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This is the newborn survival guide I wish I had before welcoming my first baby.
I am willing to bet you’ve spent your pregnancy buying all the baby necessities, preparing the nursery, and checking off the to do list that comes along with tending to a newborn baby. I know just how long that list can be. Especially if you’re a first time mama. But have you taken time to brainstorm actionable steps to make the fourth trimester more smooth?
One thing I never carved out time to do while pregnant was to research tips and tricks that would simplify my life as a new mama. And boy do I wish I did. Becoming a new mom is the most beautiful experience, but it can also be really challenging. Sleep deprivation while healing physically and emotionally is such a big task.
Which is exactly why I wrote this newborn survival guide. This post includes all of the things I wish I knew before having my first baby. Things I will definitely remind myself of and embrace as I get ready to have baby number two!
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Newborn Survival Guide
1. Sleep When Baby Sleeps
I am sure your family and friends have already told you this one. The newborn phase is exhausting. Some babies are more demanding than others, but new mom exhaustion can really take a toll. You might notice that you’re more grumpy or even zombielike.
I remember being two months postpartum and going to the kitchen to make an egg salad sandwich. I mashed the hard boiled eggs but completely forgot to mix in the mayo. Instead, I spread it on my slices of bread, which is SO not the same! Exhaustion can make you do some crazy things.
2. Give Yourself Grace
Be kind to yourself. You just birthed a tiny human.
Adjusting to motherhood is not something that just clicks. There is an adjustment period. No matter how many parenting books you’ve read, how much research you’ve done, or how many moms you’ve talked to, you are still going to take time to get into the swing of things.
Whatever you can’t get around to, it will be okay. The sky will not fall if there are dirty dishes in the sink, counters to wipe, and a big load of laundry waiting to be washed. It will all get done eventually and everything will be just fine. Give yourself grace mama.
3. Embrace the Chaos
It is easy to let the overwhelm of your new life take over.
Instead of getting worked up, remind yourself how blessed you are to finally have your little darling in your arms. Kids grow so fast and this moment does not last forever. So cherish it.
Embrace all the craziness that life with a newborn brings. You will miss these days.
4. Accept Help
You know the saying it takes a village? I swear by that.
Accept help when it is offered. If your parents offer to come over for a bit so you can squeeze in an afternoon nap, take them up on it. If your sister volunteers to do laundry for you, say yes.
Little things go a long way. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
5. Get Into a Routine
I swear by having a routine. I know, I know, you’re probably thinking yeah right lady I have a newborn. I am not suggesting that you have a rigid routine. I recognize the early days are all about survival.
What I do suggest is adding activities to your routine that are going to help you heal. For me that looks like adding daily walks into our schedule, beginning my day with gentle yoga (once the doctor clears me of course), and enjoying an afternoon cup of coffee while reading or blogging. These are activities that I enjoy. Activities that make my day more exciting.
Make time for activities you enjoy.
6. Plan for Recovery
Something I neglected to do the first time around was researching what products would help me during the fourth trimester. I vividly remember lying in pain and frantically ordering items from Amazon to help me heal. Don’t make the same mistake I did. It made surviving the newborn phase harder and I wish I was more proactive. Lesson learned this time around!
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7. Plan for Breastfeeding
I also wish I was more educated on breastfeeding as a first time mom. My daughter had a tongue and lip tie and man did that make breastfeeding rough. I ended up seeing a lactation consultant and learning a lot. Breastfeeding dramatically improved, but I also wish I carved out time to research items to help me with my breastfeeding journey BEFORE my daughter arrived. Learning while going through my breastfeeding journey felt too stressful.
(RELATED POST: 23 Breastfeeding Must Haves Every Mama Should Own)
8. Plan Dinners in Advance
This is a HUGE help. Make freezer meals ahead of time, buy easy dinners to heat up, or buy ingredients that make for yummy and easy crockpot meals.
(RELATED POST: 7 Simple Postpartum Meals That Your Whole Family Will Love)
9. Tune Out Unsolicited Advice
As I am sure you already know, some people are more opinionated than others. Before becoming a mom I was not ready for the unsolicited advice. I probably should have known but I honestly never thought about it. Not until I started getting it.
Most people mean well. They probably think they are being helpful. They may not realize that they’re coming off overbearing and overwhelming you.
My best advice is to do what works for you and your family. When you want advice on something reach out and ask. Some of my favorite resources are new moms, books, and my pediatrician. Tune out unsolicited advice.
10. Use Your Voice
As you become a new mom, you are learning and setting new boundaries. You know what you are okay with and what you are not. If people cross a boundary, correct them.
Set clear expectations. For example, some parents want to be the only ones in the hospital room during labor. Myself included. If anyone in your life is pushing to be there during birth, shut that down. What you say goes. Everyone else needs to fall in line. Don’t be afraid to use your voice. Your nuclear family comes first.
11. Prioritize Your Basic Needs
This is a hard one, but it is so important. I struggled with this during the newborn phase. Between adjusting to motherhood, tending to what felt like an always hungry baby, and finding balance I struggled to prioritize my basic needs. I skipped showers more often than I’d like to admit.
Then it clicked. Our basic needs are important too. A happy mama makes a happy baby.
12. Take Advantage of a Weekly Pill Organizer
Since we are on the subject of taking care of your basic needs…use a weekly pill organizer! With so many things going on, it is so easy to forget things. Like taking your important medications. Make your days less chaotic with a weekly pill organizer.
If you forget whether or not you took your medication, the weekly pill organizer serves as a helpful reminder.
13. Set Timers
Set timers to remind yourself about baby’s next diaper change, the next feeding, or even how long your baby has been awake. A hungry and fussy overtired baby is NO fun.
14. Use Apps
Take advantage of parenting apps. I used the Ovia Parenting app and plan to use that again with baby number two. I mostly used it to find the answers to questions that popped up and to log each feeding.
The first few weeks can feel like such a blur. So having an app to remind yourself about when your baby is probably hungry is incredibly helpful. It was for me- especially as a new mom.
15. The Secret to Removing Stains
Nobody prepared me for how many blowouts there would be and how many clothes I’d need to treat. I tried all the things and nothing cleaned the clothes as well as this stuff right here. It worked on the first time too.
I store it in a spray bottle to make the cleaning process quick. I spray it on the stain, let it sit for about ten minutes, and then throw it in the wash. Bye-bye stains.
16. Shoulders on Onesies Trick
This one took me entirely too long to discover. Have you noticed the shoulder flaps or envelope folds on onesies? They make it easy for parents to slide the dirty onesies off over the legs instead of having to lift the messy onesie over your baby’s head.
If you already know about this genius hack, you are doing better than I was.
17. Breastfeed While Laying Down
Between breastfeeding, carrying your little load around, and chasing after your other kids, you’re probably feeling the strain in your back right about now.
So do yourself a favor and breastfeed your newborn while lying down. Lay on your side and position your baby on his or her side too. This is an especially helpful position if you’ve had a C-section.
18. Don’t Forget to Alternate Breasts While Nursing
To avoid becoming engorged and to ensure that both breasts are producing the same amount of milk, make sure you are alternating breasts during nursing sessions.
I always left a hair tie on my wrist on the side that I needed to feed from. This helped me remember which side my baby should feed on.
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