If morning sickness, food cravings, and tiny belly are long behind you, it's time you started thinking about the first couple of months with your little munchkin. Beside this being the happiest time, it will also be very challenging. There is a new life coming into your home and arms, and every mom wants the best care for her baby. You can't always plan on how life will develop, but what you can do is be prepared for the early start. Here are my 5 can't-do-without steps every new mom should take.
1) Create a Routine
Once you bring your little life home, there will be many changes both around and inside you. Your body, mind and heart will go through a transition, and the baby will have its needs as well. If you don't have a schedule, things can get hectic, and you might find yourself sleep deprived, caught in a vicious cycle of feeding, pumping, changing diapers, or putting the baby to sleep. As I was having a very hard postpartum recovery, I had to stick to a plan. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had any energy left to help myself heal.
Every 3 hours I would change the diaper, feed the baby, hold it to burp, and put it back in the bassinet. This created healthy habits in our lives - the baby was taken care of, and I had enough time to pump and rest for a bit. I bought enough bottles to only wash and sterilize them once daily.
2) Get a Pen and Pad
It sounds simple, but you will soon realize 'mommy brain' works a little different. Babies don't always eat the same amount, pee and poop at the same time, or sleep at regular intervals. You will need to keep track of these because not only do they impact the baby's progress, but they will also help you understand what might be wrong if the baby gets fussy. Moreover, these might be the first questions a pediatrician would ask. I wrote down the exact time of each diaper change, whether it was Wet (Pee) or Dirty (Poop), the amount of milk the baby would drink, how much I pumped afterwards and any changes in the baby's behavior. Not trying to memorize all of this helped me relax and put my mind at ease. Plus, when you have help with the baby and everything is written down, everyone can be on the same page - literally!
3) Stock Up on Zip Up PJs and Bibs
Who doesn't fall for cute baby outfits?! But the reality is you won't take the baby out too often at first, and even if you do, it will spend time in a car seat or a stroller. With so many diaper changes around the clock, you will want baby clothes that are easy to put on and take off, save you time and don't get the baby fussy. My baby Nika lives in Burt's Bees Baby Pajamas. They are made of organic cotton that is breathable and great for baby's skin. The loose fit allows for enough wiggle room and as they are footed the baby doesn't need socks. Newborns sizes come with convertible mitts with fold over cuff, so the baby can't scratch itself. The diagonal zip front will speed up changes. In order not to wash the PJs to often, get enough bibs. They are much cheaper and take up less space.
4) Buy a Bassinet with Wheels
Once you're home alone with the baby you might realize that babies have a funny sense of timing sometimes. They start crying the moment you go to the bathroom, or want to be held just as you start cooking. Our little angels always have advantage of corse, but if you want to stay productive, you may need to bring the baby with you around the house. A bassinet with wheels will help you move the baby without waking it up. They are also great for daily naps, especially if the baby's room is on a different floor. I got mine from Restoration Hardware but many other stores offer great ones as well.
5) Get Help!
We all want to be super-moms, and make motherhood easy breezy, but in reality babies require around the clock care. On top of it, there will be a lot of dirty diapers, blankets, clothes, and dishes. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help, even if only for several hours a week. This will allow you to plan ahead, know when you'll be able to run errands, get your home clean, do some shopping or simply sleep and recharge. I had to start working again after 2 weeks, so help was much needed! For the first two months we had somebody watch the baby for us, ordered take out a lot, and our cleaning lady came twice a month.
At the end of the day, don't forget that simply doing our best is enough. Not every day can we perform on the same level, and that is fine. Sometimes we will feel like super heroes, wake up energetic and do a lot in a day. On other times our best is going to be just feeding the baby and fall asleep in a messy home. It is okay! We've all been there. Try to take one day at a time, stay positive, give yourself a break and enjoy moments with your little sweetheart. They grow up too fast anyways...
