Newborn tips/hacks?

[Babyinbound22]

Hi all

Myself and my partner are due our first baby in a week.
We are super excited for our little girl to arrive.

I've done as much research, online antinatal classes, online breast feeding classes etc as I can think of.
I know they say you can never really be prepared, but I have struggled with anxiety throughout the pregnancy and I find learning as much as I can about what is to come really helps me.

I know peoples experiences, lifestyles, preferences etc are different but I'd like to ask for any tips/ideas that made life with a newborn easier for you, anything you wish you'd known earlier?

I feel as though I'm about to start a new job with no experience or training and being expected to hit the ground running 😂 so any advice big or small is really appreciated.

Thank you x

Congratulations! I was worried about being a new parent too, but once my now 6 week old came along, I've felt mostly comfortable and capable of caring for her. My first tip would be that everyone and every baby is different. Even if you feel less comfortable that's ok, and you've got this!

I found most of what I learned in my classes helpful, but a bit of a textbook example. They told me "feed one side for 20 mins, nappy change, feed the other". So when my baby came and she cluster fed and refused to fit a 20+nappy+20 schedule, I felt like something was wrong. Feeding her in bed at night has really helped. I'd did sit-up holding her worried to fall asleep due to the SIDS risk of cosleeping. The first 3 nights I basically didn't sleep. I've since learnt to feed her lying on my side in bed, which is far safer than sitting holding her having no sleep. Sometimes I now fall asleep for a bit and she keeps drinking 😂. We now cosleep as she won't sleep alone in her cot anyway. I looked into safe cosleeping and as a breastfeeding mother, I basically decided to stay off the alcohol for now and sleep in extra clothes to enable us to bed-share as safely as possible.

@CycleGirl20 thank you I really appreciate the kind words and advice.
I must admit I've had a few nightmares over the last few months about falling asleep with baby in my arms, it's something that really worries be as I hope to EBF and have heard how exhausting it is.
I was contemplating trying formula feeds in the evening and BF during the day as a way to reduce that risk.
But then I worry the baby will refuse breast 🙈

I will look more into Co sleeping, my friend did it with her second baby no issues, and I know lots of people from other cultures have always done it so theoretically if done correctly it should be safe.

Thank you again x

Congratulations! Mine is 2 1/2 months old now. The first week was HORRENDOUS. He was screaming the place down with colic and it was a nightmare. Ended up changing his formula and he was eventually pooing more frequently. If they are having trouble passing wind, lie them sideways towards you with their belly on yours and tap their bum. It really relieves any wind on their belly. I also never thought nighttime would get easier as he was waking up every 3 hours in the night. But try to get a routine in as early as possible, in the mornings open the curtains and say MORNING and then at night time make sure it's dark (a red coloured nightlight has worked a treat for mine) and say night time now. They will eventually get used to the time changes.

We have a cot that attaches to our bed, but she cries if I put her in it. I will put a bit more effort into getting her in it at some point, but she's still a newborn and just wants to be close. On my first night in the hospital I put her in the cot and she screamed so I sat awake holding her trying not to fall asleep on her. On the second night the midwife said most newborns won't go in the cot and just to have her in the bed and go to sleep (I live in Germany). My friend's baby was fine in the cot, so it depends on the baby. I found this really helpful when looking at cosleeping. There's an infographic half way down www.google.com/amp/s/www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/sleep-and-night-time-resources/co-sleeping-and-sids/amp/. A bottle of formula will help them sleep longer, but your choice about bottle feeding shouldn't be based on a worry of SIDS unless it's well founded.

Other things I've learned:

• breastfeeding is hard. They often kick and wriggle and let go, sometimes for a reason like too fast letdown, sometimes because they're over tired. You kind of have to bed in to this one and prepare to be on the sofa under a baby for hours at a time.
• mine loves her baby carrier. She falls asleep in there and I can do stuff and go for a walk.
• sometimes daddy is better able to calm her. She knows I have the milk and can get worked up about it.
• at 4 weeks, I got a Handpump and built a bit of a stash to use for extended family meals when they occasionally happen. That was I can enjoy a meal without having to breastfeed at the same time.
• alcohol free beer seems to boost my supply the next day, but don't drink too much or it hurts!
• freeze some food and stock up on cereal and healthier quick meals

I would say, it's wonderful being a parent but intense. It's 24/7, especially as a BF mum. You just have to go with it and try not to get too stressed or upset, even when they're screaming at you and you don't really know why (it's usually milk!)

• Any time the baby cries, chuck her on your breast
• struggling to get the napoy sack open? Touch a baby wipe first
• For the "witching hour", use a tight sling. Mine screamed for the first five minutes (he was screaming initially and wouldn't feed), then fell fast asleep
• Get out of the house every day, even if it's just a quick walk
• Set the baby down every now and then
• The first 6 weeks are all about survival. Lower your housekeeping and tidiness standards; it won't be forever
• Wireless earphones.
• Keep a bottle of water and snacks near where you feed her. And a phone charger
• Flapjacks as a midnight snack. Oats are good for milk supply (apparently)
• Any time you have a free moment, use it for meal prep or eating

Best of luck and congratulations!

I've had two and you get the baby you get and you just have to adapt to them and their needs.

My advice:
Witching hour(s) is a thing, and it will make prepping and eating your dinner difficult. Having easy healthy things in your fridge and freezer will make life easier.
Your DP will need to do most of the shopping, cooking and cleaning in the first weeks/months while you recover. Even if you feel ok, make them do it anyway.
Take your pain relief regularly and you might need laxatives for a bit after birth to help with going to the toilet
I found getting out for a walk really important for my mental health
Everyone loves a new baby so don't worry if baby cries when you're out and about. No one cares. It's toddlers they hate. 😆
New babies usually wee as soon as you loosen their nappy to change them. Watch out.

How exciting for you OP :)

1. If you breastfeed, learn to breastfeed lying down, you'll get a whole lot more rest.

1. The thing that actually made my life easier was ditching the 'tracking app' first couple of weeks I agonized over timing breastfeeds, sleeps, nappy changes etc. Getting stressed if I sat down to feed and didn't have my phone and then couldn't remember the time. And then because you're timing everything you stress that the times are 'wrong' (not what the books say) and on that note, chuck the books, go with the flow, as long as baby puts on weight and has plenty of wet/dirty nappies they are doing just fine. You can't create bad habits in those first few weeks so go with it, feed and sleep as much as baby wants.

Good luck!

I have a two week old, and a three year old and these are my thoughts.
I don't breastfeed so I can't comment on that as I have only ever wanted to formula feed.
My daughter is very similar to my previous daughter and she is the most placid quiet baby so far. I spent the first five days in hospital with her and she was asleep for about 23 hours and 30 minutes every day LOL, so not all babies are a nightmare at first. She feeds about every four hours so only wakes about once a night at 3ish.
Trust your instincts you know your baby best and just enjoy it. It's really true that they don't stay small for long.

Thank you all, I really appreciate these tips.
I'll have a Google, but what is witching hour?