A letter to Mama's to be

Gosh, there are some things I wish someone had told me before my birth experience.
So thought I would put a few of them here. Just in case someone runs across them in there hours of desperate internet searches before baby arrives.


Why is there so many things around birth and post birth no one ever talks about?
Heres some things I wish I had known..


What no one tells you..

C-Sections
You might be getting one of these, even if you are planning the natural birth you are set on. I was not prepared for how hard recovering from my c-section was.
Things you need to know:
You won't feel anything. Just a little pressure but no pain. Put your trust into the doctors around you. They do these all the time. You might feel very cold during it, and you might have very powerful shivering. If its more then you can handle ask your doctor to knock you out. You can stay away just long enough to see baby come out and then take a little nap. You'll likely wake up shortly after they close you up and you will still be able to breastfeed. Don't be shy about asking for help if your feeling scared or overwhelmed while on the table. Speak up!

Have the nurses show you ways of getting up out of bed, this was really hard for me. I struggled to get up and its important you do it safely.
You might be on a liquid diet for 2 days after your c-section, this can make you feel like you starving. Especially if you want through labour prior to the c-section.

Baby Blues
Births hidden gem. Some woman get this terribly and others not so bad. I got it bad. I felt completely out of control. It started around day 3 and peaked at day 8. It took a couple of weeks for it to even out. If your feeling like your downing in anxiety and sadness ask for help. But keep in mind that it will get better. Look at all the Mothers in your life. They endured this major shift in hormones and you will too. Remember it won't be like that forever. Do things to make yourself feel better. For me it was going on walks outside, giving my baby a bath, bonding with baby doing baby message. Talking about how I was feeling with close friends and family. Your not alone.

The sounds
New borns and Infants are loud. They make the weirdest sounds when they sleep. Be prepared that you will spend the first two weeks learning their sounds. All the sounds can be frightening at first, but as you learn more about your baby the easier it gets. But those first few nights at home can be hard till you learn what all the sounds mean.

Cluster Feeding
If you are breast feeding there is a common night (day 2 or 3) that the first cluster feed happens. Baby will suck and suck, it might get unsettled and cry, no matter what you do the baby will want to eat or it will cry. Sometimes this is made worse if your milk as not come in yet. (if you have had a c-section it is likely your milk will be late) DO A FORMULA FEED TOP UP. A what you say???? Formula Top Up. Yes. give they baby some food. by day 3 they are starting to get hungry.
However the cluster feeding is very important to your milk production so still follow babies cues. But be prepared with some formula. Just so everyone doesn't got crazy and you both get at least a little sleep.

Breast Feeding
It is hard. It is not easy and can feel very unnatural. Get advice early. Rent a pump for when you get home. Use the pump to help bring your milk on by using it for 15 minutes after every feed. Ask for help, get someone to your home, show them how baby is or isn't latching. Even if you think you have it right. Get someone in to check.  Ask every midwife for advice on breast feeding, everyone has a little different piece of advice. Use that call button in hospital. Ask lots of questions.
If you need to have a break to let you nipples heal do it early. Don't let them get too damaged before you get help. You can pump and feed baby. GET LOTS OF ADVICE.
It will feel like your showing everyone your breasts. But thats just how it is and its okay.
It gets easier, just stick with us. Get support.