Our baby usually likes the swing so we can set her down and get some stuff done. Also, one night during her first week home we were SO TIRED. She wasn't sleeping well so we thought we would try putting her in the swing. Umm...she slept ALL night in the swing. That was awesome.
Baby nightgowns. I had all sorts of cute newborn clothes, pjs, etc. But, in the end, ALL she wore for the entire first month were footless baby gowns with hand covers. They are just so cozy and warm and make changing diapers much easier. I will never put my newborns in anything else. I loved the ones from Baby Gap and Carters...
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=15869&vid=1&pid=727922&scid=727922012
Lastly, proper breastfeeding stuff... Lansinoh Lanolin, Lansinoh Soothies and The Brest Friend. STUPID name. (However, we still laugh every time I tell Brandon to go grab my breast friend.) Awesome product. It's the best breastfeeding pillow out. Don't get a boppy. I started with that and it was NOT helpful. If you are going to breastfeed this thing will save you. I didn't get one until I was like...4 weeks into breastfeeding and dying from the pain. This totally helped me support the baby's weight and hold her correctly so it was less painful. I think if I had used this from the start I could have avoided the pain. Just have those three things on hand. I wish I had! I now use those three things every day all day.
http://www.lansinoh.com/products/soothies-by-lansinoh-gel-pads
http://www.mybrestfriend.com/
Sorry this is so long! Get excited!
Oh my goodness! Look at you! You look great Manda! I have already given you a lot of my 'shpeels' about having a baby but your friend above me already gave a lot of the advice I would say! I honestly thought the first couple weeks were SO HARD. But like she said, every day, every week, it gets better! Also, I don't know if its because of nursing school and knowing how much babies it, but it freaked me out when they wouldn't bring her into my room every 2 hours for her to eat (I had her sleep in the nursery because I was so exhausted) or that she wasn't hungry. I just had to keep remembering she would eat when she was hungry, and then when she did, she ate for like 30-45 minutes. Oh and I was SO TIRED when she fed. I didn't know that it could make you so sleepy and that it was normal!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of sleeping in the nursery, it is definitely an individual preference but we decided to do it because we were SO TIRED that we wanted someone to watch over her so we could rest up before we got home and would be her sole caretakers! That was nice. . .
I already told you I was a fan of the footless nightgowns. As well as a swing! They do wonders for her still and I know she is safe in it if I want to sleep a little longer or if I need to go shower, etc.
As far as the hospital? We didn't have any time for movies because of all the visitors, but we did like the computer so we could post stuff and Spencer really liked it to have something to do when I would take hours to get ready and shower in the morning. (I was super slow. . .)
I am so excited for you guys! I can't believe it is almost here! I remember talking about this day like 2 years ago! Please feel free to call me if you need to chat (or cry) :) It is hard but I liked talking to new moms who could help console me. If you have any questions, you know where I'm at!!
Agreed, there is nothing that will totally prepare you for it and everyone responds to it so different. I kind of FREAK OUT whenever things change, even if it's GOOD change. :-) So I usually go through a "Ooooooh noooooo...." period in the hospital! don't worry, things always work out! :-) My big thing about the HOSPITAL is to bring food for Preston. When you're in labor they will offer him food and stuff, but in recovery they don't. They just bring YOU a meal tray. That always drove me crazy, so I packed Brandon a TON of food in my bag. :-) Also, DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA. With Bailee, my camera was in the car when she was delivered and I didn't get a single picture. :-( Very horrible. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I liked bringing was something like lotion, or something to make you feel like you smell good. After you have a baby youf eel so dang NASTY for a few days, and having lotion that actually smelled good made me feel so much better. Silly, but great.
Those were my big things. :-) I had a warm, comfy blanket for the baby with a cute outfit for them to come home in- and my laptop because I liked posting pictures of my cute baby on my blog while I recovered. :-) Plus, Brandon liked the free wifi while we waited. :-)
You will do great my dear!!!!