Got Advice?

[Nakiah4Yeshua]

Hello CF'ers

I am a first-time Mom-to-be and I could use a little help.

Please answer these questions for me in 10-20 words each:

~ Important to know / do when baby is born: ____________________

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy: ___________________

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care: ___________________

~ Best advice you were given: _______________________

~ What you wish you knew then: _____________________



THANK YOU ALL

 

[Assisi]

I am a first-time Mom-to-be and I could use a little help. Congratulations!

Please answer these questions for me in 10-20 words each:

~ Important to know / do when baby is born: The most important thing to do (for me) was to learn to breastfeed and iron out any problems in that area. The second most important thing was to get up and dressed and go out every day. I think that went a long way to preserving me from PND.
Actually, the most important thing at the time for us was to baptise our baby asap, but that's a religious discussion for another time.

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy: I think it's important to learn about stuff to do with the pregnancy and birth and why certain things are recommended before making decisions. I think it's a good idea to know under which circumstances you would consent to a caesar, or an induction. Another example is food choices. Some people avoid certain foods in pregnancy and others don't. It's important to know why it is recommended to avoid those things before making your decision. For example, the risk of listeriosis is really really low, but if you're unlucky and catch it the consequences are devestating.

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care: My pram. I use it every day, it means that Baby and I are very portable.

~ Best advice you were given: Shannon McCatholic's advice about emotional signposts in labour was probably the best advice we were given. Followed by the advice to let your baby sleep in sunlight (not direct) during the day and to soften and darken the house in the evening for bedtime. This helped our baby learn night and day.

~ What you wish you knew then: I can't really think of anything here. Having a new baby was pretty much what I expected it to be. And it's a lot of fun! Perhaps I wish I knew then that I was right, and that it wasn't going to be as awful as a lot of people told me it would be.

 

[Birbitt]

Hello CF'ers

I am a first-time Mom-to-be and I could use a little help.

Please answer these questions for me in 10-20 words each:

~ Important to know / do when baby is born: ____________________

The most important thing to do when your baby is born is REST! Let the housework be for a week or two or ask dad or a friend or family member to do some small chores for you while you rest. You will need all your energy to care for that new baby!

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy: ___________________

The most important thing you should know during pregnancy is to take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, eat a good diet, take your vitamins, and drink plenty of water. Remember you have 9 months to prepare for baby so don't try and do it all at once, and if you have ANY concerns at all speak to your healthcare provider.

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care: ___________________

I have two must haves for baby care...the first one is a baby sling/carrier/wrap this is especially great for mom to get A FEW things done during the daytime while still spending time with baby.

The second is a baby swing...this is great for calming fussy babies and is especially wonderful for first time moms who are overwhelmed and a bit stressed this will help you to calm your baby and still be able to be calm yourself.

~ Best advice you were given: _______________________

The best advice I ever received was to enjoy my baby while he/she was still a baby...those days are gone all to quickly so savor them while you can.

~ What you wish you knew then: _____________________

I wish I knew with my first baby that I am my child's mother and I know best not the so called "experts". All too often I did as the "experts" told me just because they said so and I believed that they knew more than me...but I later realized that as my baby's mother I knew what was best and therefore I should have made the final decision.



THANK YOU ALL

Hope this helps.

 

[Nakiah4Yeshua]

I can never express just how much the wisdom of other women continues to astound me. Thank you for posting and keep it coming.

--Naki

PS: Assisi, I see you live "down under". Maybe this sounds silly, but could you tell me what a pram is? I am so embarrassed... One would think I could understand English.

 

[Assisi]

Assisi, I see you live "down under". Maybe this sounds silly, but could you tell me what a pram is?

I can't think of another word for it...it's short for perambulator. My husband says 'stroller'?

Google says a pusher? A buggy? baby carriage?

I had no idea this was a British word...

Basically I push my baby round in it. Like this.

 

[Nakiah4Yeshua]

STROLLER... Gotcha. Thanks mate.

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

Some great answers so far!

Hello CF'ers

I am a first-time Mom-to-be and I could use a little help.


Congrats!

Please answer these questions for me in 10-20 words each:

~ Important to know / do when baby is born: ____________________

Trust your instincts - you know your baby better than anyone else.
Trust your husbands instincts too.

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy: ___________________

Do a lot of reading into pregnancy, birth, newborn care etc. Try to be informed. Remember that hospital is not a prison and the doctor/nurse is not a warden, you make the desicions about you and your baby.

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care: ___________________

hmm, a baby carrier/sling was handy. And a portable rocker was very usefull - to move the baby comfortably around the house with me while I got stuff done.

~ Best advice you were given: _______________________

Pray. And take lots of pictures, and write things down, it goes so quickly and your memory is not top notch those early days (or years :o)

~ What you wish you knew then: _____________________



THANK YOU ALL

 

[jgonz]

~ Important to know / do when baby is born:
Skin to skin contact, breastfeeding immediately, rooming in with the baby. No HepB shot.

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy:
Educate yourself on pregnancy and childbirth. It's Your body and it's Your baby~ don't let healthcare providers push you around or make decisions for you.

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care:
Sling

~ Best advice you were given:
Rest when the baby sleeps, forget cleaning for a few weeks, freeze meals ahead of time. Take lots of pictures.

~ What you wish you knew then:
That the body needs a good 6 wks to start to recover and not to overdo it. Ask for help if you need it~ don't assume your DH will automatically know what to do to help.

 

[beehoney]

Why no HepB shot?

 

[jgonz]

This is based on my own research as well as common sense. Hepatitis B is a disease that is passed through dirty needles from drug users or unprotected sex. I don't think my newborn would be doing either of those things...

Here is one article on HepB: http://www.nvic.org/Diseases/hepbnlr.htm
And taken from this article:
Hepatitis B Not Highly Contagious - Unlike other infectious diseases for which vaccines have been developed and mandated in the U.S., hepatitis B is not common in childhood and is not highly contagious. Hepatitis B is primarily an adult disease transmitted through infected body fluids, most frequently infected blood, and is prevalent in high risk populations such as needle using drug addicts; sexually promiscuous heterosexual and homosexual adults; residents and staff of custodial institutions such as prisons; health care workers exposed to blood; persons who require repeated blood transfusions and babies born to infected mothers.

According to CDC Prevention Guidelines: A Guide to Action (1997), a book written by federal public health officials at the U.S. government Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "the sources of [hepatitis B] infection for most cases include intravenous drug use (28%), heterosexual contact with infected persons or multiple partners (22%) and homosexual activity (9%)." According to Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (1994), mother to child transmission of hepatitis B "is uncommon in North America and western Europe."

Although CDC officials have made statements that hepatitis B is easy to catch through sharing toothbrushes or razors, Eric Mast, M.D., Chief of the Surveillance Section, Hepatitis Branch of the CDC, stated in a 1997 public hearing that: " although [the hepatitis B virus] is present in moderate concentrations in saliva, it's not transmitted commonly by casual contact."

 

[beehoney]

OK. You have a valid point actually.

I've had my HepB shots and boosters because I'm a health care provider and that makes me high risk. I think it's quite a benign vaccine because it contains no live or killed virus and I had no ill effects so i have no reservations about letting my baby have it. Additinally I'm paranoid about young children going off to school. Sometimes they share a little bit more of their body fluids than I'd like. We used to lick each other's lollipops.

 

[charligirl]

~ Important to know / do when baby is born:
Skin to skin contact, breastfeeding immediately, rooming in with the baby. No HepB shot.

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy:
Educate yourself on pregnancy and childbirth. It's Your body and it's Your baby~ don't let healthcare providers push you around or make decisions for you.

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care:
Sling

~ Best advice you were given:
Rest when the baby sleeps, forget cleaning for a few weeks, freeze meals ahead of time. Take lots of pictures.

~ What you wish you knew then:
That the body needs a good 6 wks to start to recover and not to overdo it. Ask for help if you need it~ don't assume your DH will automatically know what to do to help.

Pretty much exactly what I was going to say!

 

[Nakiah4Yeshua]

Thanks everyone. This is a great start.

About the HepB, I don't believe we'll be getting any imms. for our baby. All of the women in my Bible study and my soon-to-be-home-school group suggested forgoing them.

I bought one of those Bjorn knockoff backpacks (the kind you can put in front and later in back) and it looks like it's going to be useful. I would like to get a sling next.

 

[charligirl]

I woudl really suggest you do your homework and seek God on the issue of immunisation.

The reason we have no childhood killer diseases in the west is because of immunisation - however in the Uk some of the old terrible diseases are returning because so many parents are not immunising out of fear of the vaccine.


My view is that God gave us wisdom, intelligence and medical people who have designed vaccines and we can let our children have them under prayer covering and in -faith. I know that until I personally have the faith for my family to live in divine health (and I am not there yet) I will still allow vaccinations because I do have the faith for a safe outcome to the injection.

This is really not a topic for opinino though, do your own prayer and research.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Hello CF'ers

I am a first-time Mom-to-be and I could use a little help.

Please answer these questions for me in 10-20 words each:

~ Important to know / do when baby is born: ____________________

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy: ___________________

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care: ___________________


THANK YOU ALL

When the baby is born make sure - these may sound silly - but to burp them well enough. We didnt and it resulted in a few days of horror as poor Gage had such an upset stomach, cried constantly, and we had to call in the assistance of parents to help us out. Ruined the first few days home with the baby.

During pregnancy - WALK!!! I did not do this and did not hear it until I was in my last months. Walking helps shape after pregnancy but also can make the labor much easier and the pregnancy progress better.

For new baby care I loved the crib mobiles and the swings, both were loved by Gage.

 

[Hadassah]

~ Important to know / do when baby is born:
Skin to skin contact, breastfeeding immediately, rooming in with the baby. No HepB shot.

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy:
Educate yourself on pregnancy and childbirth. It's Your body and it's Your baby~ don't let healthcare providers push you around or make decisions for you.

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care:
Sling

~ Best advice you were given:
Rest when the baby sleeps, forget cleaning for a few weeks, freeze meals ahead of time. Take lots of pictures.

~ What you wish you knew then:
That the body needs a good 6 wks to start to recover and not to overdo it. Ask for help if you need it~ don't assume your DH will automatically know what to do to help.

Let me just ditto this.

 

[llghoney]

Please answer these questions for me in 10-20 words each:

~ Important to know / do when baby is born: skin to skin if possible witha c-section it's not, get someone to take pics/videos

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy: get as much sleep as you can

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care: I love the no rinse washcloths in Lavender scent by Johnson & Johnson, so easy to wash the baby

~ Best advice you were given: know that the pain of birth/recovery is only temporary

~ What you wish you knew then: how much sleep you will not get, read lots of baby books but don't be to hard on yourself if your baby doesn't do like the books say exactly

 

[Hadassah]

You'd mentioned the Baby Björn carrier... Might I reccommend against that? It carries the baby primarily from the crotch and offers next to no back support.

You may want to stick with a peanut shell at first and then work to a sling, or possibly wear a Mei Tai (read lots at www.thebabywearer.com and other such sites) A Moby Wrap would be a great start as would a Girasol wrap (gausey material). I have a Didymous but it is just tooooooooo big for me and too hot for summer. The size would work for my DH though, he just gets overheated so I need to sell it.

 

[Nakiah4Yeshua]

Thank You ladies for all the great advice. I love the CF family.
With less than 6 weeks to go before my daughter arrives I can use all the prayers you can muster. Thanks

Oh yeah by the way... IT'S A GIRL !!!
(Her name is a surprise.)

http://www.messiahinourmarriage.info/baby.html

--Virginia Nakiah & Henry

 

[Gods4me]

~ Important to know / do when baby is born: babys just need 3 things when they cry, changed, fed or winded.

~ Important to know / do during pregnancy: take it easy to ward the end. make the most of being able to do what u want whenu want.

~ Most useful Gadget for new baby care: emmm.... possibly the car seat i got a car seat which had a base section which cliped in and out of the car so it avoided having to get the seat belt round the car seat every time. yuo basically sat it in. it chicked and you were ready to go.

~ Best advice you were given: emmmmmm not sure... possibly for breastfeeding, once yuo get by the first few days it is easyier. my self i say if you can do the first 10 days then you could do it with no problems.

~ What you wish you knew then: (not quite sure what this one means) im guesing you mean when there a baby. i wish i stoped people holding the baby when he was newly born. if babys are handled to much they expect it all the time. and yeah the family come and all want a hold but your the one left holding the baby at 3 am not them. i did start telling family members to out him down because there not the one who is up all night with him. and they may think your being horrible but baby and you need a good night sleep.

i will be restricting the amount people hold this baby when they are new born because it was really horrible having no sleep all night and then youve got to be awake durning the day for all the people who come to visit you.