Advice for mommies to be

If you are expecting - congratulations!!! Being pregnant is such a wonderful and exciting time in a woman or nowaday's a MAN's (lol) life. It's filled with joy, fear and anticipation of the new blessing about to enter into your world. I wanted to share some advice through my own experience:

• SLEEP now - I encourage all expectant mommies to rest-up and sleep - for all of us. Sleep until you can't sleep any more....even then, just stay in bed, watch movies, read, relax - you will need it and you will miss it. The lack of sleep was by far the hardest adjustment for me once I had a baby.


• Get a manicure/pedicure a week prior to your delivery date - you will be taking so many pictures with the baby, gotta have great nails! Also, it may be a while before you are able to pamper yourself again.


• Don't be shy about asking for help or accepting it - you will need it! I encourage mommies- to-be to have their mother's, mother-in-law's, friends, sisters, etc. to stay with them for a while after delivery, or arrange for a nanny or babysitter to stay with you for at least a few hours each day so you can un-wind and rest! I pre-arranged for my mother to stay with me for a few week's both times and it was a blessing! Especially with the first baby, I didn't have a clue what to do and my mother was a very calming energy for me. The day after she left - it was just me and my son and I was lost! I didn't know what to do with him - he cried all day long and so did I. When my husband came home he was terrified at seeing both of us crying and distraught, he just grabbed the baby from my arms and rocked him to sleep instantly. The baby and I both fell asleep in his arms.


• After you get home from delivery, make sure you monitor your own temperature, and health for the first few days to ensure you are recovering as well. I was so preoccupied with the baby's needs that I didn't realize that the reason I was so cold and tired was I had a fever of 104 and was fighting an infection from my c-section. By the time I went back to the doctor, I was admitted to the hospital right away and ended up spending another week there.


• When your newborn sleeps - take advantage of this time and sleep as well. Don't worry about cleaning, cooking, chores - just use this precious time to rest up before the next diaper change/feeding. Newborns hardly sleep through the night so it's hard to get a full night's rest for new mommies.


• Stock up on formula, even if you plan to breastfeed - for emergencies. I breastfed both my babies, but had formula just in case and it came in handy. As I mentioned, when I was admitted to the hospital for my c-section infection - I went straight from my doctor's appointment to the hospital and stayed there for 5 days. My mother was home with the baby and feed him formula.


• Try co-sleeping - this can be somewhat controversial, but I loved having my baby sleep in the same room as us. I purchased a Dr. Sear's co-sleeper bassinet which attaches to your mattress and kept the baby with us. It was great since I was breast feeding I only had to get up and pull him near me, feed him, burp him, change his diaper and put him back without getting out of my room and going to the nursery. Through co-sleeping, I felt like I myself was able to sleep better and longer. It was also comforting knowing he was right next to me and I was right there if he needed anything.


• Most importantly, just know that it gets easier with every day and enjoy the ride. Each day, you will become more in tune to your baby's nature and needs and ways of communicating with you.
  

Welcome to Motherhood!