Be persistant with nurses

For some reason the nurses do not want to listen to how much pain you feel you are in or they just don’t believe you. I told my nurse over and over again that I was in pain and I could feel everything and she did nothing. I told her my chest was tingly and my legs were not numb and she did nothing. I also did nothing. I was so tired from being in labor that I figured she knew what she was doing. I trusted her to see the signs of labor and I trusted her to tell me what to do. But I was wrong, when my doctor came in and sat down to deliver my baby he touched me he said get the anesthesiologist. He realized I was not numb enough for having an epidural, so why couldn't the nurse figure that one out! After talking to other women I found out that it was not normal and I should have been able to see the anesthesiologist again before my doctor came in. If you are in pain or can feel a lot of your contractions tell the nurses. If the nurses do not help you, than ask to see your doctor and get their option.

Oh the Pain!

No one I have ever known who has had a baby told me about the pain that is forced down on your rear end. I really thought my baby was going to come out my butt, it was so painful. After the fact I did some research and it is a sign of full labor. I wish I would have known that going into it so I could have told the nurse to give me stronger medication to take that labor pain away. Even when I told the nurse where all the pain was going she had nothing to say about it, she could have just explained that I was in full labor and would need to be pushing soon, than I could have understood why it was so painful down there.

Tip of the week

Put your sponge in the dishwasher once a week when you run your dishes. This will make it last longer and kill bacteria it has in it.

Pictures you must have at Hospital

Pictures you need to make sure you get:
-You and husband before baby comes
-Picture of baby when he just arrives, try not to get your privates in the picture, unless you want to see that.
-Baby being weight, make sure you get the numbers on the scale
-Daddy cutting the cord
-Baby getting foot prints done
-Daddy’s face while watching his baby gets cleaned up.
-First time in Daddy’s arms
-First time in Mommy’s arms
-Baby’s first bath
-Baby’s dry erase board of time he arrived on it
-A picture with each visitor
-First time breastfeeding without showing your breast
-Doctor and baby
-Baby in crib at hospital
-Baby in crib with his name card showing
-Family picture
-Picture of the recovery room
-A lot of baby you will never get these first moments back
-First diaper change by daddy and mommy
-Picture of baby going into car seat to leave
-Picture of baby leaving hospital

Having Family in the room

It is a hard decision for first time moms to make during delivery, how many people are allowed in the room? First time moms always feel they can do it alone and do not want anyone else in the room. Second time moms don’t care, they will let anyone in who wants to see. My option is to let family in not the men just the women, your mom, sister, or mother n law. It is completely up to you and the hospital how many people are allowed in the room while you deliver. But it is amazing how many people want to be there to see it all. With my first baby, I though no way is anyone going to be in here, I don’t want anyone to see me give birth. But my mom pushed her way in the room and I was so grateful. I really needed a women’s support that had been through it before. My mom knew all the questions to ask and she made sure that baby was doing well. Trust me you will be so tired that you won’t really know what is going on and to have someone who knows what needs to be done is really nice. She was a lot of help!! The second time around I asked my mom, sister and mother n law to be there. I felt that it was such an amazing process that I wanted everyone close to me there. I was so grateful to have all of them there my second delivery went really fast but I knew it made them feel special that they were there. If you are feeling up to it invite who your want the more support the better, plus it gets boring just staring at your husband.

Hosptial IV's

Getting an IV is horrible, I have not had one before I had a baby and it was just an awful experience. When I had my first son it took the nurse 20 minutes to do the IV and she poked me twice. In the meantime I am having contractions every 4 minutes and am at 8 ½ cm. I was like ok can we get this done so I can get some pain meds going? When I had my second son I told the nurse about my experience and she said not to worry, she was really good at it and wouldn’t take her at long. Well she turned out to be even worse, she poked me twice one in the right hand and one on the left, I had two band aids and no IV. She had to go get another nurse who poked me once but sat there for five minutes moving the needle around inside my skin to poke the vein. She finally got it when she was about to give up, and it was painful. I am still no sure why they put the IV in my right hand, which is the hand I use for everything, including going to the restroom with, it is not easy to do when you have a needle stick in your hand. If you have never had an IV before just be aware that it can be painful and it may take a few pokes to get it right.

Tip of the week

If having a second baby purchase a door lock for the outside of your babies door. My three year old loves to run into my babies room with he cries. He thinks he is going to help him, but he just really wakes him up. Most of the time I am not ready for him to get up or he is just crying during a nap and trying to fall asleep. If you get a lock on the door that older child will not be able to get in at anytime. I also worried about him going in at night and putting a blanket in his crib or climbing into bed with him. You never know what a toddler is thinking. It is the best thing I ever did and I sleep a lot better knowing my boys are safe!