Comments on: Pregnancy: A Few Things I Wish Someone Told Me

By: Rachael Winterhalter

Rachael Winterhalter — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:06:00 +0000

Oh sweetie, you poor thing. No, your nipples should not bleed. Always make sure baby has duckie lips. Get a wide mouth and the whole areola should be latched onto. If it happens this time around, seek a lactaion consult

By: Mary Claire Burris

Mary Claire Burris — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 07:55:00 +0000

Awesome post Kortney, I am so proud of you!!! At a time when most people would only be concerned with themselves and what is going on with their body and new Babe’s arrival, you are blogging and helping others by sharing your experience! You Rock!! Also, had I ever had a baby, I had always decided I would have the baby in the birthing tub, it was named the LeBoyer method after a French Doctor. I watched a documentary on it when I was only a teen but thought that was the way I would go, as a “water baby” (Cancer the Crab astrological sign) myself, it was the calm and gentle way I would have liked to have brought a baby into this world. Whatever way you choose I know it will be the most enriching experience for you!!!

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:14:00 +0000

What I learned from my first delivery and helped me tremendously with my 2nd: the pain up until the pushing, and especially during the transition phase, is overwhelming. I agree with the lady below that there was a point when I was sure my body couldn’t handle it; that what I was experiencing was not natural. With my 2nd baby I had to literally talk out loud to remind myself that the worse the pain got, the closer I was to seeing my baby. Also, that I was the only one who could do the job at hand. With those 2 reminders, I was able to mentally let go of the pain and focus on completely relaxing my body during the contractions. Once you get through that transitional phase, the pushing is actually a relief comparatively. One other tip I learned is to drink a nice cold glass of OJ after birth. Sounds silly, but it helps replenish your body and get you back to normal a little faster. You are going to do a great job!! A wonderful paraphrase from the book I read about the Bradley method is that the medical staff (dr or midwife) are like lifeguards, they are only there to intervene in case you need help. You already have all the skills and everything you need to give birth.

By: Andi

Andi — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:16:00 +0000

I agree with Anne – get some nursing tanks and bras RIGHT AWAY – you won’t want to leave the house to get them later, and they make constant feeding so much easier (and more accessible). And load up on nipple cream – I liked Lansinoh’s but tried a bunch. Just make sure you have something cuz it hurts! Make ahead a lot of meals that you can freeze and reheat – you won’t feel like cooking but need to. Load up on things to do at home while nursing: movies/DVDs/iTunes episodes of a series you’ve wanted to watch are best because reading while nursing isn’t exactly easy : )

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 02:17:00 +0000

All I can say from my experience now one year ago is expect that everything will happen as it is supposed to. And each day at home with your infant gets easier in retrospect although you may not feel that way at the time! Give nursing a fair shot, it’s hard work- you and baby are learning! Good luck and I hope you come home happy with your experiences.

By: Tasha

Tasha — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 01:41:00 +0000

I gave birth to my daughter 8 weeks ago and it was an amazing experience! You just have to go with your gut instinct and remember that everything your body is doing has a purpose. I did a ton of research prior, switched from a hospital to a birthing center and chose to have a waterbirth, and though I was able to labor in the tub, due to complications I had to push out of the water but was still able to have the natural birth that I wanted. Walk as much as possible, take pictures, read up on nursing and baby’s first month at home (I’m just now getting around to reading what to expect that first week home!!), make some dinners to throw in the freezer and keep writing! These last few weeks and the first few weeks at home are time that you never want to forget! Good luck and enjoy your new little one!

By: Vivian

Vivian — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:58:00 +0000

I wish I would have known that my nipples would be bleeding the first few days of nursing and that my baby would only fall asleep on top of me the first few weeks. I did all the classes and books but they don’t mention these things. I am also 37 weeks with my 2nd pregnancy now and I feel a little better prepared but every pregnancy and baby is different.

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:47:00 +0000

If you plan on nursing your child, I recommend that you consider nursing-friendly clothing and some comfortable nursing-bras. I wish that I had read some “how-to-bathe/nurse/etc.” – that sort of literature on before-hand. For birthI recommend relaxation during labour – let go, don´t tense up, but let your uterus do its job – try to stay as calm as posible and do not welcome in anxiety at all. Contractions are there to help your little child out, and when tensing up during a contraction, the sensation will feel more like pain compared to when you manage to relax. I recomend reading Ida Gaskin or Frederick Leboyer, if you haven´t already encountered her and him. Try to enjoy the delivery – it is probably one of the greatest experiences life has to offer Have no fear Afterwards you will feel so cool

By: Jessie

Jessie — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:30:00 +0000

My biggest tip to you is to practice relaxing. Yoga is fantastic for this or you could try calmbirthing. Understanding what is happening really helps and to know that what you are feeling is perfectly normal- and unlike the pain you feel when you hurt yourself it is pain with a purpose and you are and will be fine.
Live life in the moment and don’t look ahead, you can deal with what is happening in your body now, but there is no way you can deal with the future before it has happened. Trust that you can deal with it when it happens.
Most of all know that birth is not something to be dreaded or feared- it can be an absolutely incredible experience! Wishing you all the very best xx

By: natural vbac mom

natural vbac mom — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:08:00 +0000

I felt the same as you…wanted natural birth and felt that women including my own mother had done this and my body would know what to do. I wish someone had told me that you will literally have a moment at some point where it gets so intense that you will be terrified that your body can’t live through this BUT everyone I know who had this experience when doing natural for the first time agrees with me that this moment is typically the point where your baby is soon to follow. I wish people had told me that. I might not have panicked as much in the moment. Also I wish people had told me if you make it to the pushing that’s the EASIEST part. When you push the counter pressure makes everything go numb. It’s such a huge relief compared to breathing through the pain.good luck. You will do great.