Has anyone ever told you that giving birth is the easy part? Well, for me this was true. In this post, I am going share 10 important tips that I wish I knew before having a baby.
When I was pregnant I spent all my time researching labor pain management techniques and how to survive pregnancy. This research helped me build enough confidence to give birth naturally, but nothing and nobody prepared me for what came next.
I am not trying to scare you. Becoming a mother has been the most amazing experience I have ever had and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am sharing 10 important things I wish I knew before having a baby.
1. Baby Blues or Postpartum Anxiety
“Approximately 70-80% of all new mothers experience some negative feelings or mood swings after the birth of their child.”
During pregnancy we all hear about postpartum depression, but have you ever heard of baby blues or postpartum anxiety. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn about baby blues or postpartum anxiety until after I went through it on my own.
Even after speaking with my doctor and going to the hospital with baby blues symptoms, about a week after I had my baby, my doctor didn’t tell me anything about baby blues.
Instead, of telling me that I had baby blues he just treated me for high blood pressure, which was just a symptom of the anxiety I had from baby blues.
I researched my symptoms and read that everything I was feeling was completely normal after giving birth.
These are the common symptoms of baby blues:
- Crying for no apparent reason (When the baby cries)
- Impatience
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Anxiety (Excessive worry)
- Fatigue
- Insomnia (even when the baby is sleeping)
- Sadness
- Mood changes
- Poor concentration
- Loss of appetite / Dehydration (Can affect breastmilk production)
Symptoms of baby blues usually resolve on their own around 2 weeks postpartum. Everyone is different and it depends on your situation.
After educating myself and practicing self-care I overcame postpartum anxiety without medication.
2. Sleep Deprivation
Have you ever heard the saying “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” ? When people would say that to me I would ask “How does one sleep when baby doesn’t sleep?”
Like many newborn babies my daughter never slept for more than an hour at a time at night. Since I was breastfeeding that meant that I didn’t get to sleep for more than an hour at a time.
Once my daughter began sleeping long I was at the point where I was so overtired and anxious that it was very difficult for me to fall or stay asleep. Many new moms are so concerned about their baby’s well being that it sometimes leads to sleep deprivation.
“Is he pooping enough?”, “is she sleeping enough?”, “Is he breathing too fast?”
I was a zombie!
Eventually, as my daughter got older, I learned many tips and tools to get more sleep at night.
When you bring your baby home, I recommend that you recruit anyone and everyone to help you. Let someone bring you food, clean the house, or watch the baby so you can sleep. The saying is true, It does take a village.
It’s ok to ask for help and to accept it.
Learn how to get your baby to sleep through the night.
3. Breastfeeding is hard!
Breastfeeding is HARD!
I struggled with breastfeeding for the first 6 weeks or so until my baby learned to latch and nurse correctly. Once she was able to hold her head up, it had become almost effortless.
I wish I took a class or watched videos on breastfeeding so I would know what to expect. The nurses in the hospital seemed uninformed and stressed me out which made breastfeeding more difficult.
Here are my Ultimate Guide To Breastfeeding tips and Breastfeeding Essentials that will make your breastfeeding experience simpler and more comfortable.
FREE Breast Milk Storage Guide
4. Baby Wearing
When my daughter was born I had a carrier, but I wasn’t able to use it until my she was about 8 lbs.
I didn’t know I could have been using a baby wrap during that time so I didn’t own one yet.
There are so many benefits to baby wearing for babies and parents including:
- Strengthens the bond between parents and baby.
- Aids in baby’s development, both physically and emotionally, including promoting early language development.
- A carried baby is usually calmer because all of her primal/survival needs are being met?
- Decreases risk of SIDS and flat-head syndrome.
- Promotes neural development, respiratory and gastrointestinal health, and aids in balance.
- Lets moms discreetly breastfeed on the go.
- Boosts breast milk production due to close contact with the baby.
- Allows caregivers to be “hands-free” to get stuff done while still holding the baby.
- Promotes early language development. Babies learn by watching faces, and baby-wearing puts your little one at conversational height.
- Reducing stress by meeting baby’s needs more easily.
Top-Rated Baby Wrap
Baby Carrier
5. Listen To Your Baby’s Cues
My newborn cried so much the first month that I thought I wasn’t doing anything right. I felt mom guilt because she was so unhappy.
It seemed as if she was trying to tell me what she needed, but I just couldn’t understand what she wanted.
I wish I knew that newborns make different sounds for each of their needs.
“Between 0–3 months, infants make what Dunstan calls sound reflexes…we all have reflexes, like sneezes, hiccups, and burps, that all have a recognizable pattern when sound is added to the reflex.
There are other reflexes that all babies experience, and when sound is added to these, a distinct, preemptive “cry” will occur before the infant breaks into what Dunstan calls the hysterical cry.
Dunstan states that these preemptive cries can indicate what the infant requires (e.g., food, comfort, sleep, etc.), and they escalate to the hysterical cry if they are not answered.
As the infant matures past 3 months in vocalization, the sound reflexes become replaced with more elaborate babbling.”
6. The Best Baby Pajamas
My baby broke out of every swaddle from day one. She didn’t seem to enjoy having her arms and legs restricted and she was very strong for a newborn.
When we brought her home from the hospital, I looked through all her clothing to find pajamas that were warm enough for her to sleep in.
We didn’t have any that fit her, so my husband and I had to take turns watching her sleep with a blanket on her. (It’s not safe for babies to sleep with a loose blanket unattended.)
She was too small for newborn clothing but too big for preemie. After a few weeks of trying many different pajamas and sleep slacks, we finally found one she liked. She was finally able to sleep comfortably. (and so were we)
The Love To Dream Swaddle UP was perfect for our baby.
She loved that she could be wrapped up but still put her arms up she loved to sleep with her arms up.
7. How To Bathe A Newborn
The first few times we gave our newborn baby a bath, she screamed so much that It would cause me anxiety. I eventually learned many great bathing tips and now she loves to take a bath!
Learn How To Bathe A Newborn with my step by step guide.
8. Newborn Essentials You Actually Need
Many people waste so much money on baby products they don’t need or won’t use. To save money and time add all these newborn essentials to your baby registry.
After your baby shower, you may be able to purchase the rest of the products at a discounted price.
Baby Clothing Tip: Many of the baby products we bought or received at our baby shower weren’t used or didn’t fit the season. For example, she was born just before the fall but many of her 0-3 month clothing was for summer. By the time she fit in the clothing, it was winter and I couldn’t dress her in a short sleeve dress or baby shorts when it was only 50-60 degrees.
Be mindful of the clothes you add to your baby registry.
Diapers: Thankfully, we didn’t receive many diapers at the baby shower because we have tried many brands and didn’t find one we like until our baby was a couple of months old. I know many people who were stuck using diapers they didn’t like because they received them as gifts and didn’t want to waste money.
Wipe Warmer: I purchased a wipe warmer and returned it. The wipes were cold and dry as soon as I took them out of the warmer. My baby never seemed to mind room temperature water wipes. she got used to them pretty quickly. Some people swear by wipe warmers so if you really think your baby would prefer warm wipes give them a try.
Carseat: Make sure you purchase a good car seat. It’s worth the higher price tag to keep your baby safe. I highly recommend purchasing a car seat that can connect to your stroller so when your baby falls asleep in the car seat you can just pop it into the stroller instead of pulling your baby out which usually will wake them up.
Must-Have 3-6 Months Baby Essentials
9. How To Burp A Newborn
I have read several articles and books have stated that “breastfed babies don’t need to be burped”
That is FALSE!
My exclusively breastfed baby burps every time she nurses.
The first couple of months she seemed like she needed to burp. I would spend a lot of time trying to burp her on my shoulder and it didn’t work.
I finally discovered a burping method that worked!
By holding her head up on my lap and patting her back, I would almost always get her to burp. I still use this method, because it works for my baby. You can try different methods and use the one that’s best for your baby.
10. Before Having a Baby Learn About The Fourth Trimester
“Giving birth was the easy part!”
Did you track your babies development and pregnancy symptoms every week during each trimester?
Have you ever heard of The Fourth Trimester?
I didn’t!
The fourth trimester was the hardest part for me and I didn’t know what to expect. After giving birth your hormones skyrocket and your new baby relies on you for it’s survival.
Similar to Baby Blues, Fourth-trimester symptoms include:
- Swelling
- Vaginal bleeding
- Swollen breasts
- Constipation
- Sleep deprivation
- Anxiety
“At birth, your baby’s senses are limited and still developing.
She has sight, but her vision is blurred.
She can hear, but it’s difficult to pick up on individual sounds and voices.
She can feel, but the reassuring and snug comfort of your womb has been replaced by disconcerting open space.
The fourth trimester is a time for your baby to adapt to these changes with your help and support.”
FREE Newborn Care Log & More!
FREE exclusive access to printable planners, checklists, guides, and resources for busy moms!
DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLES
Here are some of my most popular posts you should read before having a baby:
Everything happens for a reason. I learned so much from having my first child, and now I’m bringing awareness to moms so they can be more educated, prepared, and confident new moms.
If you have any questions leave them in the comment box or DM me on Instagram.
Sources:
“Knowledge is power.”
I wish I knew what to expect after coming home from the hospital.
No one can be fully prepare you for motherhood, but it’s so important to educated yourself so you know what to expect.
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