My Tips for L&D and Newborn loving

Below is an email I sent to a few women I know who are expecting. I didn't edit it much and it was typed late at night.

The following is unsolicited advice you can take or leave but I thought I would share with the pregnant ladies I know. I know that I enjoyed reading tips from people who had just been through labour and delivery since I knew their look was realistic. But I also know as a pregnant lady and then as a mother you receive so much advice/opinions from EVERYONE! So if it helps it does if not I was up feeding Charlie anyways so it was nice to be entertained (typed on my iPhone in the middle of the night so excuse typos).

Katie's Tips for Labour and Delivery and Newborn Loving



Dont forget the following in your hospital hospital bag
-pads - I recommend stay free brand as someone who never wears pads. I also found the hospital ones were too big for the bleeding I had. A regular bad was sufficient but I had overnights as well.
-Extra thick super soft toilet paper - you deserve it after delivery and it's better than hospital 1 ply hard toilet paper!
-bobby pins - I thought I packed some but apparently didn't and had none in my purse. My little front hairs bothered me so much during labour and my headband didn't stay in place.
-iPod - so good during labour - my playlist I listened to was all slower calming music and mostly Christian. It was a good distraction.
-Chapstick - so necessary for some reason.
- Clothes for baby - bring multiple sizes. We brought some newborn and some 0-3 months. Newborn did not fit. Same with hats - we brought all small ones - bring a couple sizes. You never know how big (and long) your baby will be.
-food!! You never know when you'll deliver And having some bars or snack food on hand would be nice - I wish I had some at 3am.

-when you think it's time to head to the hospital eat something if possible (or before it gets too close)!! My last meal was at 2am Saturday morning and was a piece of toast with peanut butter. Then I didn't eat till the yummy hospital breakfast at like 10am Sunday am. Here they offered me popsicles, jello and vegetable broth. The vegetable broth was offered till almost 18 hours in or so, so ask for it if you want it.
-don't be afraid to use the mirror while pushing. I never thought I would but being able to see progress was good and helped me to know i was doing the right thing.
- during delivery once the head was close to being out the nurse said to me "lay back and do what the doctor tells you" as she reclined the bed. This scared me to no end and I thought bad things were happening but really Charlie was just coming out and my pushing was done. So chances are if they say this all is ok.

-ask for help at the hospital - we didn't and should have at least seen the lactation consultant. They won't necessarily offer the help so ask. In many ways your on your own right away.

Newborn Loving
-a swaddle me is an amazing thing. Unless you have amazing swaddle skills like the nurses then you're fine. We have two swaddle me blankets that are amazing! We use them every night and he sleeps better in them then when he's not in one. If I want him to have a long afternoon nap I will also use it then. Does not work for every baby though I'm told.
-when your milk comes in it can come fast. Mine came too fast and I got some new stretch marks on my boobs! Ya! It also came faster than Charlie could eat so I ended up with a clogged milk duct that lead to mastitis by day 4. Fever,chills, red spots and hard breast all means mastitis - get checked out immediately!! It's painful. A pump helps to relieve the pressure so havin one on hand is handy!!
-breast feeding hurts! They say it shouldn't if your little one latches properly but think about sticking a vacuum to your nipple and tell me it won't hurt. It will get better. My nipples bled for the first week and a half but healed fine. It gets better! Don't give up. Take Tylenol or ibuprofen, use cabbage leaves, use lanolin cream and relax with it. It will get better and you will have good days followed by bad but it's worth it!
-have a shower and get dressed up and take good pics with your little one the first few days. I have no good pics of us and us as a family from the first few weeks. I lived in pjs and crazy curly hair.
-it's amazing how your life changes once they arrive but it's true you can't imagine life without your new baby.

I wish you all the best in these last days/weeks/months (whatever your case may be) and know of my ongoing prayers for you and your little one. If you ever have questions please ask. I've made it my policy to be an open book since soooo much of pregnancy, and labour and delivery you don't necessarily know about until your in it.