Being a mom is a beautiful journey that I truly embrace as a blessing. Before I had a child, my mommy friends would say how daunting yet rewarding being a mom was. That sounded crazy as hell to me back then, but I totally get it now. The old me wouldn’t think of getting up at 4 am to allow something to suck on my boob while punching me in the chin at the same time.
Though I’ve only been a mom for five months, there are a handful of items that have been crucial to my daily success. Most of them weren’t on my registry, because as my girlfriend would say, “you don’t know what you don’t know!” On this First Time Mom Must Haves list, I am sharing twelve items that will make the first few months of mommy-hood even more beautiful.
NURSING | It shouldn’t hurt, but when it does use these!
I am here to tell you that nothing is more rewarding than seeing my baby in a milk induce coma as she falls off my boob and slumps over like Ned the wino after a cheap bottle of gas station booze. But who would ever guess that a newborn baby’s gums could be so strong? Or that a nipple could feel loose or broken? At one point I was shopping on Amazon for “new breast,” because mine were completely done.
I highly recommend breast shells and nipple shields. Breast shells protect sore, bloody nipples (yes, they will bleed) from getting stuck to your shirt or bra. There’s nothing worse than a healing scab being ripped back open when taking your bra off. Breast shells also collect the milk lost during your letdown phases, keeping it from soaking through your shirt as seen below. Needless to say, I like them more than nursing pads.
Most nipple issues stem from a poor latch. Once you correct the latch all of these issues go away. The nipple shields help you preserveer through the pain of sore, cracked and bleeding nipples. Soothing gel pads are another First Time Mom Must have! These cool, reusable little nipple pads are perfect for post nursing pains. They gel soothes the nipple and numbs it a bit. I suggest you purchase the rounds one for optimal coverage.
DIAPER DUTY | Tips to avoid the rash & why diaper genies are a joke!
Diaper rash happens and I’ve almost come to believe inevitable. Regardless of how much you change your little one, their little parts are covered almost 24/7. I blame wet wipes. Whether they’re scented, unscented, organic, all natural, their constant use can lead to a rash! I’ve found that while the Butt Paste works, I prefer Baby Aquaphor. Not only for diaper rash but it also helps with baby rash and eczema.
Breastfed babies have a tendency to have wet diapers way more frequently than poopy ones. With that being said, allowing your baby to go commando for a little bit during the day, or after bath time is quite alright. We let our daughter lay on the changing table as long as she likes, sans diaper. And yes, she’s peed, and we’ve just wiped it up.
So let’s talk dirty diapers. Breastfed babies poop a lot less then formula fed babies, but when they do go it smells bad. Their little toots stink too! Our changing table and trash can are currently located in our bedroom. Any poopy diapers that haven’t been disposed of start to smell like death if the room gets to hot. I’ve heard moms swear by their diaper genies, but essentially their just trash cans with scented liners and a lid. So why not just buy scented bags and remove the dirty diapers more frequently?
I don’t know.. just didn’t make sense to spend all that money on a diaper genie.
GET COMFY | I’m guilty of holding my baby all the time!
Let me confess right now that I hold my baby all the time! My mother keeps suggesting I’m spoiling her, but Google says you can’t spoil an infant! That being said, my back has been killing me and instead of putting her down more often, I decided to invest in a comfy chair, LOL. The Windsor Glider Ottoman is not only super comfy but spit-up wipes right off with a wet cloth. That is very important in my world!
The boppy is a very necessary item on my First Time Mom Must Haves list. it has the potential to be used for various positions as the baby gets older. My little girls is only five months, so for now we just use it to get her comfy when nursing and napping. As she gets older she can use it for sitting up and tummy time!
SPIT UP | The best bibs on the market?!
I was blessed with a reflux baby. I was also blessed with needing to change my diet QUICK, in an effort to keep her tummy at ease. One thing to note about a baby that suffers from reflux is they spit up a lot and often. My hubby and I laugh in the face of burp cloths! We use whole blankets to catch spit up. We also go through 2-3 bibs a day.
Here we discovered that you get what you pay for.. meaning if a 8-pack on bibs cost $2 they aren’t worth shit! My blogger friend @Blackgirlswhobrunch bought our little one the BEST BIBS every. We LOVE the bibs from Little Unicorn . They are super soft, absorb liquids very well and they are large. They cover our daughter’s entire chest, keeping it from being soaking wet by lunch time.
MY OH MY, WHAT’S UP WITH MY MILK SUPPLY | Milkful Lactation Oat Bars
Consult your doctor before taking galactogogues. I LOVE the lactation oat bars from MILKFUL. They are delicious and contain many of the normal nutrients already in my diet. I did a recent product review of their assorted bars via Instagram, and they did not disappoint. The increase in milk was natural. Possibly better due to the fact they their consumption was paired with my placenta pills (yes, I’m also ingesting my placenta!). Check out their website for their special box pricing.
FIGHT ASHYNESS AND STRETCH MARKS | SKIN CARE | Palmer’s Cocoa Butter
Even before baby I suffered from very dry and sensitive skin. While pregnant and shortly after giving birth the fluctuation in hormones literally sucked all the moisture out of my skin and hair. Leaving me to spend all my coins on these super expensive, dermatologist tested products, that have been enhanced with essential oils and vitamins to heal and relieve dry skin. All of which laid on the top of my skin like a rich hydrating blanket of nothing. These products often left me drier than before.
It wasn’t until I asked my aunts what they used on us as baby’s that I was reminded of the importance of engaging with your elders! They quickly responded “Vaseline” and “Cocoa Butter.” It’s a little to hot in houston for Vaseline, so I decide to try my had at Cocoa Butter. It worked like a charm. I never got one stretch-mark throughout my entire pregnancy and it didn’t leave me shiny like a new penny. Love this stuff!
TREAT THAT C-SECTION SCAR LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR | Silicone Scar Sheets
Keloid scars are the one skin issue that predominantly affects young women of color, from ages 10 to 20 years old. Back in 2015 I underwent a myomectomy. About 4 months after the surgery the bikini line incision began to keloid. So when I found out I was pregnant and having a c-section I was determined to learn more about getting this keloid removed. But just having it removed wasn’t going to ensure the keloid wouldn’t regrow. My OBGYN suggested that I invest in ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets for C-sections.
These Silicone strips stimulate the natural barrier function of healthy skin, hydrating scar tissue to soften and flatten the scar. When used after surgery (or injury), they treat and prevent abnormal scar formation and alleviate the itching and discomfort associated with scars. They have been a true dream come true. I wore them for 3 months after my c-section and my scar is almost invisible. The only downside is I can only find them on amazon!
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