Comments on: Planning for Postpartum

By: Jeannie

Jeannie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:08:40 +0000

I like the Baby Hawk Mei-Tai. http://www.babyhawk.com/Gallery/

Not only are they for front carrying (baby just snuggles right in!) but you can also transition them to the back (what Maddie is currently doing). It’s the most comfortable one I’ve used and it’s not as large as a Moby Wrap which almost seems like you’re wearing another shirt. The BabyHawk works great in warmer climates. And they have super cute patterns, too!

By: Jeannie

Jeannie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:50:50 +0000

That is the BEST advice, if you can afford it. I didn’t have to recover physically when Warren or Maddie came along, but having a new baby in our home was hard enough. It was months before I could get back into a regular schedule of even basic things: cooking, dishes, laundry… Probably 6 before I could get anything accomplished after Maddie came along. If someone else can take care of cleaning your home and keeping it orderly it will add so much peace to your life.

Frozen meals are also crucial. Get the deep freezer!

I agree that you should plan for little or no sleep. Low expectations can only lead to pleasant surprises! And definitely sleep when the baby sleeps. Can’t stress that enough!

Great job preparing, Jenna! Good luck!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:55:55 +0000

Hey hun! Okay my biggest advice would be, don’t stress about what you do and don’t have ready in the nursery, your little one won’t care! Do: stock up on diapers, gentle unscented wipes, spit-up rags, and blankets (also I loved white onsies because you can bleach them!) Do: Make frozen dinners for your hubby and you to just pop in the oven for quick dinners. Don’t: stay up and watch your baby sleep ALL night (if something is wrong, they will let you know with the monitor) Don’t: feel like you have to let people come over right away, it’s okay to want space and want to do things your own way. Finally Do: spend time with your hubby, keep the love alive… if the baby goes down early, instead of fretting about the loads of laundry and dishes piling up, cuddle, laugh and smile with your husband, chores will always be there tomorrow…

You’ll be an amazing mother and although you’ll make mistakes (we all do!) you’ll learn from them and you’ll grown from them, and your little one will survive those little mistakes Love you Jenna!

By: Cate Subrosa

Cate Subrosa — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:09:53 +0000

We only used the Moby Wrap with Talia, but I have used other slings in the past when I was nannying, and nothing came close for a small baby. Once they’re bigger, Baby Bjorn-style carriers are excellent, but in my opinion the Moby Wrap beats the more basic sling-shaped slings (if you know what I mean!) hands-down.

By: Rebecca Walters

Rebecca Walters — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:49:43 +0000

I just discovered something even better than a stool softener and tastier too:)

Fat free brownie mix (here they have Krusteaz, but its not available in TX as far as I could find)

3 cups water and 3 cups of fiber one cereal blended together

1 teaspoon baking powder

bake at 350 for about 16 minutes

Trust me:)

By: Rebecca Walters

Rebecca Walters — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:46:53 +0000

I also have heard from many different people that Moby is the best…I have tried out the Baby bjorn and the sling one…can’t remember the name.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:37:44 +0000

Also, I need Depends ALREADY. I will for sure have them stocked by the time baby comes.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:37:24 +0000

Casserole shower is the BEST idea ever. I want to throw one for the next pregnant woman I know.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:35:35 +0000

I’m trying to sleep as much as I can right now because I know that it’s never going to be like this again!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:34:33 +0000

Taylor, I hardly think I am “uneducated” when it comes to birth. I certainly don’t know everything about hospitals and I freely admit to that, but I can only write from my own experience and viewpoint. If there are women out there that want to write blogs about hospitals, how wonderful the care is, and why women should choose that route, they are certainly free to do so. I wouldn’t call them “pathetic like an anti-mormon” for never acknowledging that they don’t know anything about alternative birthing options if they never wrote about them.

At this point, if you’re so frustrated by my posts, I think you should just stop reading. I’m not going to change my stance that women should look into ALL of their options, and that the current medical birthing system in the US is seriously screwed up, so I think you are going to continue to be dissatisfied with what I write.

Starting your own blog with the viewpoint of your choice might be a great solution for spreading the truth, as you see it, about hospital births, and other such topics.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:30:40 +0000

Alicia,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I made a few notes for my own postpartum period based on what you said.

And I just picked up two pairs of Yoga pants from Costco for $20. I think I’ll go back and get another set!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:29:40 +0000

Thanks Katherine. Really.

And Taylor, if you ever read this, Kathryn is a very hospital friendly pregnant lady who disagrees with the way I’ve presented the hospital experience in the past. And yet I count her as a friend because we are able to have constructive, respectful discussions about our ideas. Those are the kind of comments/feedback that I think are the best to leave.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:27:54 +0000

Oh, I love this list idea! That will help TH as well as he attempts to keep the house in order without me.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:27:01 +0000

Did you try out different wraps/slings before you decided on the Moby? I don’t know enough baby wearers to try out the different options for free and there are so many out there (as with cloth diapers) that I feel overwhelmed in trying to decide which to invest in!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:23:58 +0000

I adore you Kristin (I hope you know that!). Thanks for taking the time to stick up for me.

P.S.-Yay for your new blog! I just subscribed.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:21:35 +0000

Thanks Chelsea. It’s always nice to hear from people who don’t necessarily share all (or sometimes any!) of my beliefs but can still stand up and say that I’m not doing as bad as the critics would make me think regarding my attempts to convey them.

By: Have I posted this thought before? « Connecticut Postpartum Doula

Have I posted this thought before? « Connecticut Postpartum Doula — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:27:53 +0000

[...] A great blog post that I found on ’That Wife’ blog: http://thatwifeblog.com/2010/01/planning-for-postpartum/ [...]

By: Rebecca Walters

Rebecca Walters — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:59:47 +0000

Oh ya, and make sure to read those sleep books BEFORE baby comes. Not going to happen after he/she is born.

By: Rebecca Walters

Rebecca Walters — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:57:27 +0000

Lower your expectations about everything…blogging, picture taking, getting ready, being socially correct, returning calls/emails/comments, sending out birth announcements, going to church, doing your calling, etc… There’s time for all of that later. (this goes for pre-birth as well)

Don’t feel bad accepting help.(even if you feel great) Live it up! You only get this experience at the most every 10 months:)

Don’t be surprised if you feel totally great and ready to conquer the world after birth. It happens!

Enjoy that special time. Like everyone says…they grow SO fast.

I totally agree with the advice on getting a good lactation consultant….maybe it will be a smooth process for you and your bebe and maybe not, but it’s good to be prepared. I have probably mentioned this to you before, but if you get some serious thrush that won’t go away there is a magical creme that a non-chain pharmacy can mix up for you (with a prescription) called Newman’s Nipple Cream. Magic. I was about ready to throw in the towel with Talmage and breastfeeding, but that week happened to be the beginning of National Breastfeeding month and I happened to be quoted in an article, so my own quote gave me the desire to try a bit longer and with the help of Newman and his creme I made it to one year which was my goal.

Oh ya. And Depends. Those older folks have something there.

A housecleaner. Patricia Mendoza is great. I can send you her number. Even if it’s just once.

One more idea that Tyler’s cousin did on baby #3. She had a casserole shower where instead of bringing gifts, all the guests brought a casserole or other meal that she could put in the freezer for later use.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:44:57 +0000

Aha… I’m not pregnant yet, but stalk your blog , and am TTC so I’m obsessed with all things pregnancy and baby related. I think this is a fabulous post of your’s, and something to really keep in mind when I do begin really planning.

As I was reading Bree’s comment I was making a mental note to buy a chest freezer before a baby’s born to store meals. And I was making a mental layout of how my freezer looks now and how no more food could possibly fit (but they aren’t prepared meals).

It does sound like a good idea, doesn’t it?