Sleeping Like a Baby: Newborn Sleep Tips

There isn't anything quite like slipping peacefully into dreamland ... and staying there for a full eight hours. I lovvvve my sleep and before I got pregnant would sleep deeply, long, and wouldn't wake until those precious eight hours had ticked away. I would usually wake up slowly, taking in those beautiful morning hours, and then find my way to the bathroom to get ready for the day. My, how times have changed.

The first few months of pregnancy weren't too bad at all {sleep wise}. The little baby inside me was still small enough that I could sleep on my stomach with ease. Then the second trimester set in. Tossing and turning all night got really old, really fast. I longed for the nights when I got eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Eventually, though, at some point during the night I found the perfect spot and got enough sleep to hold me over until my afternoon nap. That was when I was pregnant.

Fast forward with me now to the first day of my son's life. I was exhausted, but also in awe at this brand new baby! Words couldn't describe how proud, happy and amazed I was. It was a great day. He slept like a champ in the hospital and the nurses would wake me when it was time to feed him. I loved it. Life was good.

Then, we went home. I don't know what happened, but our baby did NOT want to sleep. At all. Those first few nights were rough and all I wanted was two hours of sleep. Two! But there seemed to be something wrong all night and he just wanted to be held and cuddled ... How could I say no to that?!

After weeks of waking every couple of hours I thought I was going to die {ok ... it wasn't that bad. But it was pretty bad.} I was not used to this whole lack of sleep thing, and I was definitely not a fan. I started talking to everyone I knew and got their advice on teaching your baby to sleep. And oh my goodness am I glad I did! If only I had known this before our baby was born ...

The moral of the story? Don't lose hope! Though it may feel like you will never get another restful night again, you will!

Here are my top three tips to helping your baby {and you} fall fast asleep:

Establish a ROUTINE. I can't stress this enough. Babies love being on a schedule! Try to put your babe down at {relatively} the same time every night. And before wrapping them up burrito-style, have a few set activities that you do every night. {Example: Every night we give our son a bath, lotion rub down, put on jammies, read, sing, pray and say good night} This seems to clue babies in and lets them know that this is different than just nap time.

Watch the ATMOSPHERE. Who likes going to bed with the lights on and lots of noise?? Not me. Setting the mood for sleep may help out more than you think. Dim the lights and talk softly.

Try to let them FALL ASLEEP on their own. This will help out big time in the long run.

 

—Jessie

 

Giveaway Winner

The {randomly picked} winner of our first giveaway is Brittany!

Congratulations, Brittany. You have 48 hours from now to e-mail us with your shipping address to claim your free copy of Mommy's Little Breastfeeding Book. 

Our next giveaway is coming soon, and you're gonna love it.

Breastfeeding Basics & a Giveaway

It's true — breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for your rapidly growing baby. It wards off infection and sickness for your baby. Breastfeeding helps you lose weight and it guards against postpartum depression and cancer. And it's free.

But even with all the incentives, breastfeeding can be difficult. I heard that a lot before I had my baby, and always wondered what could be so hard about something so natural. And honestly, it was not as hard or painful for me as some people made it sound. But here are some difficulties I did have:

Soreness, but it wasn't unbearable and it didn't last too long — maybe a week or two. I remember my mom telling me it gets to the point where you feel no soreness at all and I was so excited for that day to come. It did! Also, I felt like I was a milk factory because of how often I was feeding my baby (about every hour and a half in the beginning). I remember thinking "Is this all I'm going to be doing for the next year?" but the feedings get much less frequent and less time-consuming. Overall, it just takes some time and practice to get the hang of it, but in my opinion, it is well worth any inconvenience it may bring. Here are some things that will help:


Get Support. If your husband knows how beneficial breastfeeding is and how important it is to you, you are much more likely to stick with it.


Get a Boppy pillow. This magical donut-shaped pillow will become your breast friend.


Love your Lanolin. It will help you avoid sore, cracked nipples. I recommend Lansinoh Lanolin. All you need is one tube. I didn't even get through half of mine.


Feed your baby right after birth. Your newborn's suckling instincts are at their highest right when they exit the womb and are placed on your belly. Let your baby bob his/her head around and find his/her way to the nipple.


Get all the help you can. Every hospital has a lactation consultant — a one-on-one breastfeeding expert to show you the ropes. She will help your baby latch like a pro from the start, and that is invaluable. Also, take advantage of workshops your hospital offers. Nurses are always right at your fingertips and can help you as many times as you need.


Pump it up. Get an electric or manual breast pump (depending on how often you are planning on pumping) and learn how to use it before baby comes. Pumping can relieve engorged breasts, and it's nice to have some breastmilk stocked up once you introduce a bottle. That way, your husband can feed the baby while you get some rest. Also, it comes in handy when you have a babysitter, you're driving, or you're out and about and don't feel like whippin' it out in public.


Go Under Cover. Get a nursing cover. That way, you can nurse comfortably when people are around and not have to leave the party. Check out this post too see my favorite (and free!) nursing covers.


Don't Give Up. There is always help. Find your local La Leche League group for hotlines, classes and other resources to help make breastfeeding a positive experience for you.


Read all about it. There are plenty of breastfeeding web sites and books out there. Speaking of which ...


It's time for the first (of many) Belly Mamas Giveaway! One lucky reader will win a free copy of Mommy's Little Breastfeeding Book by Michele Carnesecca, a nurse and lactation consultant at American Fork Hospital in Utah.

This little book is a quick, easy read and will get you off to a great start with breastfeeding. The giveaway ends March 15th and the winner will be notified by e-mail, with 24 hours to claim the prize.


For all entries, leave a comment with your name and e-mail address and how many entries you are earning with each comment.


For one entry (required) become a follower of Belly Mamas by clicking on the right. Tell us your name and e-mail address in a comment and tell us you follow.


Extra entries:


(4 entries) Add the Belly Mamas button to your own blog and leave a comment here with a link to your blog. (If your blog is private, you'll have to invite us to view it :) )


(3 entries) Send an e-mail to 10 of your friends with a link to Belly Mamas, and copy bellymamas@gmail.com.


(2 entries) Become a fan of Belly Mamas on Facebook and leave a comment on the wall.


(1 entry) Blog about Belly Mamas on your own blog, and leave us a comment with the link to your post.
 
Good luck!
 
—Kim

Pregnancy and Exercise

Excuse me ladies, while I take away your pregnancy card for a minute.

While there have been (and will continue to be) many completely justifiable situations that have merited the pregnancy card, exercise isn’t one of those — despite what you may have heard.

I’m just going to lay it out — exercise during pregnancy is good. Very good. In all reality, there are very few circumstances where it isn’t. I know how much you would love to use pregnancy as your ticket to take a nine-month break from anything that involves physical activity, but trust me, you’ll be sorry later. Nine months later to be exact. Here’s why:

• Exercise can help alleviate some of the common pregnancy woes — back pain (by strengthening the muscles that support the back) and increased circulation (which means less varicose veins, leg cramps, swollen ankles, and a couple other things that I don’t really want to delve into on a public blog — feel free to look them up).
• Exercise can help lull you into a more peaceful, deeper slumber — which will continue to get more difficult as the pregnancy goes on. Believe me, you will want all the help you can get when it comes to sleep.
• Exercising throughout pregnancy will help decrease unnecessary weight gain, making it easier to lose the pounds post-baby.
• Exercise has been shown to make you feel good. Something to help balance the crazy hormones? Sign me up! This was one of the best benefits for me. I felt like it was the one thing that made me feel like myself, and I craved that.
• Exercise can help prepare your body (and mind) for childbirth. It increases the strength of your muscles and your cardiovascular system, both of which you will use extensively during labor and delivery. I have no doubt that my weekly strength and spinning classes contributed to my awesome delivery and recovery. Both the physical and mental endurance you develop through exercise can help you go through labor like a champ.
• Exercise will give you more energy throughout the day. Sure, during your sweat fest at the gym, you may not be feeling energetic. However, increasing your endurance and strengthening your muscles will make it easier to do everyday tasks that will become increasingly more difficult as your belly expands (rolling over in bed, anyone?).

Have I convinced you yet? In case you don’t believe me, go here and here to read more.

That being said, there are things you need to be careful of.

• Always consult your doctor to get the OK before you start any exercise program.
• Avoid exercising to the extent of being breathless. Also avoid contact sports, exercising in hot weather, and lying flat on your back (once you get into your 2nd trimester).
• Above all, listen to your body.

Alright, I’ll get off my pro-exercise soap box. I guess that’s what a degree in Exercise Science has done to me. See ya at the gym, ladies.

—Karlee


Stay tuned this week for the first Belly Mamas giveaway!

Packing for the Hospital

I have a feeling that most first-time moms are like me when it came to packing the hospital bag. Secretly hoping my little bean would come early, I had the bag packed (ok, and my husband’s too . . . ) and in the trunk of our car way before necessary. But erring on the side of too early never hurts. It sure beat trying to get everything together while timing contractions. As for the bag itself, however, in hindsight I could have made things easier on myself. So, here are my recommendations when it comes to THE BAG:

• In all honesty, the only things you really need for baby are the car seat (install this a couple weeks beforehand too, to avoid stress) and a cute going-home outfit (Don’t worry though, your baby won’t go home naked if you don’t bring an outfit. The hospital will provide little cotton t-shirt things for your baby to wear during his or her stay, and you’re free to take baby home in this if you’d like). The hospital will provide you with diapers, wipes, and really anything else baby needs while he/she’s there. Live it up.
• Socks were the only clothing item I wanted during my hospital stay. If you feel more comfortable in a nightgown than the hospital gown, you can bring one, but it’s probably going to get nasty. So my advice? Just simplify. Wear the gown, but bring socks to keep your toes toasty. That said, you will want to bring an outfit you can go home in. It’ll probably have to be maternity clothes (sad, I know, but have hope: your pants will fit again soon.) Since you’ll still look 4-6 months preggo.
• Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste for you and your husband and a hair brush. Don’t worry about other toiletry items, since the hospital will have shampoo (it’s not Pantene, but it worked great), soap, and sanitary pads (essential). If you have to have make-up, bring it too.
• The people at a certain mother-related store basically told me that if I did not buy five nursing bras and nursing pads the hospital would kick me out. This was not true. In all likelihood, your milk won’t come in until after you leave the hospital, and even if it does, one or two bras will suffice, and the hospital will provide nursing pads.
• Bring a camera/video camera, and bring your charged cell phones. You’ll be bursting to tell everyone you just had a real live baby.


In the end, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s not what you take with you, but what you take away.  As you leave the hospital you won’t be upset that you forgot to upload your “birthing playlist” to your iPod. You’ll be focused on your new beautiful bald, diapered roommate.

-Noelle

What to Expect (and What not to Expect) on your Labor Day

"Hee, hee, hoo" are the gentle sounds of my breathing, the lights are dimmed with soft music playing in the background. My epidural kicked in hours ago and I am sleeping through contractions while my husband holds my hand. The Dr. arrives, and with just a few pushes, my precious baby is out and placed in my arms.

Oh wait, that was just a dream.

Although for many, labor has been known to be just as dreamy — for many, it has not.

After all, it is called "labor" for a reason.

So, what I'm going to tell you is to expect the unexpected, while remembering through it all that the reward is great.

When I went to the hospital to give birth to my little boy, I had planned on an epidural.

For various reasons, no epidural was received.

It was the hardest thing I have ever done.

Before I went in to give birth I expected the nurses would treat me and my baby like just another patient coming through, but instead they were especially kind, going out of their way to hold my baby and visit with me.

And although my labor was completely different than what I had expected, it was beautiful all the same.

If you ask me, nothing makes you feel stronger than giving birth to a sweet new baby.

So, here are some things I think you can expect:

You might have some Braxton Hicks contractions well before your baby is ready to come. While these can be annoying and even sleep-depriving, know they are preparing your mind and body for the real thing.

When the real thing has begun, your contractions will get increasingly more intense and closer together. The best thing you can do in early labor is try your best to get some sleep. Your body is about to run the marathon of labor.

The majority of hospitals won't admit you until you are dilated to four centimeters.

You will most likely have a support team (nurses, doctor, significant other) there to cheer you on.

If you are prepared, your experience will be more pleasant (study up on natural birthing techniques even if you are planning on receiving an epidural. Epidural or not, approach labor with a strong, positive mind, believing you are strong and that your body was made to do this.

The pain of labor will end, whether by epidural or by the actual arrival of your baby.

If you deliver in a hospital, you will most likely be moved into a separate recovery room after your baby is born. Most woman stay in the hospital for 24 to 48 hours after delivery.

One thing is certain — your life will be changed forever, for good :)
happy laboring.

—tamara

stay tuned for tomorrow's post on what to pack for the hospital!

Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues

A couple caveats to begin this post: first, postpartum depression and the baby blues aren’t the same thing. They differ in duration, severity, and treatment. Secondly, since I don’t have firsthand experience with postpartum depression, the main focus of this post will be the baby blues. However, I would like to mention post-partum depression, since it affects a significant number of woman who have babies. In fact, some women go through pre-partum depression as well, experiencing medical depression before the baby arrives. I’ve had several friends who have experienced post-partum depression, and once on the other side they’ve stressed the importance of 1.) acknowledging the problem, 2.) opening up to people you trust about what’s going on,  3.) and getting help in the form of counseling, medication, or both. Post-partum depression isn’t in your head, it isn’t a result of you being weak or not loving your baby enough, and it isn’t likely to just go away on its own, You deserve help, and so does your baby.

And what about the baby blues? Before I had my little boy, I steeled myself for my hormones to be out of whack, having read everywhere that I’d probably be a little bit down a few days after the baby arrived. I figured that since I was prepared, it’d be easier to handle the “blues.” And  I guess in a way it was helpful to know what I was feeling was normal, but it didn’t help tame those hormones one iota. 

The best way I can describe my experience with the baby blues was “unbalanced” (which I guess makes sense, given the hormonal situation). One minute I felt so lucky that my baby was healthy and that he was finally here, and the next minute I felt suddenly overcome by sadness and worry. Extreme worry was a BIG part of my experience with the blues. A couple days after I had my baby, I heard about a woman who had dropped her baby in the hospital my sister worked at (the baby was fine) and I nearly came unglued, just knowing the same thing was going to happen to me, I couldn’t stand watching the news because anything bad that had happened in the world had happened to somebody’s baby, and what if that happened to my baby someday? I know all mothers worry about their babies in this way to a degree, but it’s the degree that made it the blues. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the terrible things that could befall my little boy, topped off with feeling cruddy and just plain not like myself a lot of the time.

The good news? It felt like I’d never feel “normal” again, but after a couple of weeks, that’s what happened. It really helped to share my feelings and worries with my husband, who, knowing I wasn’t quite myself, listened patiently and let me get it all out. It also helped to write what I was thinking and feeling down in a journal—another way to get it out of my system. So hold on, find someone you can trust, and have hope. However, remember that if your worry and feelings of sadness persist, worsen, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, there is help.

—Noelle