What No one told you about Birth & Babies

Hi All

Not sure if there has been a thread like this before and hopefully those who have already been down the path of Motherhood can offer some advice and information for those of us who are first timers so that we are prepared and not so ignorant.

Still have 5 months to go until I give birth but since we started telling people that we were pregnant, my sister and a couple of friends with kids have started telling me stories or giving information that they wish they had known before giving birth to their first.

ie.
A).Use a pump water bottle with tea-tree oil in it when you pee. Helps relive sting especially if had tearing or stitches
B). Put vaseline on babys bum for when the first poos come in as that blacky sticky stuff can be hard to remove

C). Take lots of undies and bottoms to the hospital, you could bleed a lot after the birth and its not like a period

oh and Arnica Spray is great too.
We packed olive oil for Rowan's bum for the mecconium but we didn't end up using it and it wasn't that hard to remove TBH.

I didn't know occasional puking was normal for babies as they often have mucous in their gut that needs to come out. So the only time Rowan puked was the only time I rang my MW in a panic sure that I had somehow poisoned her. It's pretty freaky seeing a jet of partially digested milk erupt out of something that small.

Remember not everything goes to plan! I never ever thought I would have to have a c section, but after 27 hours of labour, 3 hours pushing I was rushed in for an emergency c section and I am still dealing with emotions involved with that!

That it's OK not to be instantly in love with the squirming, gunky, bloody, screaming mess that pops out of you, sometimes it takes time to fall in love with them!

That breastfeeding bloody hurts to start with!

The Budget super pads are great for maternity pads as they are surfboard thick so offer lots of cushioning to bruised perineums, and you can wear two at a time.

Pineapple juice is great for afterpains (my m/w told me this one after I had Maya).

I'm sure I will think of more!

Oh yeah, not to let DH hold baby first coz if he's anything like my DH, he won't give the baby back!

Isn't it funny what you don't know and people don't tell you!!!

How about that it's normal for the baby to sleep for pretty much the whole first day after it is born to recover from the experience.

You can bleed for 4-6 weeks after the birth with the lochia.

The first poo after giving birth is one of the scariest moments in your life - you think everything is going to fall out but it doesn't

A newborn babies tummy is only the size of a marble so although it doesn't feel like you are producing much milk to start with it is plenty!

Edited by Mum2Sam

Hehe this thread brings back memories!!

Esp that one Maya - its ok not to love them at first sight, I know I didn't it definately took me time to actually find I loved this little person.

One of my memories is that straight after giving birth to J I swore I was never doing that again!! lol and here I am, famous last words!

oh and that only 15% of peoples waters break spontaneously.

That babies don't know how to sleep you have to teach them. Even though I have experienced that I still can't believe it, I mean really of all things not to know how to do.

peachy wrote: 3 hours pushing I was rushed in for an emergency c section and I am still dealing with emotions involved with that!

same as me.........a year and a half later, i'm STILL coming to terms with it

if you lean over and touch the floor with your hands while weeing it doesn't hurt as much (if you have had stitches or graze)

Drink the kiwi crush it will help that dreaded first poo out. Holding it in is not a good idea.

Take nice soft loo paper to the hospital, scratchy stuff isn't so great when you have had stitches.