Fourth Trimester Needs, what do I need now?

 So you had your baby and you're home from the hospital..... now what?

This is the question all new parents have. You're incredibly tired, you're not sure why the baby is crying and you're not even completely sure what is going on with your body. Your boobs are filled with milk now, you're so sore down below, and to top it off.. you're going to have your "period" for around 4 weeks! How fun, right? Don't get stressed out about all of this stuff. You've got a sweet babe in your arms, and I promise they will make it all worth it!

Here's my list of things you should have on hand once you're home!

PHOTO FROM EARTHMAMAANGELBABY.COM

C-Mama Healing Salve / Mommy Bottom Spray/ balm:

I love Earth Mama Angel Baby products, (obviously) but if you happen to have your own brand preference, great! As an example though, I am using these. If I have a VBAC I will use the Mommy Bottom Spray, (and/or possibly this balm) and for my scheduled C-section my handsome and wonderful husband ordered this salve for me. You can buy the spray in stores at Target and Babies R Us, the C-section salve you have to order online.

To see their full collection of postpartum care products, go here.

Pads:

Let's face it. Nobody really wants to talk about the bleeding (lochia) that happens after birth. But it is going to happen regardless, to every mother. You can't wear tampons during this time frame (4-6 weeks) so what do ya do? In the hospital you'll be wearing these huge diaper-like pads that they provide. Last time, I bought my "favorite" pads, which were thin and what not. I hated it.This go around I bought maxi pads, because let's face it, thin just ain't gonna work. I made sure to buy nighttime ones too, because worrying about leaking all over my sheets is at the top of my worries. Blood just grosses me the heck out, and coming from there is even worse. For the first week to 10 days it'll be at it's heaviest. I will switch to a smaller, thinner pad once the bleeding goes down to a regular flow.. until then, maxi pads!

Belly Band:

I mentioned this in my hospital bag post, but I think it is fitting here too. Your belly is gonna be swollen and most likely your skin will be loose/ saggy feeling. These belly bands help hold everything up and in. It helps after a cesarean too, because you can protect your stitches/ scar from your clothes rubbing against it.

Lactation Cookies/ Teas:

I may pack a couple cookies for the hospital and have some on hand for my arrival home. Good to help your milk supply. I've heard from a lot of women that these types of products helped them. I have used the teas before, but never the cookies. I may give them a shot!

Postnatal Vitamins:

I will finish the bottle of prenatal gummy vitamins that I have and then I will switch to some postnatal vitamins and possibly add some specifically for nursing. I will talk to my OB about this, you should too.

Water Bottle:

The thirstiest you've ever been in your life will be the second your baby latches on to your breast. I promise. And if you are unable to get up to get something, you'll be a crazy woman demanding anyone in your house (possibly even your dog or cat) to get you a beautiful tall glass of ice water. So to avoid this scenario from happening, make sure to top off your water bottle before nursing.


Hope this helps you remember and plan for yourself AFTER birth.

xoxo, Chelsea.

38 Weeks Pregnant.

Photo cred: MY HUSBAND! Can you believe it!!

Wild Thing!

Holy cow, my final week of pregnancy is here!! I cannot believe it is here! I had an appointment with my OB yesterday, and was heartbroken to find out that the only 2 of the doctors that I feel comfortable with are both moving on and going to other bases in other states. It was a real bummer to find that they wont be taking care of me next week at my scheduled C-section, and they wont be there for my final check ups here in DC. But she did help me with a lot of my questions, gave me great advice and apologized for how awful I was treated by her colleagues at my last appointment. Turns out, at my last appointment they should've answered all of my questions and they could have actually scheduled my C-section at that appointment. But- it is what it is. The appointment is now scheduled and set!

"Its a surprise! Baby brother will be here next week!"

photo cred: MY HUSBAND! <3

We are going to keep the date and time a secret- kind of like a reverse surprise party. It is definitely going to be exciting surprising everyone (online) with his birth photos. Online is the only way- because everyone we love is all across the country from us! The only family that will be here will be my mother in law. Thankfully she is going to be here to watch Opal for Dillon and I. I really hope everything goes smoothly! Opal and I have never spent a day apart- so I am really sad to be away for 2 days.

Lately, I have been having contractions sporadically. The most intense ones have been last night actually! They were 10 minutes apart ALL NIGHT. They never stopped. They started around 11 pm and were still going at 6 am when I finally fell asleep. Hopefully the contractions can just hold off so that Oliver comes the day we chose, as planned.

This weekend we plan to take Opal out for her last weekend as an only child. We're going to take her baby doll out in the baby doll carseat and have some fun. I think we plan to go to Chuck E. Cheese, the toy store, several parks, and possibly the movies. We're definitely taking her to get donuts, lunch out, and the Disney store! I'm so excited to spoil her this weekend.

Before I wrap this week's update up, I want to publicly thank my hubby for taking these maternity photos of me. We are going to take another set this weekend with each other and Opal. I'm looking forward to showing these to Oliver some day so he knows how loved he was before he was even born.

Hopefully I'll have news about where we are moving next in my next personal life update- which should double as Oliver's birth announcement.

Have a blessed day! xoxo, Chelsea.