Things you wish you would have known your first pregnancy?!

Question

FTM here, would love to hear things you wish you would have known your first pregnancy! I want to hear all the things!! 30 weeks, trying to prepare myself for labor and after 😜

Accepted Answer

-When it come to labor, it's going to happen when baby is ready, and in my experience, no amount of bouncing, walking, dancing, spicy food, nipple stimulation, sex, or those darn labor cookies are going to do anything.
- Your labor probably won't follow the rules. My contractions started at 2 minutes apart, and just started getting stronger, there was NO break between them. My water never broke (even when doctor tried to break it) because my little boy was plugging the hole, and the water couldn't escape.

-Be open to anything happening. I wanted to deliver vaginally, but had do have an emergency c-section because of an infection in my placenta that was causing a fever for me, and distress for baby.

-breastfeeding hurts! Ask your doctor for the prescription strength nipple ointment. I think it's called "Newmans ointment"

-fed is best, don't let anyone pressure you into how you feed your baby! As long as baby is growing, you are doing it right!

-let people help! You may not have the energy to make food, or run to get TP, or do a load of laundry. Chances are, there is someone who loves you who would be more that happy to do it for you!

-try to get out. Any chance you have to get out of the house, and you have the energy, take it! Fresh air will do wonders for you, and the little one too!

- if you aren't ready to have Irish twins make sure you take that birth control once your doctor says it's safe to have sex again. Lol my husband and I conceived our second child when our firs was only 3 month old, and it was the first time we were intimate again.

Lastly,
-trust yourself and try to enjoy it! You grew that tiny human inside of you, and even if you feel like you are doing everything wrong, you aren't! You will be/are an amazing mom!

Answer

I do a lot of research so I felt pretty prepared. Except that NO ONE TOLD ME I would lose control of my bladder for a significant amount of time. Like literally the day after my son was born I got out of the hospital bed to go to the bathroom and peed all over the floor. I learned pretty quickly that I couldn't "hold it" if I wanted to avoid an accident. I did my kegel exercises religiously too, but still I was 5 or 6 months PP before I stopped needing incontinence pads. 
Use the Lansinoh, or coconut oil, if you plan on nursing. It hurts.
Babies projectile poop. 
Omg sleep when you can. I fancy myself Supermom for some reason so I ignored everyone when they told me to sleep when the baby sleeps. And I was an emotional wreck. It wasn't until I finally gave in and napped when my son was napping that I stopped being an angry crying monster. Even just one nap a day made a huge difference. 
Be ready for sleep regressions because they're no joke. And they happen several times in the first couple years. 
Everyone will think they know better than you because you're new at this. Screw them. At the end of the day you're the parent, new or not. Personally if someone tries to give me advice I have not asked for, I give them a condescending smile and change the subject. No one is around my son more than me, so no one knows him like I do.

Answer

Everyone else has posted some wonderful ones. Another one I am reminding myself is that the newborn phase is really and truly short, even though in the thick of it everything feels like it will be crashing down around you forever. But it ends before you know it, and babies will sleep, and eat, and play, and you will be able to leave the house and wash your hair and wear clean clothes for more than 5 minutes.

Answer

Believe it or not,  you will miss the time when your baby was this little.  In the thick of it though,  you may be overwhelmed.  You may feel better talking to other FTM so you know you're not the only one.  Lean on your partner or family. Don't be bullied into doing something that you don't think is right just because someone else "raised 8 kids in their day and they all lived!". Most of all,  enjoy that little person.  ❤

Answer

Recovery was the WORST for me. Made actual Labor and delivery a breeze. Heh 😅

Answer

1. It is ok to get epididural 2. recovery takes a loooot

Answer

When people start contradicting you on stuff, breast/formula fed, epidural or no, type of diapers, how to burp your baby, when to take baby out for the first time, stroller or carrier, and all the other things you didn't know where controversial, politely tell them to shut it. There is so much mommy shaming it is out of control and can get overwhelming. If you need an opinion, as your doctor. Most people giving advice haven't had a baby in 20-30 years, from my experience, and things have changed.
As for labor, it's a good idea to know what you want but also know there is a very good chance it won't go as planned.
Also know it is perfectly normal and fine to feel overwhelmed by a baby and it is ok to put baby safe in a crib and walk outside for a min to regroup. That doesn't make you a bad mom.

Things you wish you would have known your first pregnancy?!

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