Fear not Parenting Penlops!

I recently experienced the overwhelming joy of sharing with two people we love and cherish the news of their pregnancy. Hooray!!!

This is even more exciting than usual, as this couple have endured much heartbreak and loss in their journey to becoming parents. On top of that, they are the smartest, funniest, most loving couple we know; and they recently got married too!

So Yummy Mummy and I were discussing all things nursery, pregnancy, etc the other evening and I got to thinking about the things that my husband and I have learned/ appreciated/ used since becomming parents nine months ago.

So here it is: my A-Z brainstorm of hopefully usefull information/ advice for prospective parents! TA- DA! I am sure that I could add to it on many of the letters but in the 30odd minutes I spent on it this is what sprang to mind.

A is for ASSERTIVE

If you have a clear idea of what you do and do not want then be calm but firm on it. Don’t be railroaded by well meaning family or friends or medical staff into doing or having something you do not want.

B is for BUMBO! 

Bumbo chairs are brilliant, compact, lightweight, portable lifesavers that babies can enjoy from 3 months. They can safely sit before they can sit! Cooper loves his and we love it even more. Ours was third-hand (and came with a tray), Cooper is its fifth baby and it’s still like brand new!

 C is for CLOTH NAPPIES:

Not even in place of disposable, use whatever suits you to actually cover bub’s bum but just have the old fashioned square ones on hand anyway. Some uses include for sick ups, tummy time (one to lie on and one rolled up under bub’s chest), change pad covers, burping, and my Dad assures me that they make the best man-shed rags for polishing the car, etc, when you’re through.

 D is for DECLUTTER

My nesting instinct didn’t really kick in as much as I became suddenly paranoid and had to take action! Aware that my husband has childhood asthma and hyper sensitive to the clouds of hair that our darling doggy sheds every day second, I decided that we need to seriously de-clutter. This is an ongoing project involving relentless nagging on my husband to complete jobs around the house that I cannot physically do, along with in depth study of the daily tasks on the wonderful blog, Beautifully Organised (click here). I have disposed of crockery, emptied numerous junk drawers, identified and eliminated clutter-collecting zones in our home, and pushed poor Benny dog out of our bed and off the carpeted areas of the house (he is comforted by spending lots of quality time with me while on maternity leave, copious liver treats and the recent purchase of a hot water bottle). De-cluttering minimises the occurrence of unnoticed choking hazards, helps me navigate a dark house at all hours of the night and makes housework speedier so I can get back to watching Project Runway while Bubba Ganoush sleeps.

 E is for ERGO

I actually do not yet own one, but I have experienced it! Ergo baby carriers are absolutely amazing and I am still saving up for one because though our baby is nearly 10months old, you can carry him in an ergo until he is 20kg! Plus we plan to have a number two baby at some stage...

F is for FOAM WEDGY PILLOW!

My foam wedge pillow was a Godsend! It supported my enormous belly in bed during pregnancy to help me get comfortable enough to sleep (a difficult task- see P) then when it was all over and I had shrunk back to size, we used it to prop up one end of Bubby’s bassinet mattress to help him breathe easier at night. I am no Dr of course but ever since doing this at the advice of a work friend we have had not one single issue with colic symptoms. Hurrah! The wedgy is still under the head end of bub’s cot mattress.

G is for GYM

Not for me though, for baby! Y’know those floor gyms? Very, very good invention for entertaining bubby before they can crawl, roll over, etc. Look for one that has a combination of colourful prints and textures as well as some black and white items because high contrast items are easier for babies to focus on.

H is for HELPLINES:

Including the Australian Breastfeeding Association (who also have a fabulous website) helpline- 1800 Mum 2 mum- and Tresillian. They are operated 24 hrs, 7 days, and can be a god send for putting a frantic new mum’s mind at rest.

I is for INTERNET!

A recommendation here and a warning. Firstly, familiarise yourself with the wonderful Australian Breastfeeding Association Website. Secondly, beware of Dr Google! At two weeks old Coop had a very minor heat rash that I swiftly diagnosed as meningococcal! Fortunately Mum was still with us to calm me down (and the rash with a cool bath, hydrocortisone cream [1/2 per cent], and nappy free time) or I would’ve bulldozed my husband into rushing to the emergency room.

 J is for BabyJOGGER!

Our BabyJogger City Select is amazing! We spent a long time shopping around for the right pram for us and we still have not found another we prefer. It has a travel system and two seats; it is narrow, lightweight and strong. It is RED! We love it.

K is for KALEIDOSCOPE

Kaleidoscope is the Newcastle Children’s Hospital network. They are wonderful. The Children’s hospital is amazing the staff are wonderful the baby care nurses are so helpful, providing free home visits and sleep specialist advice, plus much more.

L is for LANSINOH

A LANOLIN ointment specially formulated to condition nipples for breastfeeding and treatment or prevention of cracked nipples. A midwife gave me a sample tube in the hospital and thanks to her I never had a problem. You can put it on before and after every feed when they are bad and before you know it it’ll be pain free feeding :o)

M is for MOTHERSAFE

MotherSafe is a free hotline based at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Randwick. They have access to all of the most up to date research on exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They offered invaluable advice for me concerning my prescription medications including my antidepressant. They also know all about commonly used treatments like infant wind drops, teething gels and help women make informed decisions. 

 N is for NAPPYBAGS

Nappy bags! We have two! I love them both and use them both. One is larger and canvas so is really great for travelling and the other is a jumbo handbag that fits everything in but suits most outfits. Both are, importantly RED so they match my pram. LOL.  Make sure you carry the following:

·         Nappies (duh)

·         Lotion (have a spare that stays in the bag so you don’t have to repack it)

·         Disposable change mats

·         Water (just for you if breast feeding, then also for baby once he/she is older)

·         Hand sanitiser

·         Spare clothes, right down to a singlet, because a Poo-Nami threatens all garments.

·         A wrap.

O is for OINTMENT

Nappy cream, sweet, sweet nappy cream. There are gazillions but I have had success with Lucas’ Pawpaw, and Sudacream. All are available from the supermarket. Not flashy just effective, and trust me I did try a couple of expensive ones I ordered on the ‘net.

P is for PELVIC PAIN

Yes I just found out that the deep, agonising aching in your pubic bone throughout you third trimester has a name! SPD (symphystic pubis dysfunction) is a condition arising from the shifting and rearranging of muscles and ligaments ‘down there’ along with all of the extra strain on your pubic bone but it can be treated with physiotherapy, acupuncture, pelvic floor exercises and exercising caution. Oh and no your vagina is not falling off. PHEW!

 Q is for QUESTIONS!

I had no experience with babies prior to having Cooper so I found that in the first month or two of his life I had a notepad and pen nearby all the time so that I could record all those questions I would come up with during those long, long initial mid-night feeds. I found myself quite forgetful at this stage with all the sleep deprivation and the shock of my new situation so this was very handy. I also could make notes on the timing and duration of his feeds (until I found an app for it!) and the appearance and frequency of his poos!!! You’d be surprised how much detail Drs and midwives like to hear on this subject.

 R is for BATH RING

A bath ring is a little “chair” that suctions to the base of the bath so that baby (baby who is old enough that he can sit up) can be washed without fear of him slipping over. Our little man loves his, and it is a blessing for a mum or dad’s sore back.

S is for Swaddle suits.

I love them! Especially as bubby get’s too big and clever for muslin wrapping but isn’t big enough to stop swaddling. Don't be alarmed that they look like straight jackets. We used the Love to Dream brand and I’ve seen since that they even have ones with detachable arms for the transition period.

T is for TEETHING RINGS

The gel ones, refrigerated- but not frozen- before use.

U is for UNDERWEAR!

Trust me, if you have big boobs, maternity/nursing bras SUCK! This is because they have no underwires. I am sooo tired of my boobs looking saggy! Unfortunately I have been promised by several different ladies that to wear a regular bra is to almost promise yourself mastitis, and I must admit that I’ve never even looked like getting it. I purchased three (the minimum you could probably get away with!) from the UK (pretty, cheap and big enough for my ginormous knockers) and they are still going strong! Hooray! Spend money on pretty ones because you’ll feel pretty shitty wearing them regardless.

 

V is for VIDEO monitor

We have an unavoidably large distance between our bedroom and bub’s room so I really appreciated having the sound and visual once we moved him in there (about 6 months). Lots of people say having a video monitor adds to parental paranoia but we like that we can check on him without disturbing him. Personally I think that (for me) the motion sensor pads that are available are too much and would drive me crazy. Do you know how much babies naturally move during their sleep?

W is for WRAPS!

Muslin wraps and soft cotton wraps and a work friend even made us a snuggley flannelette one. Obviously great for swaddling a newborn but also for lying on in the park or on the floor and for covering up when breastfeeding, plus a great sun shade over the pram that lets in air as well as shading bub’s precious delicate skin.

X is for EXTRA clothes.

ALWAYS carry spares! Especially in those first months because poosplosions DO happen! My baby fortunately has never been colicky and doesn’t puke but I have been puked on by friends’ babies and let me tell you, a spare shirt in the car doesn’t go astray. It may not match your outfit but it’s better than smelling like puke all day.

Y is for YACHNE

Because you shouldn’t get so caught up in the unique quality/ interesting spelling/ or wonderful meaning of a name so much that that you forget the implications of having a name that rhymes with acne. Although having said this I am forgetting that my boy’s name rhymes with Pooper.

Z is for Zippered Wondersuits!

Because who wants to fiddle with press studs in the dark with a screaming baby at three in the morning?