VALUABLE INFORMATION*
- It is quite common for baby girls to have a mini-period a few days after they are born. shock It is a withdrawal bleed from the exposure to all the hormones in the womb.
(My friend told me this when she had a DD, otherwise I would have been frantic when it happened to my DD) RUMPEL
- When your milk comes in (about 3 days after birth) they will be enormous, hot and rock hard. This extreme discomfort coincides with a happy hormone drop so don't be surprised if you spend the day sobbing. You'll feel better soon! ISAIDNO
- Do not buy disposable paper knickers and maternity sanitary pads for after the birth, they are really uncomfortable. Instead buy some really cheap supermarket pants and Always nighttime pads. You can then throw away the cheap pants. sweetkitty
4 There are very few musts in either pregnancy or child rearing. Treat all childcare and pregnancy advice like a pick and mix counter take what works for you and ignore what does not. KAZ
- The Lochia starts immediately after birth for which you require some form of sanitary pads. You may continue to experience pains similar to period pains for a couple of days after and possible pass a largish clot. This happened to me (the size of a small side plate) and I panicked thinking it was an undeveloped twin. After speaking to my midwife this is quite common (she'd had one the size of a dinner plate - I don't mean to alarm anyone!) but I had absolutely no idea what was happening and felt extremely scared until I'd received clarification. Best to save the evidence and show to MW or HV. Libraladyxx
- Try and stay in hospital as long as possible, esp. until Milk comes in and your Baby blues start! As once you get home, thats it!!!! Also, try and see as many visitors in the hospital as possible, so you don't have to entertain them yourself at home! Jodie x
- Do not wear expensive new nightwear or slippers when you are in hospital. The first time you stand up after giving birth, you will 'flood' a bit as the lochia will have pooled while you are lying down. And don't be embarrassed about it - the mws aren't! Poledra
8 Leading on form the last one you often can often flood when breastfeeding/expressing the number of poor Mums in tears I have had to borrow pads for from the wards white trousers are often not a good fashion look when you do
- Really no point worrying in advance about embarrassing indignities during labour - you honestly will not notice or care what you do or how you behave when the day comes. Also, wear something during labour that you are happy to throw away. You may not feel like wearing it afterwards, even when it's washed.
10. If you get the chance before the baby is born (and your nesting takes full hold) cook loads of beef or quorn mince/onions/tomatoes and freeze it in take away tubs. When your new arrival appears all you've dp has got to do is boil some rice or pasta, defrost mixture and add mixed herbs or chilli beans for a really quick and relatively nutritious meal. You honestly will not want to cook.- Minkus
11. Buy Toni and Guy's dry shampoo from Boots or Batiste's version (much cheaper but not quite as good) from Superdrug. On those days post birth when your hair really needs washing but you are exhausted, and you need to leave the house but are worried that folks will think you've lost it because of the oil slick in your hair- these products are amazing and will make your hair totally presentable.- Minkus
12. I really think you can't cuddle them too much. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about wanting to pick your baby up all the time if thats what makes you both happy.- Minkus
13. If you have stithes down below or are even just feeling a bit bruised, get some super strength Arnica, also for at least a fortnight after giving birth have a bath every day with lavender oil in it. It's great for healing and preventing infection plus the lavender is really soothing. It's important to get even half an hour me time (especially if you have other DC). SWEETKITTY
14. Be prepared to spend the first few weeks sitting feeding your baby a lot (if BFing), have phone, drink, snacks to hand. I am also planning on renting some good films and DVD box sets for cluster feeding in the evenings. (I have lovely memories of feeding DD2 in bed with a good movie on). sweetkitty
15. Don't get worried if your baby doesn't poo every day, or even every other day, just be warned of the smelly explosion when it does happen. JODIE x
16. On the subject of poo (mm lovely) the first few poo's are akin to tar (very, very thick and sticky!), so try putting vasaline on babies bottom at each nappy change to make it easier to scrape off! JODIE x
17. If you don't manage breastfeeding or go onto bottles later on, make sure you invest in an avent milk holder. Fill your bottles with water as normal and take out and place the measured amount of milk in as and when required. Saves worrying about milk 'going off' when out for a day (especially in the hot weather). Water alone in a bottle won't go off. I found this was the best thing I bought. Libralady.
18. You?ll be AMAZED at how swollen your undercarriage is ? no-one tells you that. I thought it was my stitches but it was my bits It is okay though, sounds worse than it is.
19. Make sure you take loads of fruit (maybe even lactulose into hospital with you in case you are in for a few days and have drugs in labour). My DH went home with mine and the hospital had NO fruit/veg/salad and served up horrid salty food. Ended up with horrific constipation and had to get the Dr out a few days after birth
20. Following on from last point - fruit somoothies seemed to work well for me in first couple of days - you really want the first post-birth poo to be as easy as possible!!
21. Dare I say it...breastfeeding might well hurt to start with but this won't last forever and it is so worth it!
22. OK another one with TMI - especially if you push for a while, you may well have bad piles - do ask the midwives for treatment, not worth being embarressed! Also second lavender in bath - pref with epsom salts - brill for healing bits and bottom!
23. I carried a spare top with me for first few weeks as boobs would leak hugely at the most unexpected moments - particularly in Tesco for some reason... SHORTSHAFE
24. Hormones do strange things to you - dd was born in October and I found my internal thermostat was haywire - i perspired massively all of the time - to the point that my hair was wet (yuck yuck yuck) until she was about 2 weeks old. SHORTSHAFE
25. Babies can fire poo explosive distances - IME around 4ft! be prepared and buy carpet shampoo/carpet stain remover before the birth! SHORTSHAFE
26. Sometimes it is painful to pee after delivery jug of warm water containing few drops of lavender oil poured over your bits while trying to pee can help. If it does not it sounds disgusting but pee in the bath. KAZ
27. After an hour and twenty minutes, if still attached, your baby is not feeding anymore, s/he has fallen asleep! 40mins would be my maximum, and the sooner both of you can learn to feed lying down in bed, soooo much the better for night feeds and your sanity. Min912
28. If you feel hot&cold and a bit 'under the weather' plus perhaps one breast is a bit sore, it's not just post-birth knackeredness, you quite probably have mastitis. Don't panic, feed or pump on the affected side (I found pumping after a feed reduced the pressure), use a hot flanel, if it doesn't get better see the doctor. Min912
28a mastitis normally effects 1/4 of a breast If practical (because it depends what 1/4 it is) try and feed baby so their bottom jaw is on that 1/4 this can help move the blockage which is usually the initial cause. As long as there are no medical reasons why you should not take most midwives recommend Ibuprofen as pain relief for this. Kaz
29. At some point you will very probably find yourself thrusting the baby at your DH/DP the minute they come in the door and running off to throw yourself on the bed in tears because you've had a mare of a day. This does NOT make you a bad mum, it means you are human. Tomorrow will be better, honest. Min912