Pregnancy/Baby Advice

Since I have had Johnny I have been talking to all my friends about how things went and how they are going with my pregnancy, delivery and parenting. One friend asked me if I could send her everything in an email and so I thought why not add it to my blog. I love sharing my experiences so here is my list of what I can offer a newly pregnant friend or blog reader to help her get through the 9 months of pregnancy and first two months after birth.

Please note this is all my personal advice and not intended to offend anyone as I know many people have different beliefs on breastfeeding and childbirth.

RESOURCES
Books I would recommend reading
· Nursing your baby by Gayle Pryor
· What to expect when your expecting
· What to expect your child first year
· Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth
· Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
· Girlfriend's guide to pregnancy by Vicki Lovine

Websites or other resources
· Apps for your mobile phone- search pregnancy, parenting, new mom (It really kills time in lines or waiting in doctor's office to play on your phone)
· http://www.babycenter.com/- make sure to get on the weekly email list for milestones
· http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com/- good info for flying with baby
· Childbirth classes- good for husband really so that they can view birth videos and hear about childbirth

FAVORITE BABY ITEMS
· Graco Snap and Go stroller is the best and buys you time to figure out what stroller you really need when the baby is 6 months old or out of their infant car seat (It is so light and convenient for getting around)
· Swing - any kind
· Bouncy seat- this allows for you to take a shower
· Pack and Play with bassinet and changing station
· Muslin blankets-pack of 4 at Target for $29
· Play mat with the toys that dangle so the baby can be stimulated (good dog toy as well)
· Soothie pacifiers- apparently these are the best if you are breastfeeding
· Dr. Browns or Medela bottles
· Lots of burp cloths

BREASTFEEDING
· Pump as much as you can the first few weeks after birth to get your milk supply going and also to freeze some milk for future on the go use or when you are out and have a sitter
· Medela pumps and bottles are my favorite and for the first month I would recommend renting the hospital one but then also get one for yourself to keep like the Medela Pump in Style or Freestyle. I got my Freestyle off of Craigslist for $175 which is normally $380 and I just got new parts
· Pump in the morning if possible to have bottles for the day when you are out and about. Pumping in the morning is the best since that is when your milk supply is the most full.
· Breastfeeding hurts at first and is hard I am not going to lie so try to stick it out for 3 weeks before giving up. I used a nipple shield (hospital made me due to Johnny being a preemie) for the first 7 weeks and it really helped and shielded a lot of the pain. Lactation specialists will be against them however if you are in such pain and just need a little extra help I would recommend getting one. In the end if it keeps you breastfeeding in the long run than by all means I would do it.

ADVICE
· Registering - It is hard and overwhelming because you have no idea what you need or what your baby will like but definitely get some things that you think you will need for the first couple of weeks and then return what you don't need after baby comes. I promise you will be at Babies R US the first month anyways so you have plenty of time to exchange and figure out what you really need.
· Baby station for downstairs- If you have a two story house having a baby station for the downstairs away from the baby room is super helpful and convenient. The pack and play with changing station downstairs is a lifesaver and so is having a bunch of clothes for baby since running up and down the stairs is hard when you are trying to run out of the door. I also couldn't walk up the stairs due to my C-section a lot so it was super helpful for me to have two sets of everything. I still have a toothbrush downstairs.
· Read -Read some of the parenting books BEFORE baby comes. You will be too tired and would have wanted to know a lot of the stuff you are reading. I always read books in the bath or at night but now with baby here I am too tired to read and end up skimming stuff.
· C-section-Don't be afraid of a C-section even though I know it isn't the best way to deliver a baby. I say these because many people don't want one however sometimes your body will not let you deliver naturally and so my advice is for pregnant moms to understand what happens in a C-section and to be open to it. Your delivery will go much better if you are open to it. My recovery was amazing and I was actually really happy my delivery ended up in a C-section after all is said and done. The pros for me was no vaginal issues or healing needed.
· Venturing out- Try to get out of the house with baby for an outing around 3 weeks or sooner not only for your sanity but also to test run being out and about with baby. We went to a winery and it was our first experience dealing with being responsible for a baby outside of the home and it really boosted our confidence that we could do it. We had to quiet the baby when he woke up, feed him and change him in a bathroom without a changing table. That night we felt so much better that we "did it" and now go out all of the time with him.
· Help when baby comes- Let your mother or someone close to your aside from your husband help out when you come home from the hospital. I was super overwhelmed when I came home and having someone to help keep the house organized and help out with the baby saved me.