This is dedicated to my best friend of 16+ years.
Some of our friends from high school had a mini reunion after Christmas with our husband's, babies, preschooler, and baby belly.
The preggo would be the aforementioned best friend.
She asked for Baby advice and after me saying you're the mom do what works and her saying she still wanted advice, I feel the need to clarify my response.
Before Olivia was born I researched like crazy. (seriously ask my husband) I researched everything there was to know about pregnancy, birth, and taking care of a baby. I talked to friends with kids about it all. Maybe it was the child development mind of mine or maybe I was just obsessive, either way I read more articles and books about everything baby than anyone could ever imagine. I was prepared.
Then my pregnancy through me for a loop. All the fool proof ways to rid "morning" sickness did not work. I tried everything and still I was throwing up everything that went in my mouth, all day, all night, at least 10 times a day everyday till about 17 weeks.
The rest of my pregnancy followed suit and was pretty miserable with none of the tricks to ease the discomforts working.
I had read more than you can imagine on labor and when it came I thought I was golden (already dilated to almost a 7 when I got to the hospital and barely feeling the contractions). 10 minutes after we were admitted I was literally on the floor with each contraction. They say they only last 1 minute with a few minutes in between, more like 2 minutes with 30 seconds in between and staying at the peak (off the charts) for over a minute. Not what I had read and not what everyone had told me.
She was born, my amazing little girl. We knew the drill, breastfeeding is best, swaddle them to sleep, always on their back to sleep. Well, I'm still nursing but we discovered that nursing was causing her lots of painful gas, no more dairy for mama. She hated being swaddled and to this day will ONLY sleep on her stomach (I know stomach sleeper=death).
At 6 weeks old she had a fever, took her to the er and doctors almost mockingly say just give her Tylenol it's just a fever. A week later she was admitted to the hospital and turns out she has a defect in her kidneys.
It seems as though I have the child that is the exception to almost ever rule. It's challenging but she's great.
That was a bit of a rant but the point is reading all you can and getting all the advice you can is great, it's definitely necessary but it's far better to read your baby than the millions of books that all contradict each other.
When it comes down to it your gut feeling of what to do is what you should go with. You are the mom, meaning you are literally hardwired to keep your baby alive and happy, and only you will know how to do that for your baby. So take what you've read, take what people share with you, do what works throw out what doesn't, be the mom, and don't be afraid to parent the way you want no matter what people think of it.
Oh and her are some tips from me. ;)
Baby wearing is a lifesaver. (I went through 3 different carriers before I found one that Olivia liked but seriously the best)
White noise makers are amazing, especially one with a heart beat. (they have apps, get one I promise you'll use it)
If you can get your baby to take a bottle occasionally it will save your sanity. (not that I have that luxury but I wish I did sometimes)
An old or extra phone case for your phone should be left lying around, better for Baby to chew on that than your actual phone and cause water damage or something
Breathable bumpers for the crib if he moves in his sleep a lot. Better than having a baby wake up screaming because it's arm or leg is stuck and safer than normal bumpers.
Yogurtland spoons make the best baby spoons.
cornstarch mixed with olive oil is an amazing diaper rash cream
Motherhood is insane. And you will feel crazy most days but it's pretty great when you have a baby snuggled up on you. You're going to be a great mom.
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