If you knew then what you know now..

[stacey212528]

Just a bit of fun, and some advice for a very nervous first timer. 16+3

Will bear all these in mind. Amazing the things that don't even cross your mind.

Second the pelvic floor by the way! You've just reminded me...

Good good, I'm only 32 and I'm terrified at the prospect of being incontinent. The midwife said that many women do not recover and have life long problems.

If you are having a CS or end up with an ECS you still need to do them.

What helped me a lot was keeping a notepad and jot down when you feed and if bf which side and when baby goes to sleep and for how long. In my sleep deprived state it helped me see patterns of DS's behavior and helped me figure out why he was crying. If he's just been fed 30 min ago maybe he's crying because he's tired.
I didn't do it in a Gina ford he must feed every 3 hours on the dot or whatever.

Sleep!!
Enjoy your pregnancy then enjoy your baby. My mums advice 'don't try and be supermum, people visit to see your baby not your house and nobody remembers that you didn't wash up/ clean / iron when looking back on your baby!'
And DO NOT feel under pressure to leave your baby. People (MIL) will tell you that you need a break etc.. But if you don't want to leave your baby DONT!! Listen to your own mind and font give in to the pressure!!

That no matter how shit your pregnancy is, or how hard your labour is, it's totally worth it once the baby comes out. I remember thinking I am never doing this again when I was pushing and as soon as they gave him to me I thought yeah I am!

Don't think you have to be sad to cry, I cried all day everyday for 4 weeks, everytime I looked at/thought about DS, because he was just so lovely and I was so happy

Don't be in a massive rush to come home, especially if you're not sure on anything. Of course you want to be at home with your beautiful baby but there's plenty of time for that. On the ward there's no cooking, no cleaning and midwives on hand to help with any problems you have. Plus visitors are restricted to specific times and 2 at a time, you'll know what I mean if 10 of your friends decide to call on you at once as they thought it would be easier that way it's not

Don't stress about routines for at least the first three months.
If you want to cuddle the baby, cuddle it!
Take it easy after the birth. Have a 'lying in' period like they used to back in the day
Buy a comfortable fabric sling for wearing the baby at home
If you don't want other people cuddling / handling your teeny one, don't let them!
Take EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY to sleep (i) before baby arrives, and (ii) when the baby is asleep.
As someone said above, don't count on first birth taking ages - mine was 7 hours start to finish inc. 2 hours of pushing
Buy a video monitor if it will put your mind at rest
Be prepared for your hormones to go mental after the birth
TMI but your labia will likely be all stretched and weird after the birth - fear not, they won't stay like that
Have someone take lots of photos of you with the baby. My husband took some of my little one minutes after he was born in the delivery room, and they are probably my most treasured possession.

If the baby is asleep then sit down and have a cup of tea! If you do any jobs first then the baby will inevitably wake up just as you finally sit down :)