It hasn't been that long since I found out I was pregnant and quite clueless at that. Yes, I know of a few things that one needs to know before getting pregnant but one can never be too prepared when that certain time or phase finally comes. I appreciated solicited advices but I cringed at unsolicited advices to say the least. I browsed the internet on a daily basis to read a thing or two about what to expect and how to deal with my situation. I also read books and the book What To Expect When You're Expecting
was practically my best friend and my bedside table staple. Of course, I asked friends and family who have been pregnant and had babies in the past for advices too - mainly tips and tricks for that matter.I gave birth three weeks ago and being a mom has been life-changing for me. It is not easy, in fact it is quite hard when you're just starting and adjusting and there will always be a constant inner struggle within you for being a new mom and that's exactly what I experienced. Suffice it to say that motherhood is a major learning curve. These and more but yes, I don't regret a single second of being a mom to my wonderful daughter.
Here are a few new mommy tips that I would like to share to you:
1. Overheating is a cause of SIDS. We live in the Philippines so it is almost always warm. We keep our room between 22-25 degrees celsius depending on what she is wearing. Oftentimes, we keep her in just a onesie and a swaddle blanket and she's fine.
2. Newborns cry for a myriad of reasons. They cry when they are hungry, when their nappies need to be changed, when they need to be burped or when they are tired. As a new mom, you have to learn to distinguish what your newborn needs when they cry. Learn to read your baby's cues.
3. Learn the 5 S's - Swaddle, Shush, Swing, Suck and Side (you can read more about 5 S from The Happiest Baby On The Block
)4. I learned a good way to put Summer to sleep only on her 3rd week and that paved the way for her bedtime routine. We give her a warm bath and then a gentle massage using products from her Mustela Newborn Pack
. She then gets her milk, a little dance session with mom or dad and then swaddled before we put her inside her crib.5. Babies love to be soothed especially when you talk or sing to them. It will remind them of when they were still inside her mommy's tummy.
6. It is not supposed to hurt when your baby is latched on correctly when breastfeeding. If it hurts then baby might not be latched on the proper way.
7. Rubbing Summer's cheeks activates her suck reflex so this helps when she falls asleep during feeding.
I have only been a mom for less than a month and I can say that being a parent has taught me so many lessons and I know that I will be learning more lessons in the days to come. I am excited and definitely looking forward to waking up to a brand new day with my baby.
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