Your list of ‘lifesavers’ after birth for you and baby

[croft85]

Hello,
I’d love to read your lists of ‘lifesavers’ that helped you during the first few weeks after birth? For you and for baby.
I am pregnant with my first and won’t have much support once the baby is born - I am trying to put together a list of things big and small that might help make things a little easier (I’m sure no one would describe that stage as easy but you know what I mean)
Apart from the obvious vitals (milk/boobs/muslins etc) what really helped you?
Thank you xx

I second the huge cellular blanket! Mine was given to me and I thought "what on earth is this for". It's seen me through two babies so far! You won't regret it!

Tumble dryer and a pod coffee machine that you can use one handed. Both made my life with a newborn so much easier!

Also, our house is on 3 floors so I had a baby bjorn bouncer (by far the best imo), on each floor so no continually dragging up and down and always had somewhere to put him. They’re pricey but you can always get them cheap second hand (the cover just comes off and goes in machine) and you’d be amazed how desperate people are to offload their baby stuff onto you when they’ve finished with it.

All the above plus formula and bottles in case BF doesn't work out (assuming that's your plan).
And a box set. My newborn slept so much in the day for weeks I binge watched the entirety of Breaking Bad

@Princessbanana Your comment has instantly made me feel better 😂 that is my current reality. I’m a genuine crazy woman 🙈

Food that you can eat with one hand.
Long phone charger.
Cup with a straw.

Keep taking the pregnancy vitamins, or get postnatal ones, when baby arrives.
Even if you’re not breastfeeding. You bleed for weeks and after an initial surge of excited adrenaline energy when they’re born, the tiredness of a newborn’s demands is insane. So yeah, take vitamins!

Also, if you can tell/suggest to friends/family NOT to send flowers.
Flowers are a pain in the ass.
My sister sent me two meals in the post from ‘pasta evangelists’ - that has been the best present by far!! X

Decent maternity pads, spritz for bitz (onto the pad), a change table in the living room, massive water bottle, a night light (we got a lumni bug which emits low light levels my toddler still uses it every night best £50 ever!). Multimam compresses and lanolin and a amazon prime subscription as anything you can think you need will then arrive 24 hours later.
We get a baby box in Scotland with a wrap for baby wearing my son loved being in a sling.

Amazon Prime
Some good TV series to watch
Comfy clothes - asda have good lounge wear in at the moment
Good coffee in

Sending all my laundry out to a laundry service. Try your local dry cleaners. Best help ever

Snacks like cereal bars, biscuits, dried fruit etc that can be stashed in key locations around the house in case you’re trapped under a snoozing baby.

Morrck blanket for the pram/car seat, they’re excellent.

Bibs with press-studs rather than Velcro fastenings.

Food, food and more food!
Seriously stock up the freezer with batch cooked meals.
I didn't get round to it and regretted it so much.
Visitors brought snacks and chocolates but what I really wanted was a proper home cooked meal.

Dry shampoo
Mobile phone
Ring sling

Dummy.

Mummy's little sanity saver

Everyone has said everything useful already. But one thing I’d say is to really really enjoy this stage. It’s tiring, but it’s the only time you’ll legit be able to sit on the sofa for hours with box sets while a baby happily dozes into your arms after being fed for hours. Make the most of it, don’t do any housework or chores, just enjoy relaxing / do some easy walks / eat loads of hob nobs.

This light - www.amazon.co.uk/Company-Grolight-Night-Bayonet-Fitting/dp/B00H1UJG16/ref=asc_df_B00H1UJG16/?hvlocphy=1006636&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=231971530794&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-423312954635&hvrand=11639732124334077836 - in every room that you're planning to turn the light on in during the night. I have one on my bedside lamp and one on the nursery ceiling light. You click the switch once for a dim blue light thst doesn't wake the baby and then click it again if you want the normal room light. Total genius!

I was super prepared but the things I had to order were....
More lansinoh. Loads and loads, a tube for every room I feed in.
Gripe water, infacol and calpol. You shouldn't give any to a newborn without the go ahead from your dr but if you have it in stock then you don't need to leave the house and can just get permission over the phone...
Loads of cheeky wipes. Best thing we bought but I started with 50 which meant I was washing every second day - 75 has been perfect.
Drawer organisers, little fabric box things... babygrows are tiny and they look like vests! Boxes saved my sanity when changing her in the night.
Big water bottles with straws.
A star wrap from tuppence and crumble.

I switched to bottle feeding after a few weeks with both of mine, my biggest lifesaver has been keeping the Perfect Prep machine by my bed at night so I dont have to get out of bed for feeds (and having a side sleeper crib also helps)

Red night lights as they don't inhibit sleep but allow you see in the dark and I use battery candles for a soft glow when feeding at night. Keeps the lighting soft to help go back to sleep easily.

@RWK29 😂 I think most have been there and he’s 3 now but I look back and actually miss those paranoid months. I’m actually trying to talk my other half into one last child, but it’s not looking hopeful! 😖😂

@Princessbanana I can imagine! I’m not even 2 weeks in yet with my first child and time is already going far too fast 🙈
Aww 😅 hopefully he’ll give in soon 😂

Breast pads
Muslins
Good number of bed/crib sheets
Second sling, red nightlight, maxi briefs in 3 sizes too large in case of C-section, lanolin cream, PJs with front buttons for easy breastfeeding and skin to skin
Cotton wool and water easier for bum wiping than wipes at the beginning

Things in for meals that aren't warm. Nothing more soul destroying than your lunch going cold. Having some crackers, cheese, salad bits means you can come back to it and still enjoy it!

Nipple cream if you are planning on breastfeeding.

Big water bottle.

Piles cream. This took me by surprise.

Loads of good ideas and I certainly found a wrap sling invaluable, plus a bouncer on each floor so I could always put the baby down and bring them with me.

I second the long phone charger, the dimmable lights and the multi stations with changing equipment in.

Food wise I found batch cooking saved us, plus having in decent freezer food that didn't feel too unhealthy like veggie fires for eg. Also frozen fresh pasta and mini tubs of sauce, frozen roasted veg and jars of pesto meant that I didn't eat too badly. Frozen soup portions with a frozen part bake roll made good punch variety and easy and quick (I used those travel mugs with a lid). I was lucky to have a supportive dg who made packed lunches every night for the following day which meant I alsys had an easy to grab lunch and when we got to the stage of going out to groups etc it was so handy too.

I love reading but was so so tired I found it hard in the early weeks, so either treat yourself to audible and set it up now and investigate wireless Bluetooth headphones or speakers or have Echo Dots about the place, or look into your local library services offering as mine do free audio books via a few apps.

A spare changing mat. We had a changing table upstairs but had a steep staircase and it was too much of a faff climbing up and stairs. We basically had a changing mat and a plastic box of wipes, nappies, nappy bags and cream etc under the sofa. More practical. And buy the best quality nappy sacks you can. Nothing worse than having a bag split on you when you are carrying a bulging turd filled nappy!

Also go for maternity nightie not jammies. You'll go from very pregnant to a marshmallow, post-baby belly to eventually back to normal(ish) and you need nightwear that will work throughout that transition. (wandering around with a baby in your arms trying to hoik up baggy jammy bottoms is a pain in the arse.)

Batch cook now, while you get the chance.

Take up all offers of cleaning, cooking and watching the baby so you can sleep.

Sorry if I’m repeating anything that’s been said, but I found a flask to keep a cuppa in one of the handiest things. Keeps it warm when you inevitably forget about it and it’s harder to spill!

+1 for the nipple cream if you're breastfeeding.
V pillow.
Sling. I had a k'tan and my dd lived in it for about 3 months.
You can get these witch Hazel infused pads called Tucks. I had a huge amount of swelling and pain around my bum and vulva due to a big episiotomy, assisted delivery, long labour, and haemorrhoids. I kept the Tucks in the fridge and would put them in my pants. Very soothing but you have to wait until your stitches are gone (if you have any) or they can interfere with healing (according to my HV).

• haemorrhoid cream
• a really warm fleecy adult onesie for cosleeping.