It’s true when they say having a baby is a life-changing experience. From late-night feedings to establishing a routine, having a baby makes everything different. Plus, there are the unknowns and the endless learning moments as you go along. Of course, all of the uncertainties make it all worth it because, in the end, you have a child to love.

Thankfully, you don’t have to go in this alone. Many moms share the same experiences that you may face. So, speaking from experience, here are tens things I wish I knew before having a baby. 

1. Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Is Real

You’ve most likely heard of postpartum depression (PPD). It’s common, and 1 in 7 women experience it during their first year after birth. Being a new mom can be difficult — especially in the first few weeks postpartum. You could be flooded with intense emotions and not realize that you’re experiencing PPD or postpartum anxiety.

However, being aware ahead of time will help you mitigate those negative feelings. Of course, it’s not your fault. You’re also not alone. That’s why it’s critical to seek professional help as soon as you feel like something is off. 

2. Birth and Recovery Is Not Quite What You Expect

Expect the unexpected when the time comes to have your baby. Some moms have dreamy deliveries and would do it all over again. Others, not so much. It’s crucial not to get too attached to your delivery plans and be open to whatever you have to do.

Being prepared for all birthing scenarios — and knowing that you’re not fully in control of how your baby is born will take loads of pressure off — especially if it doesn’t go according to plan. 

During recovery, witch hazel and frozen pads are your friends. You’ll be sore and might even have hemorrhoids — which are tissues of blood vessels in the lower rectum that become swollen after giving birth. Witch hazel and a high-fiber diet will ease the discomfort.

3. Breastfeeding Takes Patience and Practice

If you plan to breastfeed, be aware that it can be tough. Some moms feel guilt when their milk doesn’t fully let down. Yet, when you’re in the hospital, your baby only needs a few teaspoons of milk to feel full.

It’s also crucial to recognize and understand that supplementing doesn’t make you less of a mom. It makes you more of one because you’re on the lookout for your baby’s well-being. 

Just know that breastfeeding is great for your baby. However, it might not be best for you. So, do what’s best and consider working with a lactation consultant if you find it challenging to solve your breastfeeding problems.

4. Accept All the Help You Can Get

You might be used to doing everything on your own, but you’ll most likely need to adjust to how you normally do things. So, you’re going to need all the help you can get. No matter how many baby books you’ve read or baby gadgets you bought, things happen.

So, when you’re feeling the pressure, and someone you trust offers to watch the baby — let them. That way, you can take a nap, a hot bath or have time to get out of the house. You’ll want to do anything you can to make you feel calm and like a normal person again.

5. It’s Okay Not to Love Every Waking Minute of Having a Baby

Try not to feel guilty when you’re not in a constant state of bliss and love once you have the baby at home. Many parents go through this phase. But, guess what? It’s a lot of hard work, so that doesn’t make you a bad parent. 

After the baby comes, you’ll notice that not every minute is joyful. Just know that you aren’t alone if you feel this way. You’re still a good parent, and that’s all that matters. 

6. You’ll Find Your Normal Again

After being a new mom for a while, you’ll start to wonder if things will ever be back to normal again. Of course, your life won’t be back to the way it was before. However, you will succumb to a new normal — and there will come a day where everything feels right again. Just remember, though, that moment may not happen as quickly as you might expect.

7. Trust Your Significant Other

The hard part is that you know every detail about your baby, and trusting your spouse can feel difficult. However, it’s good to have someone else share the load. You’ll need to have a break at some point.

Although they might not help the same way you do something, it doesn’t mean that what they’re doing is wrong. Start sharing the responsibility as soon as possible, so both of you can learn together.

8. Everything Comes in Phases

Take to heart that nothing is permanent when it comes to struggles. Whether it’s clinginess, sleep difficulties or feeding troubles, remember to give it time, and things will change. Those phases can feel like they last forever, but one thing is for sure, they will soon pass.

9. Connect With Other Moms

The sooner you connect with other moms, the more quickly you’ll start to enjoy your new role. Meeting friends might be harder than you expect. However, it’s always good to join a moms’ group and relate to one another with challenging experiences.

10. Take Time for Self-Care

Try to make time for yourself. Self-care is so important, and you’ll need to be easy on yourself when times get frustrating. One thing that helps is taking a deep breath and reminding yourself that you and your baby are learning. 

Plus, if you get the opportunity, try and do one thing each day to get out of the house. Once you feel comfortable leaving with the baby, it’ll do good for both of you to get fresh air.

Becoming a New Mother

Being a new mom certainly takes time, patience and acceptance. There will be numerous ups and downs, but the important thing is enjoying that rollercoaster. Before you know it, your little one won’t be so little anymore. So, enjoy the tiny moments, let your baby’s laughter fill you with love and embrace all that may come your way.

The post 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Having a Baby appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

Labor is an intense time for a mother no matter if it’s her first child or her fifth. You want to have an uncomplicated labor and delivery to avoid any potential for birth trauma effects on baby. It’s important to take proactive steps during your pregnancy and make decisions that will help your body relax when active labor begins. Don’t shrug off well-meaning pregnancy advice from other seasoned moms, even if those pregnancy hormones are convincing you otherwise.

Follow these 5 tips and tricks that help make your labor and delivery easy and give your baby an awesome start to their life.

Maintain an Exercise Routine During the Pregnancy

Don’t let the fact you’re pregnant stop you from engaging in exercise routines. Instead, alter the routines to adapt to your changing body or participate in pre-natal exercise classes. Many gyms offer prenatal yoga, water exercises, Pilates, and strength-building classes. These classes are designed to accommodate the limitations of your body at all stages of your pregnancy and help you develop your muscles in preparation for birth. The stronger your abdominal muscles are during your pregnancy, the easier the push due to the fact stronger muscles enable you to exert less effort and energy. 

Take a Childbirth Class

A childbirth class gives you education and mental tools you can use during labor to help you feel confident with what’s about to happen. The act of giving birth can be a rollercoaster of emotions as the moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Having prior knowledge of the actions your body will take as it prepares to give birth works to relieve you of most anxieties.

You are also empowered during the birthing process because you’ll know if something isn’t going to plan and can speak up to let someone know that things don’t feel right.

“As a lawyer who specializes in birth injury laws, I highly recommend taking a childbirth class. Not only does it provide valuable knowledge and tools for a smoother labor, but it also empowers parents to advocate for themselves and their child’s well-being.” – Charles Gilman, lawyer at Gilman & Bedigian

Childbirth classes are also a place for you to ask questions about your fears. The teacher can help you resolve them during the class, but also show you how to deal with the unexpected during labor. Other expectant mothers are also given the opportunity to speak up which gives you the opportunity to learn that others share your fears and that you’re not alone. Being able to discuss these fears in the open can make them less scary and not so prominent when labor begins.  

Keep Breathing

The shock of labor may make you want to slow or stop your breathing in anticipation of the next wave. It’s an instinctive reaction to the onset of parturition and you may not be aware that your breathing has become irregular and shallow. You may notice that your breathing has changed when you have a moment to think, or there’s someone reminding you to breathe. Engage conscious control of your breath and engage the patterns you learned during childbirth classes. 

There’s the argument as to the overall effect of patterned breathing during labor, but the fact is, you need oxygen flowing freely through your cardiovascular system. The more you breathe, the more the blood moves through your veins, and the better your body works to push and deliver the baby. It also helps combat any feelings of panic you might experience during the event and lets you relax as much as you can.

Get Out of Bed and Move 

You don’t have to stay in bed during the entirety of your labor. Research has shown that labor is shortened, pain is lessened, and gravity provides help with getting the baby’s head into the pelvis. It’s recommended even for women with high-risk pregnancies as monitoring technologies enable medical professionals to keep an eye on the baby while the mother moves. There are other health benefits of movement in the form of more oxygen flow to the baby, uterine contractions are more effective at getting the baby into position, and the odds of a good birth outcome are increased. 

Moving around during labor has various physical benefits that are known to shorten labor. The uterus is a muscle and moving around during labor allows it to work efficiently. Being upright and/or squatting makes the pelvis widen and frees up room for the baby’s head to enter into the birth canal. If you’re experiencing a lot of discomfort, you can move yourself into various positions that alleviate discomfort caused by the body or the baby during labor.  

Consider Waterbirth to Help Your Body Perform Better

Sometimes it happens that your body resists all of your efforts to relax during labor. It’s not a failure of your ability to give natural birth so much as it’s a sign that your body isn’t afraid to send out pain signals at the highest level. When you’re in pain, your stress levels increase and you can’t always get them to go back down through mental or physical exercise. Experiencing high levels of stress during labor can make it harder for you to make it through labor and delivery because it’s harder to relax and let the body do as it needs to. 

Waterbirth makes labor and delivery much more tolerable by allowing your body to relax. Water births are just as safe as non-water births and can help you relax and makes it easier for you to push the baby out without tearing. If you choose to have a homebirth, you can get a Birth Pool In A Box Eco Mini Plus from www.waterbirthsolutions.com.

Going into labor is an exciting time, but it can be stressful as your body starts to prepare for the moment. These tips and tricks can help you have an easier time with labor and delivery so you can give birth as uneventfully as possible and enjoy your newborn with less pain during your recovery. 

The post Labor and Delivery Made Easy With These 5 Tips and Tricks appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

Becoming a parent is an exciting and joyous time, but it can also be daunting, especially for first-time parents. Fortunately, some simple preparation and planning can help ensure that you’re feeling confident and ready for the birth of your baby.

With this in mind, here are some useful tips on how to prepare for your baby’s arrival.

Create a Birth Plan 

It is important to write a birth plan to tell your midwife what sort of birth you would like. There are several different options to consider such as water birth, home birth, natural birth, and scheduled cesarean. The type of birth you choose is completely down to your personal preferences. You should research the options carefully and choose the birth method that makes you feel most comfortable. You also need to consider the type of pain relief you want during the birth or if you want to be brave and go med-free. Some expectant mothers opt to have an epidural to help manage pain, others rely on gas and air, and some mothers, like me, choose to have no pain relief whatsoever.

You can easily amend your birth plan later down the line, but it’s a good idea to have a rough plan prepared early so you can discuss your options with your midwife. This will also give you the chance to check whether your birthing center has the facilities available to accommodate your wishes (i.e. if you would like a water birth). You can find plenty of useful information and advice on how to write an effective birth plan by searching online. 

Buy Baby Essentials 

Most expectant parents start purchasing items like baby clothes and equipment early on in the pregnancy. However, with so much to consider, it can be confusing to know what to buy and when. After you have finished writing your birth plan, it’s time for a baby essentials checklist.

To help, here is a checklist of the must-have items before your baby arrives: 

• Clothing – Buy a selection of onesies, sleepers, hats, socks, mittens, and other baby outfits of your choice. Make sure that you also purchase some non-bio detergent that is suitable for your baby’s sensitive skin.
• Blankets – Purchase several baby-friendly muslin blankets.   
• Feeding – You will need to buy bibs, a breast pump, a nursing bra, milk storage containers, and a thermal bottle carrier. 
• Diapers – Get several packs of diapers for newborns. You will also need a changing pad, baby wipes, and diaper rash cream or powder.
• Transport – Purchase the best lightweight stroller and approved car seat you can afford. 
• Bedding – Decide if you want a crib and mattress or bedside sleeper, along with waterproof mattress, mattress cover, and blankets. 

Plan Your Finances 

Having a baby is not cheap. A recent study found that the average cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 17 is around $233,610. For that reason, it’s important that you plan your finances carefully and have a realistic budget in place after the birth. Fortunately, you can use a baby cost calculator to help you determine the cost of yearly baby essentials in your birth plan. Make sure you remember to factor in any anticipated time off work, or reduced income due to one parent staying home to care for the baby. You should also aim to build an emergency fund before your baby is born to cover you in any unforeseen financial emergencies. 

The post How To Prepare for Your Baby’s Arrival appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

When you are in the final weeks, it is usually time to pack your hospital bag. Which can be a source of excitement or what is to come and stress about under or overpacking. There are some things that you will want to pack for your comfort, others are things you will undoubtedly need – and of course items for your new bundle. The hospital bag will also be the place that you will pack what will keep you comfortable during labor too! 

It is easy to pack too much, especially when nesting kicks in. You might find you are packing everything and the kitchen sink. So here is a list that should help you curb the enthusiasm a little and stick to the hospital bag must-haves that you’ll actually use. 

Toiletries

If you are in for the long haul, then you might have time for a bath and a shower. It can be really soothing during the early stages of labor too. If not, then most of the time you will get the chance to have a shower and get clean after you have the baby. Get mini versions of what you are used to using.

Consider Bringing:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Shower gel
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Hair ties
• Face wipes or a reusable face cloth
• Hand sanitizer and hand lotion
• Eco-friendly newborn diapers and fragrance-free wipes

Feet

Slippers or socks with a non-slip bottom are great. Often women will get cold feet either during labor or after giving birth. Hospital floors can be pretty slippy, so these help on both of those fronts. 

Lip Balm

Or a multi use balm. Hospital air can be really drying, and the temperature in the rooms is typically pretty high. So pack a few lip balms that are easy to access. A multi-use balm is great if you have knuckles and elbows prone to cracking in dry air. 

Glasses

You probably won’t be reading and replying to emails while you are in labor, but you may have to read and sign paperwork at some point. You don’t want to accidentally consent to circumcision and have your brand new baby’s genitals mutilated! If you have spare glasses, pop them in the bag. 

Car Seat

While this is one of the hospital bag must-haves you can’t actually fit into your hospital bag, please don’t forget your car seat! It is often the case that you cannot leave the hospital unless your baby is safely strapped into a car seat. And before the big day arrives, make sure that you know how to fit and remove the car seat – because trying to do it on the day can be a nightmare. 

Going Home

When you leave the hospital, your stomach will look 3-4 months pregnant and will be very soft, squishy, and unlike anything you’ve ever felt before. Most women are comfortable wearing some supportive high waist postpartum leggings and a flowing top or a floaty dress.

For baby, consider a cute take home outfit since you will likely take a lot of pictures for Facebook and Instagram! Don’t forget a hat and a blanket too, even if it’s summer! It isn’t recommended that you put a coat or a snowsuit on a baby in a car seat, read more on car seat safety to help understand that point a little better. 

Pillow

Hospital beds and pillows aren’t comfortable, and often bringing your own along is a huge comfort. The smell is a powerful sense, and if your pillow smells of home that can bring a lot of warm feelings. Many women have a pillow that is shaped in a V or one that supports the bump, the great thing about these is that they can help with breastfeeding positions too. I love my Boppy pillow for breastfeeding and can’t imagine life without it. It’s so versatile!

While on the subject of breastfeeding, you will get a lot of information and support from the midwives, and potentially a feeding team. But, it helps if you read up on breastfeeding tips for new mothers in advance. 

Phone Charger

Before it ramps up, you might be playing games or chatting on your phone, and the use of wifi will help to drain the battery pretty quickly. So bring a charging cable! You will be glad your phone has 100% battery when it is time to start sending messages and photos of the new arrival. If you have a smartwatch, be sure to bring that charger as well! This is one of the big hospital bag must-haves you don’t want to miss!

Nursing Bra

It can be pretty tricky to get a well-fitting nursing bra before your colostrum turns into milk and your breasts size up. So try to find a soft and stretchy bra that you can quickly get your breast out of for feeding is one of the hospital bag must-haves you don’t want to forget.

We recommend Larken X nursing bra for those first few weeks when you need something comfy, versatile, and easy to get your breast in and out of. They are super soft and stretchy. It’s one of my favorite nursing bras.

The Larken X was also recently selected by New York Magazine and Lactation Consultants as a “best pumping bra” and was featured in a digital Times Square ad for Alex and Ani! 

The NEW Larken X nursing bra is exactly what new moms need because it’s easy to wear and doesn’t have any irritating snaps, zippers, clips, or tags. Just put it on over your head and breastfeed or pump, hands-free, in comfort. Being a new mom and figuring out how to care for a newborn is hard enough without irritating nursing bras. Thankfully Larken has made one aspect of becoming a mom a whole lot easier!

Underwear

Bring your most comfortable underwear and some maternity pads. Higher waisted underwear is often the better choice as things can all be a little delicate and having too much pressure on your stomach from tight clothing can be very uncomfortable.

I personally recommend grabbing two packs of Warner’s No Muffin Top Brief Panties in a size larger than you would normally buy. They are soft, stretchy, comfortable, and hold maxi pads securely in place.

Plan on wearing Depend underwear for the first day or two and heavy-duty maxi pads for 1-6 weeks afterwards. 

Finally…

Some of the most overlooked hospital bag must-haves are snacks! You don’t want to depend on whatever they have available in the cafeteria! Labor and birth use a lot of energy, and you might find what you craved while you were pregnant becomes an aversion after you give birth, so be sure to bring plenty of options. Don’t forget the coconut water too! 

The post 10 Things You Actually Need To Bring In Your Hospital Bag appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

The health of your pelvic floor determines your freedom of movement, gait and overall body posture. Any woman with a strong pelvic floor can throw her head back when laughing, jump, run, sneeze without any fear of leaking and gain an enhanced sexual feeling when they get back their intimacy after childbirth or during menopause.

Here are some useful tips for pelvic floor recovery.

1. Strong Exercises 

You need to try out exercises that strengthen your multifidus and transverse abdominis muscles which share the same neural pathway like your pelvic floor. When activated, these muscles should contract together to create a natural girdle in your body to protect the pelvic floor and spine from a huge load. You don’t need to suffer from lower back pain, prolapsed organs with dragging sensations or involuntary loss of urine. Exercising these muscles protects your pelvic floor from weakness and improves your gait, posture, contour, and range of movement. It may help if you try accessories, like these ben wa balls.

When you are on all fours, make sure your arms are directly under your shoulders. Your head and hips should be parallel to the floor. Tip the pelvis a little until there’s some tension across the base of your stomach. Breathe in to allow your tummy to expand. Hold your breath then use on hand to guide your belly button slightly inwards and up. Place the hand back on the floor then exhale. 

2. Breathing 

Breathing provides blood, oxygen and nutrients to every muscle in the body including the pelvic floor, allowing it to work effectively. To empower your pelvic floor, you should improve breathing especially from your diaphragm. Do this for 10 minutes every day to keep your pelvic muscles healthy and responsive. 

You should stand in front of a mirror and carefully watch your body. Inhale through the nose then watch as your stomach and lungs expand as the air fills in. Your chest should also expand slightly. Basically, it should be a third of your chest and two-thirds of your tummy expanding. Inhaling should sound deep and should last for about 4 to 6 seconds. You can now exhale to empty the lungs from the chest going downwards. This is an important, yet easy step, for pelvic floor recovery.

3. Regular And Consistent Bowel Movements 

Your bowel movements need to be consistent and regular. With a healthy gut, you can improve your entire well-being. Note that your gut hosts 100 trillion bacteria that support your detoxification as well as the immune, digestive and nervous systems. You can ensure a healthy bowel movement by taking a lot of fiber and water. Make sure you eat vegetables and fruits as well for the healthy bowel movements. If you need extra help, prunes and magnesium supplements like Natural Calm can help as well. Not putting undue stress on your bowels will help with quicker pelvic floor recovery.

4. Walking 

It boosts your digestion system as well as the parasympathetic system (relaxation system). It provides digestion, rest and repair among many other functions. There are so many stressful stimuli in our environment such as TVs, smartphones, computers, long work hours and family responsibilities. Take 20 to 30 minutes for a walk every day and try avoiding screens at least an hour before going to bed. That way, the parasympathetic pathway can be stimulated and encourage proper sleep. Walking is a great exercise for pelvic floor recovery and your baby will enjoy it too!

5. Proper Sleep 

Sleep is important if you want your body to repair itself. When you are asleep, your body handles the most effective psychogenic and physical repair. The optimal amount of sleep is 8 hours, but we know with a new baby that might be tricky!

How To Tackle Sleep Deprivation As A New Mother

Obviously, get as much sleep as you can, even if that means napping with the baby because, during this time, the body can heal, regenerate neural pathways in your brain and replenish the immune system as well as repairing the connective tissue and muscles. Getting a good night’s sleep also repairs your pelvic floor for more stability during your post-partum recovery period.

Having a baby is no easy task, but you can get your pre-baby body back and regain confidence with these tips for postpartum pelvic floor recovery!

The post 5 Expert Tips For Pelvic Floor Recovery appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.

Preparing for your maternity leave allows you to spend as many moments as possible with your newborn while you take the time needed to recover from childbirth. It can also help with new-mom jitters and the worrying that comes with having a baby and leaving work all at the same time. To make your pregnancy and maternity leave less stressful, here’s a checklist of five things you can do to get organized before you go on leave.

1. Look at Your Finances and Start Saving Now

Once you have a baby, the way you spend money changes. You either start spending more money, or cut back on other spending to compensate for the baby’s expenses. If you don’t want to sacrifice things you’re used to spending on, make sure you’re saving up money that goes to the baby. Get clear on whether or not your maternity leave is paid, and for how long. You want to look at your finances before you go on leave and make sure you can afford to go on leave for as long as you want to. While financial planning can feel stressful, it’s far less stressful than going broke while you’re on maternity leave.

2. Sort Out Childcare in Advance

Finding the right daycare for when you go back to work can take a lot of research. To ensure you have time to find the perfect one, try to get it done before your baby arrives. If you’re choosing a nanny instead, interview potential nannies in advance. Knowing who’s going to be taking care of your child once you go back to work can relieve a lot of the stress and worry that comes with taking time off. If you plan on breastfeeding (which you should!) be sure to get a high-quality breast pump too. Most people can get one for free through their insurance company, just ask your midwife or OBGYN for the form.

3. Get Your Health Insurance in Order

Don’t let medical bills create stress while you’re on maternity leave. Make sure you’re set up with affordable health insurance that gives you cost-effective coverage for you and your newborn baby, before you take your leave. Let your insurance company know you’re expecting as early as possible, and ask for information about the extent of your newborn’s care coverage under your policy. You may need to change to a family plan after yougive birth. Stay up to date on your insurance’s policies so you can avoid lapses in coverage.

4. Set Rules About Contacting You While You’re Away

Hearing from work when you’re not expecting to can be a cause of stress when you’re on maternity leave. Before you go on leave, take the time to set rules about who can reach out to you, what matters warrant contact, and how they should contact you while you’re gone. Note any critical events you’d like to receive updates on while you’re on leave, and make sure you have a boundary in place regarding all other issues. One way to help set boundaries for your maternity leave is to set up out-of-office automated responses for email and voicemail. Direct people to someone they can contact in lieu of you and let them know when you’ll be back.

5. Create a List of Resources

When it comes to having a baby, as the saying goes — it takes a village. Figure out what resources you’ll need during your leave and when you go back to work, and keep their contact information on one list. These might include people like house cleaners, dog walkers or emergency babysitters. Once you’ve found a pediatrician, make sure you have their number on the list.

Getting Organized Before Maternity Leave

If you take these steps one at a time to prepare for maternity leave, you’ll get started as a new mom on a more organized — and less stressed — note. These preparations can help reduce hangups and hiccups that arise while you’re welcoming a new family member into the world. Also, less stress means better bonding with your baby and a higher chance of getting a full night’s sleep. If you and your baby’s health and happiness is your top priority, you will both be better off for it!

The post 5 Steps that Will Make Your Maternity Leave Less Stressful appeared first on The Fashionable Housewife.