What Every First Time Mom Should Know (and have) Before Delivery!

I have a new addition to my family, the birth of my beautiful baby boy, Baer.  This is an announcement my news station did when he arrived.

http://www.the33tv.com/videobeta/f98e5c49-220d-4f5e-93e6-3fb3628826c7/News/01-05-10-Introducing-Phillip-Baer

And while I’m over the moon, when I was in the hospital I felt so overwhelmed and terribly unprepared.  Why don’t women talk about how hard this is?  It’s not just the delivery that can be a bear, but all the other challenges  that come after birth, especially if you’re planning in nursing.  Maybe it’s because we don’t want to seem like complainers.  I had a healthy pregnancy and delivered the most beautiful boy and he changed my perspective on life in an instant.  A week after having him, I’m able to be happy and grateful (if sleep deprived) and gracious that he’s here.  But those first few days were almost unbearable!  In my bag packed for the hospital I had a few practical things that really came in handy, and a few things I wish I would have to ease my pain.  Hope that this comes in handy for those of you who are preparing for your first little one to join the world!

1.  Nursing bra.  I found this one at Target, it’s the Basics by Bravado, and the Stella style.  It was $23.99 and offers enough support (and privacy!) for  those first really painful days.  (No, these are not my breasts, btw, I wish!) Get a size larger, trust me, you’ll need it!

2.  Lanolin.  They actually gave me some samples in the hospital, so ask once you’re there.  Those first couple days of nursing are excruciating, toe curling agony.  Remember those cries when you can’t breathe? That’s how I felt every time he latched on.  It’s because your milk hasn’t come in, and at the same time that newborn is starving!  Simultaneously, your uterus is contracting (hormones send a message to the body that the baby is gone and it’s time to return the body to pre pregnancy state, pretty cool actually) so it’s all really tough.  Every time you finish nursing, spread the lanolin (a natural wax produced by sheep, and no, they’re not harmed in the process!) across your nipples, it will offer a little relief.  Here’s the one I use, I also found it at Drugstore.com, and it was $9.99

3.  Jojoba Oil.  This, to me, is the miracle oil.  It’s the oil closest to what the human body produces, so instead of being oily or greasy ,the body absorbs it almost immediately.  I used it throughout my pregnancy from my breast to my hips to prevent stretch marks (it really works) during delivery (I asked my nurse to give me a perinatal massage every time she checked my cervix.  I heard about it from a girlfriend as a way to prevent an episiotomy, and it works.  Enough said) and post pregnancy to relieve my sore body.  It’s about $20 for 16 ounces, and it’s everywhere from Whole Foods to online drugstores

4.  Something for yourself.  I never felt less feminine, or clean, or myself, than directly after they moved me to my room post delivery.  I brought with me a few items that made me feel rejuvenated; a robe to wear instead of the hospital gown, and body wash and lotion for a quick shower.  This Body Shop Pink Grapefruit was so refreshing, it helped lift my spirits instantly.  It was $13.95.  Whatever you bring, ingredients to look for that are incredibly nourishing are shea butter, cocoa butter, and rose hip seed oil.

I hope these few things are helpful for you to make you happier and healthier after your new little one joins the world.  Yes it’s a blessing, we’re all happy for the miracle of life.  But you already have to go home wearing big girl panties and diaper, so a few things for yourself aint such a bad thing!

Cheers, Roni