Things I have found usefull to know or think of but only know cos i've had a baby B4.

[Mel A]

Just wanted to share a quick thought that has popped into my head now that I only have 3 weeks to go on baby no 2.

Baby Car seat instalation..

I know that we all get told to get it fitted early, however something to consider is that on the way to the hospital you may want to lay the front passenger seat down (what i wanted to do with no 1)

With a Baby Car seat nicely fitted this is pretty much impossible.

Or laying down in the back seat. again with the car seat in, no can do.

Just wanted to share, as it isn't something that comes up till right at the end.

Would love to hear anythings that others found usefull to know but only worked out once done.

Warm and sunny smiles

[Mum2Romone]

I didn't have breast pads the first time at home or in my hospital bag even...

When my milk came in I flooded the bed and all my tops before MIL to get to the shops for me....

Stock up on breast pads even if you don't intend to breastfeed you will need them

[crumpet]

i found libra maternity pads the best with the wings....

i learnt the hard way that wings came in handy

[Mel A]

Another one from me.

Everyone kept asking me if i'd had my show? How was I to know!

Now that i think about it, the cervix is about 8 cm long and the whole thing is plugged with this mucus stuff.

When i did have my show there was about a handfull of a snot like substance. So i really knew about it.

[crumpet]

Another one from me.

Everyone kept asking me if i'd had my show? How was I to know!

Now that i think about it, the cervix is about 8 cm long and the whole thing is plugged with this mucus stuff.

When i did have my show there was about a handfull of a snot like substance. So i really knew about it.

god i wish my cervix was 8cm long! mine is only 2.5cm on a good day, thats a whole nother story!

but interesting about the show i didnt have one so i would have had no idea!

[MrsBexie]

Ice packs are AMAZING for your hoohaa after labour... I never thought I would be putting ice packs in my undies LOL.

DO NOT go on a 8.5hr car trip 2 days after birth... made my recovery from stitches sooooo much longer and more painful!!! Although, it was to go to my grandad's funeral so i would do it again, but unless it's something like that, DON'T DO IT!!! LOL

[*LittleMissSummer*]

Pack LOTS of change of pants and undies!!! Thankfully i did otherwise i would have sent DP home to get me more. I was leaking my waters my whole labour and changed twice and by the third time realised i should just let it do its thing. then after the birth when they said you bled alot i didnt realise it was ALOT i went through another 2 pairs of pants and about 7 pairs of undies

Nurofen and panadol are a MUST i had 2 of each every 4 hours and it helped with the pain of my stitches.

Oh yes Breast pads are definitely another MUST my milk came in 3 days after the birth and i wasnt BF and i went through about 10 a day and during the night i soaked through my tops and even our bed...

I also stole about 5 packs of the hospital pads and jammed about 4 of them in my undies as well as a maternity pad otherwise i leaked EVERYWHERE!!!

Totally stuff NO ONE tells you beforehand.

[Babyluv]

Salt baths are fantastic for healing tears and helps with the pain from stitches.

I found tena lady pads great because they're extra padded and long so nice n soft on tears.

Do a breastfeeding class before you have bub if you plan on bf. I wish I had as bf didn't come easy for us.

The tens machine is an awesome drug free pain relief.

[KimmyF]

for ice packs afterwards, i wet a pad and put in the freeza and then put in on top of the other pad, that way as it melted i didn't need to change knickers and pjs as well. cant remember who told me that trick but it was one of the most helpful things i was told

[zap]

Lovely trainee midwife showed me to put two pads over lapping at the back to help overflow for the first week or so. I actually found the nice thick pads without wings better for me. Also as this is our 4th I will have baby seat all adjust ready to go in but intend to remove all car seats for the ride to the hospital!

[mel_cur]

Putting the baby seat on the passenger side helps a lot if you have a c-section, as I found it very hard to lean across to put the baby in the middle seat.

[~Stoked~]

for ice packs afterwards, i wet a pad and put in the freeza and then put in on top of the other pad, that way as it melted i didn't need to change knickers and pjs as well. cant remember who told me that trick but it was one of the most helpful things i was told

But only put a little bit of water in them before you freeze. My 'helpful' friend soaked mine, then froze... Wearing a cold brick in your undies isn't fun!

[Nelle]

I think my midwives poked a hole in a pad and put ice cubes in there - might be a quick fix worth knowing. I remember overlapping two pads too.

My main post birth tip is to have that wet flushable toilet paper (basically wipes for adults) - so soothing and handy for providing support during #2's.

Also for #1's, leaning forward, it's sort of like doing a handstand, lol, but you can avoid stinging. Taking Ural to neutralise the urine a bit helps too.

Clothes you can sleep in (think dance pants, cotton tops) mean you can answer the door or go outside essentially in your pjs. Handy for not worrying about visitors. A cardi/bolero thrown on hides bralessness pretty well.

Tinned soup is a completely acceptable dinner. I always forget about it and it's so easy.

That's all I can think of for now.

[HotI]

A squirt bottle of water is lovely to squirt at your bits while you wee (it dilutes the wee which can hurt if you have any sore bits).

[nothing2lose]

The thing I learnt is there are no medals given out for refusing pain relief when you need it.

That, and things probably wont go as you have planned.

[Taurean]

I think my midwives poked a hole in a pad and put ice cubes in there - might be a quick fix worth knowing. I remember overlapping two pads too.

Mine too. They actually had sticks, like icypoles, which they slid inside my pads. It was awesome! It really helped heaps with hemorrhoids too. When I got home, I filled up condoms with water and froze them which had the same sort of effect (just don't fill them up too much!).

Ice packs on your boobs when your milk comes in really, REALLY helps! I should have yelled out for help sooner!

A baggy top or jumper is handy when your milk comes in. My BF singlets and my maternity bras didn't fit nor did my zip up hoddie! I spent the day sitting around with my melon sized boobs out!

Utilise the nursery at the hospital if the hospital allows it - and don't feel guilty, you're not a bad mum if you do so! I was shattered and extremely emotional on day 3 (baby blues and my milk came in) and it was amazing how much 4 hours of solid sleep helped

Don't worry if you feel 'lost' as a new mum, it's completely normal and you will 'find' yourself again

[KimmyF]

yeah Stoked I probably should have put that in my post before lol! also only leave them in the freeza for a few hours at most that stops the "brick feeling"

[Heaven]

Buy black undies!

A heat pack is good! A tens machine is great! The shower is even better!

In the weeks before you have baby make lots of meals and freeze so you don't have to worry about dinner for a while.

DO NOT let the midwives grab your boob and baby's head and shove them together. Make them teach you how to attach properly. If you have pain, don't stop asking for help until you get answers, see an LC to sort it out ASAP!!