Sassy Pants says...1. Don't read every baby book, it'll scare the crap out of you!2. Birth, there is no exact way it'll happen, it will be your birth story, embrace it!3. People should keep their opinions and paws to themselves, before, after, and during raising child in question.4. When the baby is born, weight loss is not a definite.5. You thought your boobs hurt before baby, just wait, holy Madonna cone shaped bra!6. Baby girls can have a baby period, weird but true~that's a must know7. Buy plenty of pads, witch hazel pads, Ibuprofen, diapers and alcohol wipes before coming home from the hospital.8. Nurses will try to pick up your baby in their car seat and walk baby out to your car. Prepare to deal with this before it happens~ It is a law they are expected to follow ~ but freaks the crap out of new mamas!9. Bring shower shoes, flip flops and slippers to the hospital~ life is much easier.10. It took 9 months to put on the weight, give yourself 9 months to get it off. 11. Some retail stores have reserved parking for preggers. 12. Your body shape will most likely change ~ Forever! 13. Feed the Cravings in moderation, unless you are craving dirt or something, then call a doc. 14. The Belly button stub isn't pretty but you gotta clean well and keep it dry 15. Trust your instincts and stand by them. Better safe than sorry If you happen to be wrong you can blame that on being pregnant. 16. Once baby is born your xtra skin doesn't disappear, but it will shrink, don't worry. 17. Where your baby sleeps is a personal choice. Keep it personal unless you want forced opinions throw at you 18. Brand to brand, car seats and cribs are very different so do your research! 19. DON'T LISTEN TO ANYONE BUT YOURSELF! 20. Most babies grow out of newborn & 0~3 month clothing in a flash ~ not sizes I would stock up on if I were you. 21. Bring a camera with you everywhere! 22. Before you go to the hospital have a contact list with #'s. 23. Bring food and snacks. 24. EAT before you go to deliver (non~ c~section), if you can. If not there is no eating until baby is out! 25. Have your favorite take out menu with you. Hospital food might be free but it might not be food. 26. Bring 3~4 coming home outfits for baby. Most likely the second you get it on 'em they will "blow out". 27. Have a pediatrician picked out before you deliver. 28. Your feet do get bigger ~ no stilettos for now. 29. A good nursing bra will be your best friend, before, during, and after. 30. Standing in front of a hot shower with sooth your boobies before and after ( oh and you might leak when heat touches 'em, just so you know). 31. You can leak before your 3rd trimester. 32. Sleep when baby sleeps. 33. Take help when offered. 34. Nursing pads rock, check into them. They will save you more than embarrassment. 35. A baby swing can and will save your sanity. Every registry should have one listed!!! 36. Make ready to pop in the oven meals before you deliver. That way you can freeze 'em and use them when you need to. 37. Don't feel bad about being tired, you are making a miracle/ made a miracle. 38. Grown Up "timeouts" are necessary, take one every once and a while. 39. Diapers~ No need to stress, you'll figure out what kind you like best once you start using them. 40. BUY IN BULK~ Diapers, bodysuits, wipes, socks, sleepers, bottom cream, and so on,........... 41. Layettes Rock~ The one piece that has elastic at the bottom. they have fold over hands and the gown is long enough you don't have to worry about socks. They also make for easy diaper changing to. 42. Babies are born with long sharp finger nails ~ ouch! 43. Don't feel like you have to entertain unless you want to! 44. Baby Poops~ Are simply weird! I don't feel like being descriptive, however, you know that baby shower game with the dirty diapers, they aren't far off ~ Be prepared! 45. Most insurance companies don't pay for circumcision ~ It's a pay up front kinda thing. 46. You can tell the nurses who can and cannot visit you. Better yet make a list! 47. Most hospitals will stand by your "Birth Plan", don't forget to bring it with you, it goes in a file. 48. When getting ready to leave the hospital expect a delay of about 20 minutes to fill out gobs of paper work. 49. Expect the Unexpected! 50. Most preggie pants, not so cute. Invest in yoga pants, that spells comfy! 51. Don't forget to eat! 52. Taking your prenatal vitamin with milk or food right before bed might help it stay down. 53. Smell, things you see on T.V., and descriptions might cause instant sickness. 54. Sundresses make awesome maternity clothes. 55. If you had 200 kids, each pregnancy would be different. 56. Nothing can replace a bloomin onion and a best friend! 57. The Best and Only site I recommend for real info about real issues you might face is www.marchofdimes.org Gucci Mama adds...Not much actually. Sassy pretty much summed it up. But I will say that,1. Breast feeding might be the ideal way to nourish a baby, but it isn't always possible. Don't let anyone tell you differently, and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about not being able to or choosing not to. It is your decision as a mother. Period. There is nothing wrong with formula feeding. Repeat after me: there is nothing wrong with formula feeding.2. You must remember to take care of yourself, both ante- and postpartum. Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being is vital to the health and well being of your children. This means the obvious things like eating right and staying active, but it also means doing things for yourself - without the all too common "mommy guilt". Get a pedicure, see a movie, buy a pair of really impractical shoes, whatever helps you take a moment to remember that you are a woman AND a mother now, not now a mother instead of a woman. 3. Cherish the moments to yourself when your children are napping or are with a trustworthy caregiver. In the beginning you'll likely think you can't be away for five seconds, but you can and you should. It's good for both of you.4. You can and must put your foot down when it comes to people doing things YOUR way with regards to YOUR children. This means everything from letting the Nursing Nazis in the maternity ward know who's boss (more on the Nursing Nazis in a future post) to making sure the people that are around your baby know and follow your rules.5. Believe those who have already been where you are when they tell you how fast the time goes. It's incredible how fast they go from pink and squalling and two hours old to rambunctious and adorable at two years old to getting married at twenty two. It is as if you enter a time warp when your baby is born, and everything moves at twice the speed it did before. Cherish every moment you can.I think we could write an entire series on this, The Anti-Baby Book, it could be called. The main thing to remember is that all the written words in the world, these included, cannot replace your instincts, your love, and your mom's advice.Keep those questions coming! We're going to choose four or five at a stretch and answer them in one post, so think of some good ones for Friday!
