Before I forget - for those of you FTMs having a hospital birth, there's a new post in March's postpartum thread by a mama who had her first baby yesterday - a planned water birth in the hospital. She makes some good points and I think her "team" was what allowed her to have the birth she wanted in that setting. A good read!
I like to stay in my bedroom (and use the bathroom right next to it) for a day or two after birth just so that my internal bits have a chance to heal. It's probably not at all long enough, but it's better than no rest. Plus, just laying in bed, gazing at your amazing newborn might be all the entertainment you'll need. :love
I just lay in my "nest" (my bed
) with baby and I eat, and I drink, and I rest/sleep, and we figure out nursing and get to know each other. God, how I LOOOVE those first couple of days!! I can't wait!!
My kids come to me and we have cuddles and they check out their new sibling and they're all very nurturing, asking if I need anything - so sweet.
Water is HUGE!
@Emanresu is so right about there being nothing like that thirst when baby latches on - and it goes on for weeks/months, so always have a huge pitcher of water every.single.time you sit down to nurse.
I have some mama cloth, but I like to use sposie pads at first just because there's so much goop coming out. The plastic-y pads can be very irritating but the cotton-y ones aren't bad - Kotex, I think, are cotton-y - Always brand are the plastic-y ones that just get so gross. Anyone know any organic brands of cotton-y pads? I figure it's only a week or so that I use the sposie pads, so I just grab the conventional ones and then switch to cloth once the discharge slows down.
As for food...like I said, I'm ravenous for a while after baby comes, like waaaay worse than pregnancy. I have a good care team between DH, my mom, and the kids. As long as I have the kitchen stocked, they'll make stuff.
I would absolutely make it a priority to have helping hands around for at least the first week, two if you can. Even if you need to hire someone, I'd do it. I've never had a c-section, but for sure you'd need even more help if you ended up with one. And I've been fortunate to never have PPD or PP weepiness (I'm in BLISS not being pregnant anymore and loving the new babe!) but you never know how you'll feel PP, so having a solid support network is a good idea.
LACTATION CONSULTANT! This was my biggest gaping hole of support with my first baby. If I'd known to hire an LC, our nursing relationship could have been saved. But I trusted that my midwife and the hospital nurses were professionals and if they couldn't help me, it was hopeless.
Same trouble with my second baby and I found myself an LC and she saved us. 15 years later and I still struggle with the guilt of not searching out an LC to help my firstborn and I. And those 8 weeks of blood, sweat, and tears will haunt me forever.
Maybe you'll be one of the fortunate ones for whom breastfeeding is the simplest thing in the world, but maybe not - so be prepared! I'd suggest finding an LC NOW, not waiting until you're a sobbing mess with bleeding nipples and a hungry baby in your arms. Find a few, meet them, and keep the card on your fridge of the one you like the most - then it's a no-brainer should any troubles arise, PP.