Baby Books

I cannot rave enough about this book! As a first-time parent, I have a lot of questions. This book somehow always seems to have the answers.

A perfect example:
For the last month and a half, I have been introducing solid foods to my little one. Until about 30 minutes ago, I have been in a state of wonder about how much to feed him. Lo and behold, there is an easy chart at the end of the chapter titled (you guessed it), "Solids." Angels sang as I read it.

*Note: The 6th edition is coming out in August.

If I were to recommend another book, it would be this one. My baby's pediatrician gave me this book when I met him for the first time. In those early days/weeks of being a new mommy, I constantly referred to this book. I didn't yet have Baby 411. I still use both books to cross-reference information because sometimes I need to read something more than once to feel at ease.

Pregnancy/Baby Brain

Okay...so when I was pregnant, I was a bit of a space cadet. Seriously! I could not think about or focus on more than one thing at a time. For some reason, I also thought I didn't needed to research breastfeeding. This clearly did not work well in my favor. When my baby wasn't getting enough to eat and crying out of frustration for a bottle, I caved into the dark side, AKA formula, and cried. Matters only got worse when I returned to work and had little to no time available to pump. Again, I cried. After 3 months of feeling helpless, inadequate, and stressed, I made the decision to stop nursing/pumping altogether. I cried a little bit more, but then things started to return to some level of normalcy.

Now, 4 months later, I'm doing the research I should have done 8-9 months ago. I have found great resources with invaluable information. (See the pages/blogs listed on the right.) I find myself wishing I could turn back the clocks to 7 months ago when my son was just born. I would have done so many things differently. Once again, I can feel tears welling up at just the thought of, "If only I did this, then I could still be nursing my son."

When I was nursing, I loved it! I loved bonding with him. I loved the feeling of pride I had of being able to produce milk for my baby. Man, that was amazing! I also enjoyed the appetite I had, and, yet I kept losing weight regardless of how much I wanted to and did eat.

Before you judge or criticize me for giving up and for feeding my child formula, just know that I already judge myself. Although, I feel less stressed, it is clear that I still have feelings of regret and doubt about my early actions/decisions and about my lack of education on the topic. So, here are my suggestions for anyone who is pregnant and wants to breastfeed her infant:

In the 8th month of pregnancy:

1. Read the "Breastfeeding" chapter in Expecting 411.
2. Buy Baby 411 and read the breast milk section in the "Liquids" chapter.
3. Go to KellyMom. Hover the mouse over the "Pregnancy" tab, click "Preparing to breastfeed", and read as many articles as your brain can process.
4. Make sure you've registered for or have a breast pump & have bought a few nursing tanks/bras. 
5. "Stock up" on Fenugreek, an herbal supplement that increases milk production. Just buy 1 bottle of capsules. You may need it, or you may not. If you do, however, at least you will have it on hand. Always check with your doctor first before taking a supplement, however.
6. Take a breastfeeding class through your local hospital or watch an online video like this one from Baby Center.
7. Start prepping your nursing station. Find a spot, perhaps in your living room, and fill a bag with things you'll need at your fingertips while nursing. I'll write what to include in another post.

In the hospital/during the 1st 6 weeks:

1. Consult with a lactation consultant and don't be afraid to ask questions if you are feeling any discomfort.
2. Keep baby on you (skin-to-skin) as much as possible in the first few days. Continue skin-to-skin for 1 uninterrupted hour at least once a day. Check out this new carrier to help you with this.
3. Join a local support group.
4. Keep referring to breastfeeding resources listed above.
5. Breathe!

Baby Registry Essentials

And now for my favorite topic...shopping! I even get excited about the idea of a shopping list. I know...typical. At any rate, when I registered at my local baby superstore, I had my husband with me. We were both tired, and I did not make my list prior to going. This made for a limited registry. There are a lot of things you should register for like a crib, stroller, diapers, etc. I'm just going to list a few things that are essential for your daily sanity.

For baby:

• Bouncer
• Infant swing
• Activity gym/playmat
• Musical mirror for the car - It has instantly calmed my crying infant on multiple occasions.
• Sound Machine for the nursery- I like the Graco Sweet Slumber Sound Machine.
• Receiving blankets (6-8) - I highly recommend Aden & Anais Muslin swaddle blankets.
• Sleep sacks (2) - My baby preferred the Halo SleepSack Swaddle.
• Play yard & play yard sheets (2)

For mommy:

• Diaper bag
• Nursing pillow & slipcover
• Nursing covers (2)
• Breast pump
• Hands-free bustier/breastpump bra
• Gel pads or lanolin cream - A lot of moms I spoke to recommended Lansinoh Soothies.
• Feeding starter kit - Medela has a good one.
• Skin-to-skin carrier This is a new product that I just saw on the Babies R'Us website.

I registered for most of the baby items above and got them as gifts. Unfortunately, I didn't plan for nursing very well. I thought I was equipped with all that I needed to take on the task of breastfeeding, so I didn't register for anything except for the nursing pillow. I know. I wasn't thinking clearly, but now I'll know for the next time.

Prepping for the Hospital

Before giving birth, I attended a 4-week child birthing class given by my hospital. It was invaluable, not only in terms of information, but it was a great bonding experience for me and my husband. I took notes, practiced my breathing, picked out my labor music, & packed my suitcase by 37 weeks. I was prepared, or so I thought. I should have done a bit more research or at least asked a few moms for their advice. Hind sight is always 20/20, right? Anyway, here is a list items I recommend for the hospital suitcase:

For Mommy:

• Nursing nightgown & robe
• Nursing cover, like Bebe Au Lait, to wear when family/friends are visiting
• Nursing pillow
• Skin-to-skin carrier
• Gel pads, like Lansinoh Soothies, and/or lanolin cream
• Travel shampoo/body wash & other toiletries
• Flip flops for the hospital room shower
• Non skid socks to wear in the room & in hospital hallways
• Nursing dress to wear home (*Note: I packed maternity jeans thinking they would be fine, but I ended up having a c-section. They rubbed up against the incision & were very uncomfortable.)

For Baby:

• Long sleeve side snap shirts, not bodysuits (The umbilical cord needs to heal before dressing the baby in bodysuits that snap at the bottom.)
• Socks
• Pants
• Caps
• Receiving blanket

In my experience, the room was kept pretty cold. I didn't have long sleeve shirts, pants, & socks to keep my newborn warm. He ended up needing more layers of blankets. I felt like a bad mommy when the baby nurse told me his temperature had dropped because he was so cold. Anyway, I learned my lesson.

Quick Tip

Here is a quick tip when going to the grocery store with your baby:

Park by the grocery cart drop off, even it is near the back of the lot.

This way you do not have to walk and carry your baby, with or without the car seat, for a long distance. Later, when you're done shopping, you won't need worry about how to return the cart without leaving the baby alone in the car or leave the cart in a nearby parking spot. I'm sure every mom already knows this, but I am a slow learner and thought I'd share it anyway.

Pregnancy Books and Apps

Okay, so I remember the joy of finding out I was pregnant and then the overwhelming feeling of, "Now what?" There are so many books on the market, and, if you have an excited mother like I do, you will probably get at least 8 of them. Let me tell you, there are only 2, maybe 3, books that you really should have early in your pregnancy.

Expecting 411

When I was 12 weeks pregnant, a friend gave me this book. She told me she found it easier to read, and it set her mind at ease more than any other pregnancy book she had read.

Pretty soon I learned why she said that, and I completely agree. For starters, this book is written by two doctors, an OB/GYN and a pediatrician. Both of them are moms, too. They give answers from both a doctor's point of view and a woman's point of view. In fact, when I went to my own OB/GYN, I felt more at ease because I already knew what to expect. When I needed reassurance about a question, my doctor often reiterated something already stated in the book. (Note: I never told him I read about it first, though. Doctors don't really like hearing that.)

Baby Bargains

This book is published by the same printing press as Expecting 411 and is written by the same authors of Bridal Bargains. When I was planning my wedding, that was an invaluable resource. Baby Bargains is a great follow-up! There are tips on saving money on everything for baby and for mom, too. Check out the chapter on maternity & nursing when you're ready to go clothes shopping!

What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting

This book is optional. When I was pregnant, I was obsessed with the food I was ingesting. I wasn't at first, but, after reading about all of the things I couldn't eat, I just wanted to know what I could and should eat. That is when I found What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting to be particularly helpful. There is a page that highlights healthy snack alternatives, which is great while you're on vacation or at work.

There are 2 more books I think you should get around the 8th month of pregnancy, but I'll get to that in another post.

I know you're probably thinking, "Wait! That's it?! What about What to Expect When You're Expecting?" I have it, but I ended up not reading it very much once I got Expecting 411.

Finally...Apps! 

Okay, so instead of reading the book What to Expect When You're Expecting, I used the What to Expect Pregnancy Tracker App. It had weekly descriptions of what's going with you and baby, and it was certainly easier to carry around than the book. I know for sure it is available on Android phones, but I'm not sure about iPhones.

If it isn't, Pregnancy - Sprout - Lite for the iPhone/iPod touch & iPad is great, too! It has weekly descriptions, a weight tracker, a kick counter, and a contraction counter. I loved using this App, especially when I wasn't sure whether or not baby was kicking enough towards the end of my pregnancy.

Oh, I forgot to mention...both Apps are available for FREE! Huzzah!

Introduction

Hello! I'm a new mom, a wife, and a classroom teacher. My baby is now 6 months old. As I was packing away his newborn clothes last night, I began thinking about all of the things I wish I knew in those early weeks and in the weeks prior to his birth. Then, I thought, "I better write these things down so I can remember them for the next baby." I decided to start a blog rather than write it down in a notebook/journal because I tend to misplace, lose, or forget entirely about it until it is too late. If anyone else can benefit from the lessons I've learned (or mistakes I've made), then that would be great, too!