Almost there! I'll try to keep it to just three pieces of advice. Of course, this advice was most helpful to me and my family, but everybody's different:
-first few poops are very sticky and hard to wipe. If you generously apply your preferred diaper cream all over baby's bottom BEFORE the poops, it will be much easier to wipe clean. The worst part of a diaper change for baby is the cold wipe. If you can warm the wipes in a warmer, on your body, with a hot water bottle etc., baby usually cries less. And diaper cream works great on neck curds as well.
-If mother was promised a break and baby starts crying, get that baby OUT OF EARSHOT. I could still hear our baby from the shower, so much for a relaxing break...a lot of mothers have a physical reaction to their baby's cry. Impossible to ignore, very distressing, and takes time to recover from.
-a clean pinky finger in the mouth(or pacifier if you prefer) and a loud shush work just as well as a breast most of the time (if hunger isn't the reason for crying). Shushes work best when it's as loud as baby's cry, right in their ear, like niagra falls, but heartbeat rhythm. Sometimes you can try everything and baby still cries. Sometimes they just cry, it's not your fault. Earplugs are good to have on hand.
The 5 S's worked great for us.
Breastfeeding section below (if you are planning to try breastfeeding, great! If not, great! Fed is Best!) and it's ok to stop whenever you feel is the right time for you, obviously.
Breastfeeding can be painful at first, BUT....
**Raynaud's PSA**: Raynaud's syndrome, when you get cold easily and your fingers and toes turn blue, white, or purple, can happen in your nipples. It is very painful, like a hot poker shoved through your chest. The nipple will turn white in the center, aka nipple blanching or vasospasm. The lactation staff and nurses dismissed my pain as normal. Went through two doctors, before my midwife finally wrote the prescription I needed. Two hours later, no more pain. Wish I had known before and not had to desperately sift through internet forums looking for a treatment that would let me continue breastfeeding. Sorry, that was a tiny rant, but be aware.
-You can self express without a pump.
https://www.laleche.org.uk/hand-expression-of-breastmilk/
This technique is good for softening breasts that are too engorged for baby to latch. Also when baby is too far crying to latch, breastmilk from a spoon can help to calm baby down.
-if baby seems very gassy, upset, and nurses often, one (of many possible causes of course) could be too much fore milk. Foremilk has more lactose in it, so if you are switching breasts often baby gets more lactose than its system can handle and causes gas. Block nursing, two hours of the same breast, then two hours of the other breast helped our baby's gas a lot.
-the breastfeeding station should have water, never have I been more thirsty than beginning breastfeeding, and snacks/food that can be eaten with one hand. And make sure everything is within reach before you walk away.
-a cloth and firm pressure will stop the unlatched breast from leaking, if that's a problem. It's also a good opportunity to catch the extra milk for later...
And as with anything, if it doesn't feel right for you, you don't have to do it. It's ok to change your mind and give yourself a break if something turns out to be too much.
Well, glad I could keep it to just three!(Sorry) All the best and don't hesitate to ask us anything!
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