As I celebrated the 1 year birthday of my Blog this past weekend (Wow time flies!) I think back to a year ago and how I was preparing for my baby boy to arrive. I know quite a few people who are expecting babies in the next few weeks. Such an exciting time!! One filled with anticipation and joy! It can also be stressful to new moms (and even not so new!) with fear of the unknown- labor as well as life after baby- as well as making sure any last odds and ends are tied up before the big day. With the final countdown in full effect for a few of my close friends I decided to dedicate this blog to giving some advice to all those awaiting their much anticipated bundles!
I'm not going to go into great detail and list all of the basics (car seat, crib, bibs, etc.) but rather a few items that I felt were extremely useful when I first had my babies.
The first item is T-shirts. Nothing fancy, just basic white t-shirts. Not onesies, just actual open shirts. The ones I got looked almost like a kimono style with buttons to fasten the shirt closed. This was helpful for the first 2 weeks until the umbilical cord falls off. It allows the baby to be clothed without rubbing on the cord area and allowing it to dry and heal nicely. You can get a pack of these at Target or Babies-R-Us for relatively cheap. I wasn't aware of how helpful these shirts were until after I had Mia and the midwife recommended these for the first couple of weeks. They worked very well and now I try to pass this along to any new moms because for me, it was not something that I had thought of as a first time mom and I'm sure there are others out there who aren't aware of how great these are!
If you are planning on breastfeeding I encourage you to have Lanolin or Calendula cream on hand BEFORE you need it. The odds are you are going to, so its is better to be prepared and have it ready rather than send your hubby out to pick it up after your nipples are already cracked and bleeding (lovely image isn't it?)I would recommend Calendula cream because this can also be used on babies bum to relieve diaper rash and irritation.
Witch hazel is something else useful to have on hand. This can be used mixed with warm water in a perineal bottle to squirt and clean the area after you go to the bathroom. This prevents infections and facilitates healing. You can also apply to a cotton ball and use to soothe hemorrhoids which are very common after birth. You can also put some on a cotton ball to help heal and soothe baby acne. This typically shows up in babies after they are a week or so old. The reason is the skin is getting used to life outside the womb. It usually disappears on its own, however it can get inflamed is warmer weather so the witch hazel does a good job in cooling the affected area.
Prepared meals are another essential. Whether its food that you made or meals that friend and family have dropped off, the first few weeks of having a new baby are crazy (regardless of if its your first time as a parent, or not) and if you are breastfeeding it is important to eat healthy meals. Due to the lack of sleep and the time that is spent doting on your little one cooking is no longer a simple task and if you are anything like me you won't want to eat fast food or take out for weeks straight. Having either a few meals stored in the freezer or having items that can simply be thrown into the crock pot will make life much easier. If you do not have family or friends near by to deliver some grub, you can take advantage of Yogi Mami's meal preparation services. You can choose meals that you love and customize them based on your specific needs (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.) If you are interested in these services you can Click Here to get more information.
If you are planning on breastfeeding I encourage you to have Lanolin or Calendula cream on hand BEFORE you need it. The odds are you are going to, so its is better to be prepared and have it ready rather than send your hubby out to pick it up after your nipples are already cracked and bleeding (lovely image isn't it?)I would recommend Calendula cream because this can also be used on babies bum to relieve diaper rash and irritation.
Witch hazel is something else useful to have on hand. This can be used mixed with warm water in a perineal bottle to squirt and clean the area after you go to the bathroom. This prevents infections and facilitates healing. You can also apply to a cotton ball and use to soothe hemorrhoids which are very common after birth. You can also put some on a cotton ball to help heal and soothe baby acne. This typically shows up in babies after they are a week or so old. The reason is the skin is getting used to life outside the womb. It usually disappears on its own, however it can get inflamed is warmer weather so the witch hazel does a good job in cooling the affected area.
Prepared meals are another essential. Whether its food that you made or meals that friend and family have dropped off, the first few weeks of having a new baby are crazy (regardless of if its your first time as a parent, or not) and if you are breastfeeding it is important to eat healthy meals. Due to the lack of sleep and the time that is spent doting on your little one cooking is no longer a simple task and if you are anything like me you won't want to eat fast food or take out for weeks straight. Having either a few meals stored in the freezer or having items that can simply be thrown into the crock pot will make life much easier. If you do not have family or friends near by to deliver some grub, you can take advantage of Yogi Mami's meal preparation services. You can choose meals that you love and customize them based on your specific needs (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.) If you are interested in these services you can Click Here to get more information.
Having these items on hand before the baby arrives while help make the new adjustment easier to handle, along with all the fun that comes along with it. Being prepared will hopefully alleviate any obstacles to having a blissful baby moon with your new little family!
Disclaimer: Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
Disclaimer: Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
