Pre make bottles if forma feeding

Trust your feelings, even if it risk looking silly because you just never know. If a doctor doesn't seem to be helping you how you feel they should get a second opinion (I did and it saved my daughter's life). No one knows your baby better then you. Remember to breathe from delivery to when they move out lol.

1)Be flexible with your birth plan.

2)drink lots and lots of water after, especially if you labored long like I did ( 112 hrs to be exact) you will sweat a lot but its just your body getting rid of excess fluid so you need to keep hydrayed.

3)Wait on visitors at the hospital or even wait till you get home cause you will want to rest, especially if its your 1st baby you want some cherished alone time with just you and baby without everyine trying to hold him or her. I wish I did. I had people at my door as soon as she was pushed out and regret not putting my foot down especially since I was so exaushsted.

4) feed your baby how you want Whether that is breast or bottle. I didn't like breastfeeding so I pumped and a pediatrician had the nerve to tell me that wasn't good enough. Just ignore the haters.

5)Don't take all advice to heart do what you feel is best as the parent cause in the end you are with the child 24/7, the person giving advice isnt. I do go to my mom for frequent health advice cause she works at a elementary school so she's current on that. But also important to have a trusted friend when you get tired and frustrated

6) babies cry and sometimes you don't know why. I know it doesn't work for all parents but if she is crying and nothing can soothe her and you are at your wits end and by yourself, I would place her in her bed and close the door for a few minutes grab myself some water and unfrazzle my nerves. Your baby will sense your frustration so the calmer you are so is she

No one mentions to you that you have to push through the contractions!!!!😖😖😖

Beware of unsolicited advice from everyone ESPECIALLY from in laws and parents. They think they know everything because obviously they've had kids. But little do they know, rules with newborns nowadays are way different from when they had babies. Like the cribs, or things that can cause SIDS . Also nourish yourself as much as possible. You'll need it. Your body will bounce back before you know it but take it easy. The baby will also suck the life out of you that's why you need to sleep when you can. I hate the saying, "sleep when the baby sleeps" because sometimes you can't. Accept help at all times so you can snooze for a bit. A 15min power nap can do wonders. Lastly, your Newborn will push you around. Just accept it. Until they're old enough to know it's not ok anyways :)

Good luck 👍🏽

During labor- be positive and open to alternatives to your birth plan when needed. I was in labor (not induced) for 40 hours & in transition for 12 hours before getting the epidural but tried everything else I could first. I don't regret anything because in the end I felt that I made all the right decisions and had a perfect baby. I feel like being super positive throughout pregnancy and labor made the experience so much better even though it wasn't as planned.

For breastfeeding- take advantage of the staff at the hospital while you are there. Breastfeeding is the hardest part of having a baby in my opinion. Even if you have a great supply (like me), it can still be difficult. Don't be afraid to get creative and feed baby colostrum with a spoon or syringe those first few days. And when your milk comes in, have and manual or electric pump handy and if you are engorged, use it. And if your baby can't latch well or your nipples need a break, don't worry so much about "nipple confusion" and just give the baby a pumped bottle with a natural latch type of bottle. I was so worried but it wasn't even an issue and it helped me to give one bottle a day. If you are worried about confusion, have someone else give the bottle and you only breastfeed.

Sleeping when baby sleeps doesn't always work out. I had a hard time with this even if I was trying. Honestly, I ended up bed sharing (as safely as possible) and kicking my hubby out of the room. Baby and mom slept much better. And then my hubby would take him for a few hours in the morning and feed with a bottle to let me get 4 hrs in a row without worrying about waking for baby.

Finally, cloth diapers are the best! :) even if just part time cloth diapering... They are just so cute and smell so much better. Plus you can save a lot.

The first to weeks of breastfeeding are the most painful of all but, at the end, it's worthy. Don't stop even when if you want to.

Stay calm and relaxed as much as possible. Every birth is different. Yes take booger sucker. Ask all the questions. At home focus on sleeping with the baby. And trust yourself. Those mama instincts keep in.

Also don't be shy to ask for those pads that they give you to not get blood on your bed. I took a couple and put them on our bed for the baby during diaper change or I bring them with me at people's houses to not get pee or poop on their sheet or carpet. Yes, there's one that comes with the diaper bag but that pad is big, washable and awesome. Use the green slippery part not white.

Also take the wrapping sheet, It's awesome! They will gladly give it to you.

Take everything they give you. Even the booger sucker bulb thingie, lol, the hospital ones have a good sucking, better than the ones out there.

Also don't forget to ask all the questions you have, even when you think they are "stupid", there's no such thing. Memory might not be great at the time, so ask again or write it down. Also don't forget to thank your support system there: Doctors, nurses, helpers! Congratulations! Enjoy every minute with your beautiful baby!

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! Listen to everyone but you do not have to do what they say if you don't feel like it's safe or okay with you. After all, YOU are the mommy and you know YOUR child!

Also it's okay to be worried, that's what good moms do! You got this! In moments of doubt, call the hospital to ask, and if you believe in God, don't forget to pray!

Also when you feel like she or he can't stop crying or he/she peed or pooped on everything or too much laundry, take a deep breath and say "this one shall pass". They grow out of it, don't you worry.

Also if someone caught smthg that you didnt or your baby is crying a lot, DO NOT FEEL LIKE YOU ARE FAILING AS A MOM! You are new at this, you get better with practice, hey, give yourself a break, there's no class on this! Don't let people make you think differently, trust me they will, they ALL HAD THEIR momentS, some more than others, they just pretend to forget. Everyone is human, so there's no such thing as perfection!

Breathe, little Mama! You are a great mommy!

Do what you feel is right for yourself and baby and your significant Other. Hopefully you don't have family like mine that tells you how to raise your child or who should see your baby and when and tell you you're being selfish because some people haven't seen the baby. Many people might tell you how bad they want to see the baby probably the first couple days and then You'll never hear from them again. It's okay, they are showing true colors and if it's negative don't worry about it, shut it out because as of now with crazy hormones, negativity is something you don't need. It might be beneficial to look for other moms in the area just to have someone to talk to that doesn't speak baby.

It will get tough but you can get through it and you will! Enjoy this time. It's beautiful but it goes by fast! Even if you just need a second to yourself, that's fine, put the baby in a safe place, step outside or in another room, breathe and go back to the baby.

Call your doctor if you are worried about anything that is new. Better to have piece of mind then worrying about it till the next appointment a month later.

Get a waterproof cover for your mattress. More than likely you will be changing your baby there or nursing and there WILL be accidents.

cook freezer meals before baby is born. so you dpny have to cook when you are alone with baby and you can sleep more

If you breastfeed don't give up. It hurts so bad it will make you cry but it does get easier.

Don't listen to anyone lol 😂 do what feels right for you. No pregnancy is the same. What works for someone might not for you. What worked in your first pregnancy might not in the second. Giving birth is hard but the reward is blessing and one you'll cherish forever. Don't worry about labor...your body was made to do this. And if you want the epidural who cares what anyone thinks...do it. And if you want to do it natural, do it.

I did both mine natural(not for everyone) and after i was so weak and shaky. Felt so sick, everyone's experience is different. Don't be hard on yourself, labor is easy compared to what's to come. Lol 😂

Sleep sleep sleep(when you figure out how to do that...let me know) breast feeding or formula that's up to you.

There is no wrong or right way to do this. Everyday you learn. Trial and error. Make mistakes and don't feel bad because now you learned. Questions? Call your dr. Get as much information as you can in the hospital. And the little questions you think are dumb and don't want to bother asking about are the ones that will have you up at 1am worried if you did it right.

Just relax. And you'll be fine...babies cry...let it happen and don't stress as long as your doing things to make her healthy and comfortable.

Take time for yourself its ok. you need it.every angle of your life has just changed.You are allowed to mourn who you were b4 your LO arrived. Dont try to do it all. ask for help. enjoy all the moments good an bad, they only happen once. Our first night home was from NICU. I was up every 15min checking on my LO I was a basket case. Thinking WE wouldn't live through the night.

• Take care of yourself! Your baby needs you to be nurtured and healthy in every way possible

• Listen to your instincts.

• Don't hesitate to call your OB, Pediatrician or Lactation Nurse with questions. It's free and you'll receive legitimate answers.

• Don't be afraid or too prideful to ask for help.

No meds is the best way to go. It's not as bad as people make it seem. Don't go to a hospital either, stress is bad and hospitals cause too much stress for you and baby hence why most women end up getting c sections. Go to a birth center instead, they are so much more homey and comfy and nice. My next one is going to be a home birth though

Take the epidural - if you're induced the contractions can be very close together and trust me no matter how high your pain tolerance it will only take the edge off. If it feels like the baby is breaking your tailbone they very well could be so again...Take the epidural ...Once they lay your baby on your chest you will forget how bad it hurt this I promise

If the hospital staff treat you unfairly or try to treat you like you're stupid speak up. I was in unbearable pain during 2.5 hours of pushing with a nurse telling me that I was being stupid for screaming and crying until the doctor came in and was worse than the nurse.

Just as long as your baby comes out healthy you are going to be a great mom. Just be prepared for your life to change.

Trust your mommy instincts and don't let people try to force you to do something ypur not comfortable with

Remember that now matter how u give birth section,vaginal,medicated, or natural the out come is the same your still gonna meet the love of your life

My first child I kept her in the room as much as possible. I didn't want them to take her to the nursery. However with my Second I realized I needed sleep and the best way to get that was to have them take my son the last one here to the nursery as much as they could. I don't regret it one bit.

Just keep in mind no one, no parent, no family or friend is perfect. Only you know what's right for your baby.

Every day they do something new so enjoy every minute of it

Don't obsess about a birth plan be open have more of an idea of what you want vs a plan as 9/10 it won't go as plan in my case at all 😬

Yes @breanamalia. That got me through and then once my son got older he got on a schedule and it was soo much better :)

Trust yourself and your intuition. Trust that you are doing a good job. Baby is going to cry and sometimes there is no apparent reason. It's nothing you did, baby just doesn't know how to tell you what they want.

@erikasmiles123, that is the most absolute truest truth! haha. i was so intent on that i literally slept EVERY TIME my daughter slept. i feel it was the number one thing that kept me sane through those newborn infant days!

It will be hard but at the same time fun. Trust your instincts. Do not panic about everything, if there's something really worrying you call your doctor. People including your family will want to tell you how to raise your child, while I find this nice of them sometimes it just doesn't help. You raise your child how you want. My uncles wife saw me drinking coconut water once and freaked out and told me not to ever drink coconut water if I was breastfeeding. Turns out, she drank coconut water and it gave her daughter colic. First, I drank coconut water the day my daughter was born and continued with no problems. Sonny point is, not everything that happens to another baby, happens to yours. If you and your partner are a bit off after baby, it's completely normal. Try to understand him and tell him to understand you. A baby is a life changing. Most of the time couples get into it because they're sleep deprived. Mom is tired from waking up every 2 hours to feed and change baby and dad is trying to get the hang of it. Moms hormones are still all over the place, dad must understand. Goodluck.

Newborns breathing pattern is unlike ours and can sometimes freak you out :) Sometimes they'll breathe fast..even whimper in their sleep..and then go back to normal breathing...oh and they can also hold their breath for 5seconds or more :) xx

It does get easier, the first few months are hard. Learning how to adjust from being a family of two, or maybe even it just being yourself (absolutely nothing wrong with that). You will lose your patience, you will get frustrated, you'll want to cry, or you'll be amazed by your little bundle of joy. Enjoy every moment you have, because one day they will be living their own lives as adults. They say sleep when the baby sleeps but it's not always easy, don't feel like you need to get everything done when the baby sleeps. Make sure you give yourself some you time, even if that's a bath for 10 minutes to yourself. You can't take care of your babe if you're not taking care of yourself.

You and your baby are both learning from each other. You will "communicate" with each other no matter what. Also, don't listen to what others say, you'll learn the ropes as you go. Of course take advice into consideration, but in the end you're going to figure it out on your own.

No matter how many times you think you can't do it, you can!

Every single birth and every single baby is different. So don't beat yourself up if something worked for your older kids and is not working for the new baby. I have 4 and they couldn't be more different and that was obvious from day 1. So take a deep breath and stay calm. You will learn what works for this baby just like you did for others.

To always attend to your baby's crys. That is there way of communicating with you. There is no such thing as smothering your baby to much by holding them. They want to be held and know that you are there. Let them know that you love them.

Be prepared for the post-partum hormones! It can feel like a rollercoaster of emotions. If you feel like something isn't right, talk to your physician. I personally was diagnosed with post-partum anxiety early after my son was born. If it happens to you, know you aren't alone, even if it feels like you are! Reach out and talk to someone. Also - SwaddleMe swaddlers are a lifesaver

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Sleep when the baby sleeps. I was In labor for almost 20 hours. I was feeling the urge to push for a whole hour and during that hour the nurses told me to push once and they seen a head. So the Dr was taking her sweet time to come in the room. Well after 1hr and almost 45 minutes pushing my son was born. The best advice i got was sleep when the baby sleeps and don't be afraid to ask for help. Take one day at a time. If you need a few minutes to breathe lay baby down in a safe place and walk away for a few minutes.

Trust yourself, you and baby are both learning be patient, if you're overwhelmed always ask for help or take a breather with baby in a safe place ( crib, bassinet, etc) rest when baby rests!

Relax and just breath everything will get better soon as you see the smile on your little babies/baby face

Keep your baby close don't take them a whole lot of places for a while let their immune systems build up

Relax, love your new baby and enjoy them. Speak up when things are hard, ask for help. Bring a bouncy seat (with straps) into the bathroom to shower and clear babies stuffy nose. Do what you need to do for your baby, don't feel pressured into anything, you're the momma now!

Before I left the hospital they showed a video on what it will be like when returning home and how family is there to help. And to let them help.... I cried cause I knew that will not happen at my house with 3 other kids to take care of and a spouse that works full time. When it all boils down the baby is the moms responsibility. So prepare your mind and body for long nights and no more than 2-4 hours of sleep at a time. It sounds scary but it's reality. But it helps to know your not the only one going through it. That's why I love this app. Being able to chat with other moms in the middle of the night, up with you for the same reason.

Don't be scared to dress him or her they arnt gonna break

Don't get discouraged if things don't go as you planned while in labor. I had a c section after 3 days in labor and I was devastated. 2 months later, I'm healed and at peace with what happened. Also don't worry so much about the messy house or the laundry, just bond with your beautiful baby and get some rest.

Sleep when the baby sleeps!

Get rest and trust your women intuition.. and don't let no one tell you how to parent

I would say trust your body. Both times I told the nurses they were coming and they didn't believe me. None the less when they checked the head was on its way out. Also first day home is about getting rest and finding a schedule. Don't let the first day overwhelm you.

Just because something worked for everyone around you doesn't mean it'll work for you do your own thing find out what works right for you and your baby

Trust your intuition, advice from others is good and all but if you feel it's not right for your baby or yourself don't do it. Sleep as much as you can when baby is sleeping. And remember everything gets better.

Take your time, trust your instincts, and when babies resting get yourself some rest!! 💗