Don’t know about you, but I spent a tremendous amount of time planning for the baby.  In fact, I received the best compliment from my husband a couple weeks after Jellybean was born.  He said, “Great job planning, Babe.  We haven’t had to go to the store once.  You made sure we have everything we need for the baby.”  While we have clearly had to buy more stuff for our little girl since then, we did make it a good amount of time without purchasing anything.  But I digress.

I spent SO much time planning for baby I completely neglected myself!  Baby might come first, however I should have made postpartum planning for myself a higher priority.  Very little {okay, really zero} time and research went into what I might need.  I didn’t even bother surveying my friends to determine what the essentials were.

Please, PLEASE don’t be like me.  Do your research and ensure you have purchased stuff for YOU and of course for baby too! =)  As a new mama my mind was strictly on my newborn and if I had planned ahead for myself it would have made the first day or two at home a little easier.  Not to mention it would have saved my parents from running back and forth from Target to buy me stuff.  Hehehehe.

My postpartum must haves and survival items for post delivery include the following …

Postpartum Essentials Mama | General, Breastfeeding/Nursing/Cesarean | Life's Tidbits

GENERAL

Always Pads With Wings – Pretty standard item most women purchase pre-delivery.  The only addition I have to this is get multiple sizes and bring a few of your own pads to the hospital in case, like me, you don’t really like the ones the hospital provides.

Canon PowerShot –  I am all about my DSLR, however the ability to quickly capture moments remains key.  It’s lightweight and doesn’t take the ‘effort’ of shooting in manual with my Nikon D90.  Also easier to use for the non-shutterbugs, as well as increasing the odds you are present in future family photos.  Added bonus for this camera is it shoots well in low light … super helpful when trying to limit or completely eliminate using a flash on a newborn.

Belly Bandit – Although I didn’t purchase this or use it, because I didn’t learn about it until it was too late (boo hoo!) I would totally would have purchased it.  I heard good things from a coworker who had her baby shortly after me.  Just wanted to make sure it was on your radar.  :)

Netflix – Hello to the never-ending TV series!  Just hearing the theme song to Mad Men immediately takes me and the hubby back to the first few days and weeks home with Jellybean.  Having something to watch while nursing or while baby girl slept on me was so nice.  No commercials and I could start watching in the living room, pause it, and finish watching an episode on the iPad in the nursery.

NURSING

Soothie Gel Pads – These literally saved me from giving up on nursing.  The whole nipple cream as a necessity was 100% lost on me.  These soothie gels on the other hand … go buy them (or order them online) NOW!  Not trying to tell you what to do or how, but, yeah, buy them …  =)

Nursing Bras – I had purchased some nighttime nursing bras and they were a complete fail.  They provided no support and just didn’t cut it for me.   My mother was kind enough to buy like 10 different kids for me to try on and these were absolutely, hands down, my favorite.  Comfortable, supportive, reasonably priced and easy to unhook even when it was 2am and I was exhausted!

Nursing Tops –  Love these tank tops.  They were amazing for sleeping in and looked fine under just about anything I wore in the early days.  I love sweatshirts and since I had a winter baby knowing about this sweatshirt would have come in SUPER handy.

Water Bottle – There was something about nursing that immediately made me THIRSTY!  Baby would latch and I would be all “Hun where is my water?”.  My poor husband was constantly fetching water. :)  Not to mention nursing mom’s are suppose to drink plenty of water to keep their supply up.

CESAREAN 

High Wasted Underwear – We are talking granny panties to the extreme!  Just telling it to you straight.  I am doing you a favor saying this out loud … I promise … no one told me.  Regular underwear and my cesarean incision were NOT … let me repeat … NOT going to happen.  The incision was just way too tender.

Gas-X & Stool Softener – It’s somewhat embarrassing to say, but both these items are a must.  Sorry ladies … just keepin’ it real.  My doctor suggested the gas-x, which was honestly a life saver.  So yeah.  ENOUGH.  Said.  On to the next item…

Ibuprofen – 100% helps take the edge off the pain.  My doctor prescribed me with some high dose ibuprofen, but while we waited to have the prescription filled it was nice to have some in the house as back up.

Leggings and/or sweatpants – I seriously lived in sweatpants and leggings for the first few weeks (okay months) of Jellybean’s life.  For the first few weeks it was SO important to wear comfortable pants that were NOT low rise.  The incision was tender and limiting clothing rubbing on it, I think, really helped it feel better faster.

So moms, what postpartum must have items for Mama am I missing?

 

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Miss Blair Alexandra!  {aka Jellybean}

IntroducingBlair

Our beautiful baby girl {FINALLY} made her debut on December 31st at 4:03am.

I must admit, I have been more of an absentee blogger than I had planned on – for the past 3 weeks that is.  Being a new mom coupled with recovering from a c-section (which was completely unplanned and unexpected) it has taken me longer than expected to get back in front of the computer.  While I am not quite ready to tell Blair’s birth story, I am hoping to share my labor and c-section experience soon.

A few new mom tidbits:

  • I’ve officially been “christened” as a mom … I’ve been peed, pooped and spit-up on!
  • I feel like a walking zombie during night feeding though I’m slowly adjusting to getting up ~3 times a night to feed the little one … brings new meaning to the word exhausted.
  • I put a sweatshirt on the other day, realized it had spit-up on it and decided it was “clean enough” to wear given all the other sweatshirts were in the wash.
  • Getting to shower during the day is considered a significant win (seriously it’s the small things in life!).
  • The dog has decided the baby doesn’t exist and completely ignores her.  Sophi sits on my legs while I feed Blair and has smelled her a couple times, but that’s the closest the dog will get to the baby.  On the up side Sophi doesn’t bark when Blair cries (thank goodness!!).

Okay one more picture, because sharing only one just isn’t enough.  Oh yes, she is sucking her thumb on her birthday =)

Blair_thumb

Needless to say the husband and I are completely in love with the newest member of our little family!!!  More new mommy tidbits to come in the next few weeks.  Hopefully I am able to squeeze in some blogging between naps, diaper changes, feedings and just staring at my baby!

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My due date has come and gone.  Honestly, I am really ready not to be pregnant anymore.  We have been  eagerly awaiting Jellybean’s arrival since the 23rd.  Every time I wake up during the night I pause and think “am I in pain?” and/or “am I am labor?”.  The answer is always no.  As I’ve mentioned (probably too many times) I am having trouble sleeping.  This morning at 5am I made this little eviction notice. I got a good kick out of it and thought it was perfect for my 40 week recap post.

Baby Eviction Notice | Life's Tidbits

In early November both sides of the immediate family wrote down their predictions for Jellybean’s due date, time and weight.  The idea was the winner gets … bragging rights.  As of today only 3 of us are left in the running to possibly win the D-Day pool prediction.

Here is what everyone’s guesses were:

Nana – 12/13/2013 7:31 pm 7 lbs 11 oz
Papa – 12/24/2013 6:00 am 8 lbs
Auntie Amanda – 12/26/2013 3:27pm 7 lbs 2 oz
Mimi – 12/27/2013 6:20 pm 7 lbs 15 oz
Daddy – 12/27/2013 6:45pm 7 lbs 8 oz
Uncle Nate – 12/28/2013 4:45 am
Auntie Alison – 12/30/2013 12:30:13 am 6 lbs 6 oz
Mommy – 12/30/2013 8pm 7 lbs 9 oz
Grandpa – 1/2/2014 3:00 am 7 lbs 8 oz

Pregnancy Tidbits from Week 40

Cravings – No real cravings, however I am counting down to having a good ‘ole turkey breast sandwich sometime soon after Jelly’s delivery.

Maternity Clothes – Clearly this is still a yes.  I’ve abandoned my maternity jeans and have been wearing leggings or sweatpants exclusively this week.  Lucky for me this attire has been completely acceptable and I’ve only had to put jeans on once.

Symptoms – The carpel tunnel in my hands is pretty bad.  The doctor assures me it will be fine, however I am concerned it won’t go away after the baby comes.  Continued swelling in my hands/feet, congestion and trouble sleeping.

Movement – Lots of it!

Missing Anything? – Tying my own shoes.  Yup I just wrote that!  Though I technically can tie my own sneakers, bending over the belly is highly unconformable.  The pressure or whatever of doing so often makes Jellybean mad and she will move into weird positions after doing so.  I have therefore passed this oh so fabulous task off to my doting husband.  =)

Highlights – Spending some quality time with the hubby.  Though we haven’t done anything productive or “fun” it has been really nice to just hang out and get excited for JB to come.

Looking Forward To…  seeing what Jellybean looks like and {finally} naming her.

Fears/Concerns…  that whole giving birth thing seems a bit scary at the moment.  :)

Labor Signs – Still a big ‘no’ on this.  Every time I feel even a little pain or cramp I am ever so hopeful I’m in labor … unfortunately no such luck.

Any pregnancy tidbits you care to share?  I would love to hear them!

signiture_nicole

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My bag is packed and I’m ready to go!  We are going to have a baby … very, very soon!! {Could scream with excitement and fear too!}  All the books, apps, my doctor and our friends are telling me it’s time to get ready for the big day, which includes getting the hospital bag packed.  There are those who have been packed for a couple weeks now and others who won’t pack until they literally go into labor, so I think that means I’m in the middle of the pack.  At 1 day shy of 38 weeks I figured it was time the husband and I spent a little time getting our bag together.  I’ve reviewed a number of blogs as well as consulted some close friends to help determine what we should pack.  Some people used a lot of “stuff” at the hospitals while others found the hospital had 90% of what they needed.

HospitalBagPacking

Below is what ended up getting thrown into the bag the other weekend.  I will be sure to update you after our hospital stay with what was useful and well, what wasn’t.

For Me:

  • Slippers – To keep my toesies warm as well as to walk around in as needed.
  • Toiletries
  • Nursing bra – I have yet to invest in nursing bras, however I did purchase a two pack of sleeping nursing bras from Motherhood Maternity a few weeks ago.  I figure the night nursing bras will get me through the hospital stay and assuming I am able to nurse I will order some real nursing bras once I get home with Jellybean.
  • Going Home Outfit – I am thinking comfort is key when it comes to going home.  Leggings, t-shirt and a sweatshirt … no fashion statement from this girl (I hope that’s the right call!).
  • Hair Elastics
  • Chapstick

For the Hubby:

  • Change of Clothes – Boxers / Extra Shirt / Sweatpants / Half Zip Sweater / Baseball Cap
  • Granola bars for him to snack on
  • Toiletries

Other:

  • Boppy Pillow
  • Sucking Candy & Gum
  • Camera – DUHH!  We decided to bring the point and shoot camera instead of my SLR to ensure capturing Jellybean’s arrival is as easy as possible.
  • Phone Chargers
  • Ipad
  • Cash

For Jellybean:

  • Going home outfit x2 (newborn and 0-3 month sizes)
  • Bear hat
  • Headband
  • Stroller Blanket
  • Car seat and bases

What am I missing?  Is there anything on this list I won’t need?

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