Things We wish someone had told us....... - Page 3

[spiritfreak]

Originally Posted by StephandOwen 

For those who anticipate this being an issue, here's what I plan on doing. I will make a sign. On one side will say "Welcome! Please come in!". The other side will say "Mama and baby are resting. Please come back later". We shouldn't get too many visitors at our front door, but MIL and FIL know our garage code so they just enter through the garage. This sign will go on the door in the garage that enters into the kitchen. Yes, it is specifically for MIL who I anticipate will be beating on my door 10 times a day.

This is such a great idea. Fortunately, my MIL knows I do not have an open door policy. Haha at least with her. Yikes.

[Poodge]

I agree with the doula! I wanted a natural birth with my first and thought DH and I would be fine, but once we got to the hospital and the pain really kicked in we didn't know what to do. A doula would have helped!! 

To get breastfeeding help as early as possible!

That you should really try to get the baby to breast in the first hour after birth. 

That maternity leave was not a time to accomplish things just because I was "off of work". 

[theboysmama]

Originally Posted by nicolian 

I don't know if this was the case for everyone.. but my clitoris hurt, bad, after delivering. It hurt longer than it took the rest of me to heal and still hurts once in a while. It's a sharp pain.

you most likely had a small tear and it possibly didn't heal right. I had that happen w ds3 and it eventually went away.

Originally Posted by capretta 

Uh, I wish someone would tell me how cabbage leaves are used and for what.

Cabbage leaves are awesome! They can be used to dry up milk by placing then inside your bra as they reduce swelling. If u r highly engorged and have way more milk than you need then using cabbage for short periods of time can reduce the swelling making your breasts way more comfortable.
Also sine cabbage is so great at reducing swelling a chilled piece or 2 in your undies feels awesome on your pp croch.

I wish I had been told all of the awesome benefits of consuming the placenta before my awful pp depression. There are tons of benefits like less pp depression, quickly contacts the uterus so I bleed less than a week, replaces iron, more energy, etc. I didn't figure it out till ds3 and it was amazing, have done it 3 times now. Putting small pieces in a smoothy is quick and easy and I can't taste it.

Wish I had known diapers aren't truly necessary. We eced w my 4th and was out of diapers by 7 months. She is the only one that doesn't have or hasnt ever had severe constipation issues.

Wish I had known that loss happens and is very common. There r a lot of things I would have done differently with my losses had I had more info.

[nicolian]

Originally Posted by purplerose 

Afterpains only hit me when the baby nursed. This lasted 2-3 days for me, worse with each baby. By baby 3 it was like having contractions everytime the baby nursed. But it doesn't last long! I barely noticed it after my first baby. I had painmed-free births but I wanted(and took) some ibuprofin during the afterpains with #3.

Nicolian-!! Ow! Maybe your clitoris had a tiny tear unnoticed by the OB? I've never heard of that issue! Did this happen with each birth?! I don't know how well I could handle that one! Did a doctor or anyone try to help any with that?

It's weird.. it didn't/doesn't feel like a tear pain. It hurts when, sorry if tmi, I'm just randomly walking or something and blood rushes to it.. and it's a sharp ache. I feel like the pushing broke something inside. lol Not really, but that's the sort of impression I get - that it's interior.

[sunanthem]

I'm sorry if I scared anyone with my afterpains story. I just really couldn't believe that no one had told me that before. It felt like more contractions.. but a bit different, since they were no longer pushing out anything.. it's just contracting to get back to it's normal shape. I will most likely take something for it if I need to but it totally surprised me last time, and yeah, it did happen more during nursing, and made that kinda uncomfortable. But, yeah, a few days or so, it gets less painful and eventually the pains stop. I'm sure it's different for everyone though, so you may not have any.

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by sunanthem 

I'm sorry if I scared anyone with my afterpains story. I just really couldn't believe that no one had told me that before. It felt like more contractions.. but a bit different, since they were no longer pushing out anything.. it's just contracting to get back to it's normal shape. I will most likely take something for it if I need to but it totally surprised me last time, and yeah, it did happen more during nursing, and made that kinda uncomfortable. But, yeah, a few days or so, it gets less painful and eventually the pains stop. I'm sure it's different for everyone though, so you may not have any.

I have been thinking about this thread for days, ever since the first person mentioned the afterpains. All I could think was "I wish somebody told me about these "afterpains" before I decided to have a second child".   I'm not afraid of the delivery, but I sure am afraid of these afterpains now!

[emmaegbert]

arnica helped me a lot with the afterpains. I also took some ibuprophen. But the arnica was great- the 200c kind (not the regular 30c). MW stuffed some in my mouth right after delivery, and I took it about every 15 minutes the first hour or two, then took it as needed after that. I had them with #1 but yeah, a lot more with #2. Have heard from others they keep getting worse! For me it was usually when baby latched on to nurse. Excrutiating. Like horrible menstrual cramps. 

[Leiahs]

I have absolutely no qualms taking prescription strength ibuprofen for afterpains.  They made the whole experience perfectly tolerable, and I only needed one or two a day for a few days.

[KristinaMarie]

I would agree with the after pains. They hurt, almost worse than the contractions for me. I took ibuprofen for them, and it seems to help alot. I am wondering how they will feel after I deliver the twins? Maybe the after pains fairy will be nice to me, as I will have to figure out how to nurse 2 at the same time. :)

[Korina Aguilar]

Oh m god. I am glad I found that out now. That is so freakin hilarious

[penguintattoo]

I wish I had known....

Your milk might take a few days to come in, it might even take 5

Your baby might cry....A LOT...nothing is wrong, she just likes to cry

Babies have personalities, they do not always enjoy being passed around, if this is the case take them back and do not feel bad doing so. Also it is not because you breastfeed, don't leave them enough, or because they have gas, they just prefer being with their mama.

[Jane]

Originally Posted by KristinaMarie 

I would agree with the after pains. They hurt, almost worse than the contractions for me. I took ibuprofen for them, and it seems to help alot. I am wondering how they will feel after I deliver the twins? Maybe the after pains fairy will be nice to me, as I will have to figure out how to nurse 2 at the same time. :)

Ibuprofen helps a lot, or, there are stronger options like codeine that are safe for nursing moms.  If it's really bad, don't hesitate to ask for something more.  It's usually only about 12 hours that they are unbearable if at all.  They are almost 100% always gone by day 4, and so much lighter on day 2-3.