What you could not do without!! First time MOM - Page 4

PBLayzod · 01-04-2008, 05:04 PM

The things the helped me get some sleep:

-
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that swings side to side.
-
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.
- a few extra acrylic knit caps from the hospital. (You can't seem to buy those things anywhere)

Things we love now:

- exercauser
-
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for the big bathtub (easier than the babytub in the sink)

C Section tips:

- Avoid the ice water after surgery and drink hot tea. It will help you pass gas sooner (a requirement before you can go home).
- Make sure you own underwear that's waist doesn't hit exactly on your incision (aka. bikini cut).
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Learned this one the hard way.
- Remember you won't be able to drive for a while. Make arrangements for others to take you those 2 week follow-up appointments for you and little one.
- Plan ahead of time how you want things to go while you are in recovery. Otherwise, everyone else will be allowed to see your baby before you get a chance to hold him/her. Also specify if you want anyone in the room the first time they bring you the baby. My room was full of family. If my c-section had been planned I'd have done it differently.
- Have someone stay with you overnight, but know that they will be uncomfortable on whatever bed is provided.
- Bring your own pillows.

General info

- Sign up for a site like
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to help manage digital photos. It's also a great way to post photos and let relatives buy what they want themselves.
- Stock up on frozen dinners, fast food coupons, and snacks that can be eaten with one hand. DON'T FORGET TO FEED YOURSELF!

stapes · 01-04-2008, 10:30 PM

This is SUCH a great thread for new mommy's!!! Thank you so much and I will be referring to it often in the coming months!!!

~*Heart*~ · 01-05-2008, 12:31 AM

OH!! Dh had such a wonderful idea yesterday! Since we've been stranded while the car is being fixed, we haven't been able to go food shopping...lo and behold, the Schwan's man came around to see if we'd like to order! We've never done it before, so we figured "why not?". Well, it turns out they have many premade frozen entree's so the next time they come around (in 2 weeks), I'll be putting in an order for 2 weeks worth of frozen dinners for us for when I am recovering from my c-section. I know many moms have said to make and freeze meals, but I just don't have the time or energy right now (2 toddlers, insomnia...OY!) so I'm going to let Schwan's do the work lol. It can be a bit pricey depending on what you get, but it's SO worth it if you ask me!!

packerfan · 01-05-2008, 12:40 AM

Here's another off the wall thing.....stamps for thank-you cards. We got so many gifts right away, I ran out of stamps.

Also, this may have been mentioned, a coming home/pictures outfit for the hospital. I took a few and then decided later on.

sweetums · 01-06-2008, 01:23 AM

Did you/do you have spare sheets for the crib right away? How many should I have on hand?

Here is a dumb question.....do bassinets have sheets as well?

Manders

Lea cyster · 01-06-2008, 01:25 AM

Not a dumb question at all. Yes bassinets do have sheets, they don't come with them though, so you would have to buy them as well. You can also sometimes get away with using a large receiving blanket tucked under the bassinet mattress, but it does tend to shift and bundle a bit!

sweetums · 01-06-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lea cyster
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Not a dumb question at all. Yes bassinets do have sheets, they don't come with them though, so you would have to buy them as well. You can also sometimes get away with using a large receiving blanket tucked under the bassinet mattress, but it does tend to shift and bundle a bit!

Thanks for saying it wasn't a dumb question! I guess I just never thought about it before. How many sets of spare sheets should we have on hand?

Manders

~*Heart*~ · 01-06-2008, 02:32 AM

Certain bassinets do come with a sheet, but it's always best to have a few onhand...I myself didn't bother, I just used pillowcases
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Much less expensive because we already have them!

As for number of sheets, with DS I had about 3 or 4. But if you have a washer and dryer at home, you can do fine with just 2.

stark tjej · 01-06-2008, 06:05 PM

For sheets too - watch out. We got one of the circo ones from Target (as well as Pooh Bear ones from Target) and the circo one was just too small for the mattress. I suppose I could have returned it, but going to Target is a cross-border trip for us so by the time I could have gotten to it I just didn't care anymore.

I tuck a receiving blanket in the bassinett over the sheet and just change that with spitup. It stays pretty well for me. I use a big one.

Stark

PBLayzod · 01-07-2008, 12:24 PM

Schwanns is expensive, but cheaper than take-out. Also, it's easy enough my husband can cook.
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shorty1kanobi · 01-07-2008, 01:37 PM

Great thread - and useful to me with # 2 on the way because it jogged my memory a bit. There are a few things I didn't see mentioned (but could have missed, so don't beat me if they're a repeat)

Of course you want diapers and wipes on hand - I suggest NB and size 1 in the beginning. If you leave some of the diapers unopened you can return unopened packages. I know many say not to buy too many of the small size, but there are also babies like my daughter - she was in NB size for quite a while...actually she was in every diaper size for quite a long time. LOL

I suggest stocking a basket with a bottle each baby wash, baby lotion (of your chosen type but I really like Gerber Grins n Giggles in the milk n honey variety), soft washcloths, cotton balls, a baby hair brush (handy for if they have hair and/or cradle cap), and a towel to use for baby. Then all of your bathing stuff is easy to grab and go. Fight my friend's urge to buy tons of baby wash - it lasts a long time! LOL

I haven't seen a swing mentioned (again might have missed it) but we had a fussy baby at nighttime and the swing was often my best friend. She was never into her bouncy seat - but for every kid that hates one and loves the other there's another who is the opposite. I say get both and return the one they hate.
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I used gerber cloth diapers (the padded ones) as burp cloths.
Walmart has some bigger swaddling blankets (George Brand) that are nice at 40x40 and will last longer for swaddling, or you can buy some stretchy ones or make some or ask someone to make some for you. The receiving blankets that come in most packages become too small far too quickly.

The Happiest Baby on the Block (Dr. Harvey Karp) and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby (Dr. Weissbluth) Buy them or check them out, but read them - FAST. The first has great tips on swaddling, shushing, etc. The second was a huge help to us in figuring out sleep patterns, what to do, etc. I wish I'd read them BEFORE Em was 8 weeks old and miserable. Read as soon as possible.

Baby monitor. Some parents get away with never using one - we LOVED ours and couldn't imagine life without it once she was in her own room.

Boppy - I know this was mentioned, and some people hate the boppy and love the brest friend. However, I loved ours. In fact I had one for her room and one for the living room - they were used at every breastfeeding and later used so she could sit up, for tummy time, etc. We got our money's worth and then some. Get or make a washable cover.

I believe you said you are planning to nurse. Get thee a package of "Soothies" They are a gel pad that is invaluable for sore nipples. OMG they are wonderful. Keep the package in the fridge until needed.

Make a collection of take-out and pick up menus, as well as research any places near you ie Suppers made simple where meals can be made and frozen. Ours will do free assembly for you if you're one month on either side of your due date, the cost is less than Schwan's even, and frankly most of the time you can get meals for less than the ingredients would cost you.

Make a mommy basket for yourself. This is a small basket that you can take from room to room if needed that will allow you to carry things without making several trips. It needs to be able to hold: water bottle (you'll need to drink lots), snacks (ie granola bars, something with fiber/protein), remote, cordless phone, cell phone, pen, paper, book or magazine, burp cloth, lotion (for you), chapstick, hairbrush, hair band that kind of stuff. That way you can have it all handy and aren't standing during a feeding or stuck without something to eat, drink, read etc.

Speaking of reading - you'll spend a lot of time feeding baby and while yes, you want to interact with them, a large portion of that you'll be hoping they'll fall back asleep, so have some reading materials on hand. (Last time I stockpiled parenting magazines and paperbacks I could read with one hand)

StormsDreams · 01-07-2008, 01:49 PM

Ladies you are great!!!!

StormsDreams · 01-07-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBLayzod
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The things the helped me get some sleep:

-
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
that swings side to side.
-
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
.
- a few extra acrylic knit caps from the hospital. (You can't seem to buy those things anywhere)

Things we love now:

- exercauser
-
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
for the big bathtub (easier than the babytub in the sink)

C Section tips:

- Avoid the ice water after surgery and drink hot tea. It will help you pass gas sooner (a requirement before you can go home).
- Make sure you own underwear that's waist doesn't hit exactly on your incision (aka. bikini cut).
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Learned this one the hard way.
- Remember you won't be able to drive for a while. Make arrangements for others to take you those 2 week follow-up appointments for you and little one.
- Plan ahead of time how you want things to go while you are in recovery. Otherwise, everyone else will be allowed to see your baby before you get a chance to hold him/her. Also specify if you want anyone in the room the first time they bring you the baby. My room was full of family. If my c-section had been planned I'd have done it differently.
- Have someone stay with you overnight, but know that they will be uncomfortable on whatever bed is provided.
- Bring your own pillows.

General info

- Sign up for a site like
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
to help manage digital photos. It's also a great way to post photos and let relatives buy what they want themselves.
- Stock up on frozen dinners, fast food coupons, and snacks that can be eaten with one hand. DON'T FORGET TO FEED YOURSELF!

I need to talk to my OB about this...I am very concerned about being able to BF. I know c-section moms have a harder time...my daughter is also going to be born early so i know that might also present an issue. I want her placed on my chest as soon as possible and start BF within the first hour. I dont know how he feels about this so i will have to work with the hospital on this...I am really determined to exclusivly BF for the first 6 months....
Also i think this week I need to call around for a Pediatrician...I just have not done it. I think I am going with one associated with my hospital as they say it would be easier for and the baby.....

Kiko's_Bride · 01-07-2008, 02:35 PM

If you're going to breastfeed, you may want to have some Soothies on hand -- they're these hydrogel breast pads that are supposed to help cracked nipples heal. Keep them in the fridge and put them in your bra after you nurse. It helps a lot. They sell them at drug stores.

Mutai~Fayola · 01-07-2008, 07:00 PM

Diapers- My DS is 3 weeks old and still wears the pampers swaddlers newborn size. Even though his weight is surpassed the weight size n the package they are still the ones that give us the least leak troubles! Although we haven't tried the pampers size 1 yet, so we'll see how they do for us soon as I have tonnes of size 1's and only a handful of newborn's left!

Crib sheets- we have 3, but one of them I've never even used yet. So I'd say 3 is a good number. 2 for your regular changes and one for back-up, just in case of a leaky diaper while your other one is in the wash!

StormsDreams- Don't stress too much about it, not everyone who has a c/s has troubles bf'ing, my son was born early via planned c/s and we've had no problems what-so-ever.