Omaha Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Give your tips
I am putting together a First Time Mom's Emergency Kit for my SIL. I'd like to send some first time mom's tips too.
What are the tips you would give a first time mom?
Re: Give your tips
Use Mylicon for gassy babies.
Use corn syrup for constipation.
Go on a date with SO when you can.
The first month is the hardest.
Sleep when you can.
A spotless house isn't important.
Hold baby upright for 15-20 minutes after feeding if he/she spits up frequently.
Buy premoistened alcohol swaps for the belly button stump. They are so much easier than dealing with the bottle and cotton balls.
Take 20 minutes for yourself every day...even if it's in the shower. (I never got to do this, and I went somewhat crazy)
Don't listen to people when they tell you your holding your baby too much. Hold that baby as often and as long as you can. They grow up waaaaay too fast.
Try to enjoy the middle of the night feedings and cuddle sessions. As painful as they are at the time, you will miss them someday.
I agree with K, the first month is by far the hardest.
If she plans to BF, BF may not be all sunshine and rainbows (like my mother told me/thought it should be).
Don't feel a bit guilty about using formula if needed.
I 2nd the halo sleep sacks (we LOVED the swaddle one).
Make a point to stop and take in/remember those first few cuddle sessions.
Take lots of video of those first few sounds. I wish I had more of the baby squeaks from the beginning months.
Is she breastfeeding? What I loved as a tip was use a hairband or flexible bracelet to place on your wrist so you knew at next feeding which side to have baby feed off of next.
I wish to this day, I would have gotten that belly belt...granted I had bigger problems with c-section.
If you want, Summer gave me two boxes of milk storage bags, one box unopened if you would like to include if she is breastfeeding/pumping. I also have a box of those gel pads that I never used that I want out of my house.
Chapstick, snacks since we all know it is hard to get yourself to eat. Comfy sleep pants she can wear. I blew up even more right after birth for about 3 weeks due to bloating. To add to someone's post about pad & pen, maybe create a spreadsheet of somesort that she can just circle the time of feedings or quickly write in.
Does she have Netflix? Maybe a GC to Netflix for those late night or long feedings/rockings. I watched Mad Men, Weeds and Army Wives while nursing/rocking/feeding Ian on maternity leave.
The pp have some great ideas!
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
CD player in the nursery - for late night nursing sessions, the radio helped keep me awake, and now we have a CD that plays all night for B. (In your survival kit - maybe put a lullaby CD or two? We have a pack of 3 that we alternate.)
If nursing, BM helps relieve pain better than Lanolin! (I wish someone had told me that one in the beginning!) And, if it hurts to nurse, ask for help because it shouldn't! (Again, the LC told me that, but then when he had thrush and I got it, the ped's nurse said "Pain is normal.")
If/when she's going back to work -- you will have some really tough days, and you will have some easy days. But, transition into it if you can. Go with LO for an hour once or twice before starting, and a half day before you go back to work (and go get a massage or pedicure!). That made it SOO much easier on me because I had gotten to know he's teachers before we started, so the first day of dropping off wasn't quite as hard as it could have been.
Expect the roller coaster of emotions.
Gas drops are your friend! If nursing, keep a food diary for yourself so that if you start seeing tummy issues, you can more easily identify trigger foods. And keep a log of feedings/diaper changes so that when you are completely exhausted, you won't forget when you last did what.
Halo sleep sacks are wonderful! B could break out of the swaddle part, so we couldn't use it until we weren't swaddling anymore. But, check out the "escape proof swaddling" technique on You Tube. That was one he couldn't get out of until he was ready to not be swaddled anymore.
Picture courtesy of Heidi Keene Photography