1st Time Parenthood

I did a lot of reading before having our baby. A lot of Pinterest research, trying to live through other people so I'd have a clue of what to expect. I love to know what the worst case scenario is so that I know it can't be any worse than that. Call me a half glass empty kind of person but I thrive this way. It allows me to feel like my experience wasn't as bad and when something goes bad I'm ok. So take what I say with a grain of salt. This is my blog and it's my memories. If any first time mom is looking around and finds my blog I want you to know a few things. The most overall being this is LIFE. No two people are alike and our experiences are each unique. I was blessed with an incredible pregnancy. Not every day was roses and daisies but it was really pretty great. I love being pregnant even with the stuff that goes with it. Birth was amazing! Being a woman is an absolute blessing and nothing has made me feel more complete.

I read so many warnings about having babies so here are mine. But instead of telling you how terrible it is like most blogs I read; it's just the honest truth of how I felt.

Pregnancy:
1. You WILL get bigger. Everyone will tell you so and it can get annoying. But what no one told me was that I would have to wait FOREVER until people did so. At 16 weeks I was asking the Dr. why I wasn't showing. Well guess what? Each body is different and each of us carries differently. I'm 5'3 1/2'' and I didn't show until about 26 weeks. Just like the Dr. said. But when I did start showing I was SO proud of it! I had to ignore the idiots that told me I was lucky because it's my first baby and just be proud of what my body was doing. I realized too that this was the only time in my life it's ok to get fat and for good reason. That helped me a lot.
2. People do NOT randomly attack your belly at every chance they can get. I'm telling you now I've had 1 stranger at my yard sale touch my belly...and a co-worker. I expected from the sounds of things to get attacked at every angle by psychos at the grocery store, church, work, walking, that would try and rub my bump. No sir. Thank goodness. I guess people have learned some self control. Though perhaps I have a sign on my forehead that screams "DO NOT TOUCH." The thought crossed my mind...
3. If you live near family see them often. If you don't. Go see them before you have the baby! We decided on a last minute trip to meet my parents for a short weekend. I emotionally needed that visit. Yeah it's great to have co-workers and FaceTime but it made such a difference to be with them in person. To have them touch your belly, shop with you, take pictures and just enjoy time together before all your lives change...for the better. I promise!
4. Listen to your body. I don't think I felt labor pains and even the day I went into the hospital I felt like I could be pregnant for another month. I knew I wasn't going into labor and my body wasn't quite ready. I don't regret my experience but I know for next time to listen to my body.
5. Life isn't that much different pregnant. I thought I'd feel really different. I thought it would turn my life upside down and it didn't. I was able to exercise a pretty normal routine (staying away from abs and high intensity). My Dr. wanted me to go less than my 8lb weights and I am so proud to say I used those weights on my due date! (a personal goal of mine). And I think keeping up with my regular lifestyle was how I kept my sanity, bounced back and that both baby and I were able to endure labor for as long as we did.

Birth:
1. You will scream, and sweat like you've never done in your life...said no one ever! When it was time to push I seriously went into this zone. I closed my eyes, and opened as needed, focused and listened to my nurse. My mom and B helped hold my hands (and legs) and were there for support but it was seriously SO surreal to watch myself go into this focused state...for 3 long hours.
2. Expect the unexpected: My birth story is not a simple get in, break your water, have a baby all in 24 hours or less. It was LONG. It wasn't what I had planned. But what mattered was that I was ok and my baby was ok.
3. What birth plan? I'm glad I didn't have one but I'm glad I had thought some things through. They will do what you want but only if you ask. Be your own advocate.
4. Bring your camera EVERYWHERE! You have to document and don't want to miss a thing!
5. Enjoy the process. Listen to your body! Eat when you need to. Sleep when you need to. There is no need to entertain. Keep the amount of people around you as small as possible.

The first 3 months of doom...bliss:
1. You will never sleep again: So you give up a few hours of sleep. But for real people, you are so blissfully happy with this baby you don't even notice. When you feel tired you sleep. You nap a couple times a day and you know it's all going to be ok. I loved every second of this tired, sweet phase.
2. Breastfeeding is awful, painful, the terrible horrible, no good, very bleeding thing: Oh gosh people really?! Seriously?! I do have friends who find it tough to breastfeed but this was not my case...I have to thank my mom though. ( TMI ahead!) She told me to use a wet washcloth in the shower for the last trimester and to gently scrub my breasts before I gave birth and work up to a harder scrub. I had a Dr. tell me I'd start labor...so not true...see birth story...and I continued to do it after my mom convinced me. BEST IDEA EVER! No cracking, no bleeding, used lanolin like twice and the same with the cooling gel pads. It's not that scary. Engorgement is a little strange and pretty painful for a day or two but after that it really does work itself out.
3. You go through a truck load of diapers! Yes and no. Ask your nurses to get you as many diapers as they can at the hospital. I went through a Target box of 100 and a regular sized pack of pampers and we were ready for size ones. Yes. YES be that crazy person that stocks up on diapers. Lots of 1s (like 3 boxes, 2s (about 2 boxes), 3s(4+ boxes.) You will use them eventually. Wipes I only used a Costco box and maybe 4 regular containers. I split up my wipes a lot at that age and don't use a ton.
4. They cry but it's so sweet and innocent. Nugget cried quite a bit and I noticed it was after nursing. So we gave him mylecon(sp) drops for about 2-3 months and that seemed to help.
5. Photograph, photograph, photograph! I am SO glad I have so many pictures! But don't forget to just cuddle and enjoy them. This stage FLIES! Cuddle, love, and enjoy them while they're not moving!