After a quarter of a century working in the postpartum, breastfeeding and newborn fields in hospitals, schools, classrooms and homes, PLUS being a mom myself, here are some postpartum tips that I wish everyone knew BEFORE they have a baby: (in no particular order) -FED is BEST! Breast. Bottle. Pumping. Formula -Breastfeeding might be natural […]
After a quarter of a century working in the postpartum, breastfeeding and newborn fields in hospitals, schools, classrooms and homes, PLUS being a mom myself, here are some postpartum tips that I wish everyone knew BEFORE they have a baby: (in no particular order)
-FED is BEST! Breast. Bottle. Pumping. Formula
-Breastfeeding might be natural but that doesn’t mean it is EASY!
-When help is offered, accept it!
-It took 9 months to gain the weight, be kind to yourself! Your body looks and feels different.
-You may not immediately fall in love with your baby, that is ok.
-Animal aversion, yep, it is real. That sweet puppy or kitty that you loved to snuggle, might now drive you crazy.
-Don’t assume your baby will sleep most of the night or even more than a few hours at a time.
-Even though it is fairly common (1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men) to develop postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression, it doesn’t mean it is normal, it likely won’t go away on its own. Ask for help!
-You CANNOT spoil a newborn, so hold, snuggle and cuddle away
-Newborns really DO need to eat every 1-3 hours; their tummies are tiny. Wake them up around the clock until the pediatrician says it’s okay for them to go longer.
-Newborns like to be held A LOT, plan on snuggling, carrying and baby wearing A LOT!
-YES, your baby should be sleeping in your BEDROOM for the first 6 months.
-Cluster feeding is normal
-Your childless friends won’t get it, they need reminders that your priorities have changed
-You may miss your old life, that’s ok. You are learning more about your new roles and responsibilities
-Your body is not like a ball, you are not supposed to “bounce back”
-Postpartum isn’t just the first 12 weeks
-Your newborn is not supposed to be on a schedule
-Postpartum NIGHT sweats and HAIR loss are real
-Don’t compare what your newborn does with others. Each baby is unique and different!
-Self doubt is normal, it is ok if you make mistakes.
-If something doesn’t feel right after delivery, you can go in and see your OB/CNM before 6 weeks
-Trust your gut
-Set boundaries and know it’s ok to tighten or loosen them based on how you are doing
-You don’t own anyone else’s reactions, they do! Read that again!
-You are going to get a lot of unsolicited advice and opinions, take what you want and let the others slide off your back.
-Don’t tie your WORTH into how baby is sleeping or their behavior.
-Unfollow or mute social media outlets that make you feel LESS THAN
-Mom guilt is real, give yourself grace!
-Newborns’ fussiness increases around 2 weeks and peaks again around 6-8 weeks, this is NORMAL!
Postpartum support can help in so many areas. Part of my prenatal visit is going over and normalizing a lot of these PLUS helping families set realistic expectations. You are not expected to know how to do everything; let Colleen be your guide.
Call or text Colleen today to set up a FREE consultation to learn all the ways she can help your family plan, prepare and thrive during your postpartum period.
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