Prepare for a positive birth with The Birth Class
What is infertility?
The Two Week Wait
What is low PAPP-A?
Gestational Diabetes (GD)
Birthing Ball for Labour
Birth Trauma
Caesarean Birth Recovery
How to Plan Sleep in Postpartum
Once you feel comfortable leaving home with your baby (we encourage at least three weeks of rest and healing before you venture out), your nappy bag will become your life jacket. Indeed, it will have one (or two) of everything you could possibly need for any eventuality.
So what exactly will you need? Here’s our tried and tested nappy bag essentials:
Babies poo at all times but in my experience, they really love to do it when you’re out and about and nowhere near a change table. Inconvenient but better out than in! Cue the boot of your car which really comes into its own when you’re in desperate need of a comfortable, warm and private spot to change your baby’s nappy. BabyLove knows this experience well so they take care of your baby’s growing needs with superior nappies that you can rely on. BabyLove nappies are high-quality and practical, developed with attention to detail for the ultimate comfort and leak protection. As you gather essentials for your newborn, make sure you get your BabyLove Free Sample today on the BabyLove website – babylovenappies.com.au.
Tip: always keep a few spare nappies, wipes and a spare change of clothes in the car – separate to your nappy bag.
my three boys are well and truly out of nappies but I always have a packet of wipes on hand because they’re one of the most practical parenting products. I recommend all new parents keep a packet in the car, the nappy bag, in the lounge room and on the nappy change table. If you leave them in the car with the lid off and they dry out, just add a little water and they should become moist again.
what’s that smell? I won’t tell you about the dirty nappy I momentarily forgot about and found in the car days later because I still shudder at the memory. Instead, I’ll encourage you to have nappy bags on hand at all times so the dirty nappies and wipes can be easily contained. I also recommend a waterproof swimming bag to use for dirty singlets and onesies while you’re out and about.
extra singlets, onesies, tops, leggings, socks and a swaddle or wrap is absolutely essential for at least the first year of your baby’s life. You just never know when a poonami will occur. While it’s not quite as necessary, you might be inclined to keep a spare change of clothes for yourself, too. Why? Parenting is innately messy and unpredictable.
if you’re bottle feeding, you’ll need to take bottles, formula and sterilised water with you at all times (remember you can’t mix up formula prematurely; you’ll need to carry the formula and water separately). If you’re breastfeeding, feeding in public may be a cause of stress for you and it’s important to know that this is really normal. It’s also why staying at home after birth is so important for establishing breastfeeding and feeling confident in your ability. Your car will likely become your portable home when you’re out and about; you’ll feed and change your baby there. Make sure you’ve got a few swaddles or cloths to catch spilt milk, a nipple shield if you’re using them and a drink bottle so you can stay hydrated while your baby feeds.
We think you might enjoy these articles
postpartum
If you’re recovering from a caesarean birth (c-section) it’s helpful to remember that your body needs to heal after major abdominal surgery. Caesarean births are common (roughly one in three in Australia) but significant surgery requires adequate recovery time. Here's what you can expect in your caesarean recovery.
There is so much talk about baby sleep - ‘is he a good sleeper?’ ‘How many naps does he have during the day?’ ‘Is she sleeping through the night?’ but we’re missing the conversations about maternal sleep.
If you had a caesarean birth and you’ve noticed an overhang or a bulge over your scar, we want you to know that it’s completely normal and a natural part of birth recovery. It’s not dependent on whether you had a planned or emergency caesarean nor is it a result of a bad incision or hindered healing process; it’s simply a common side-effect of wound healing.
If you’re in the third trimester you’re no doubt thinking about all that’s to come; labour, birth, and a precious newborn baby. There is so much to look forward to and prepare for. But often, we spend so much time thinking of what our baby needs that we rarely think about ourselves. So, we’re here to gently encourage you (read: implore you!) to start thinking about your post-birth recovery. It’s generally quite a slow process and for many women, especially first-time mothers, it can be quite confronting. We don’t want to scare you but research shows that realistic expectations pave the way for a positive postpartum experience
Typically occurring between day 3-5 after birth, breast engorgement is a common symptom in early postpartum when your milk comes. It can also occur later in your breastfeeding journey if your baby sleeps for longer and misses a feed, or drops a feed during the day or night. It can cause your breasts to be full and hard and this can cause pain and make it tricky for your baby to latch. Essentially, your breasts can feel like they’re about to explode which is quite disconcerting.
You may have heard some nightmarish stories about mastitis and frankly, it’s not something you want to contend with at any stage of your breastfeeding journey. It’s most common in the first three months postpartum but it can strike at any time, particularly if your baby has reduced their feeds, is starting to sleep for longer periods at night or you’re weaning.
In early postpartum, breastfeeding and sleep challenges are common and can contribute to anxiety and overwhelm. Unless you have a private midwife, there’s a distinct void of health services in postpartum which makes it challenging to access professional support. It’s definitely beneficial to be aware of this in pregnancy so you can adequately prepare for postpartum.
Firstly, if you’ve recently birthed your baby and your bleeding has increased, don’t delay in seeking medical attention. It’s recommended to present to the emergency department at your local hospital and explain that you’ve recently given birth and you’re concerned about your blood loss. You may be experiencing a postpartum haemorrhage.