Advice to New Mothers

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There are many new mothers here (and fathers too!) so I thought it would be fun to give them some of our hard-earned tips and hints!

I'll go first: If at all possible, breastfeed your baby. I have never regretted this decision. Even though it is somewhat time-consuming, it is an excellent choice for your child. Babies who are breastfed are sick less often, and generally have less troubles with colic, ear infections, stomach troubles. It is an easy and cheap method to feed your baby. With the price of formulas you could spend $50+ every month for this alone. I nursed all four of my children for over a year. I never quit nursing one until I was pregnant for the next one. In total I was pregnant or breastfeeding for a toal of 8 1/2 years solid!! That required a lot of patience, but was well worth it to me. When the nurse brought my son (last child) to me, she asked if I needed help to learn how to nurse him. I told her how long I had been nursing and that I could probably write a book on it myself!!!! Now the first few months of the first child can be the toughest, but eventually you will both get the hang of it. I know there were many times with my first that I was frustrated, but I was determined to stick with it. My relatives were always trying to stick a bottle in her mouth! But I was very firm in this regard and it all worked out fine after those first tough weeks. Eveyone feel free to post your thoughts!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), October 20, 2001

Answers

My advice would be buy quality items such as baby beds,etc. We had six kids and most of our stuff lasted for all six kids. I also breastfed all six of our children. The last one was born six weeks premature. So it was especially important for him to be breastfed. I miss those days. Enjoy them while they are little. They grow up so fast. I have no regrets that I stayed home to raise them and homeschool them. Cindy

-- Cindy Herbek (dh40203@navix.net), October 20, 2001.

When my son was born it was just us. I couldn't stand the thought of sending him to daycare. I was a hairdresser so I put in a small beauty shop in my home. I will never regret this. I have been able to be with him and watch him grow. I even homeschooled his first year in the shop.Do what ever you have to to stay home.Time is so short and they grow so fast.I also brestfed and used cloth diapers. Some think it is too time consuming, but I believe it is worth it for the environment and the budget.Plus you don't take some things for granted.I loved this time and can't wait until I get married to have more children.

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), October 20, 2001.

My kids are grown and now we have grandchildren....and one thing I remember is to use corn starch instead of baby powder. This is healthy and cheaper.

-- Jo (farmerjo@kvalley.com), October 20, 2001.

I agree with Micheale. Stay home, Moms! I remember my college math professor saying that she regretted her decision to work. There is so much you miss; her daughter took her first steps for someone else. I remembered that story my first year of marriage when I babysat a little girl from the time she was six weeks old. One day she rolled over for the first time at my house, but I did not tell her mother. Later I realized I should have, because that night she rolled over at home--off the couch, hitting her head on the coffee table. She was not seriously hurt, but I sure felt guilty.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 20, 2001.

Ok, all you folks who have stock in baby food companies, this post is NOT for you LOL.......First, for those who do not know, I have been a Nurse Practitioner for 31 years, and for the first 20 my specialty was Neonatology (infants), so hopefully, new moms can trust my knowledge. There is absolutely no medical reason to feed your baby solid food for the first year of life. If you breastfeed your infant, that's great. If you don't, the modern formulas, though expensive, meet all your infants' nutritional requirements until one year of age. Now, having said that, I know that alot of babies do not read the medical journals. Some babies who are large, or fussy, will do better on bit of baby cereal along with formula or breast milk, starting at age 3 months. The baby food industry would like you to believe otherwise because they sell an awful lot of products! Close to the one year old birthday, there is still no good reason to buy baby food (medically). You can buy a baby food grinder for under $15.....when you cook for the rest of your family, just dump a portion into the hand grinder and turn the handle..voila! There is no difference except the price in green beans, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, potatoes, beets, fruits, etc. etc. etc.....of course if you like to throw onions and pepper sauce in your veggies, leave them out until you have put the baby's food in the grinder, then add your spices. When you talk about saving money with a baby in the house, commercial baby food is so incredibly expensive and 100% needless. Why should you buy a jar of pasta and sauce for $.69 and a jar of beef for over a dollar when you can use ground up table food? With 5 children and many ,many foster children, the only baby food I ever bought over 30 years has been cereal and fruits (for convenience only).......God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), October 20, 2001.


I am a mother of two and grandmother of four and this is the advice I'd give to new mothers: YOU know your baby better than anyone as you carried the child under our heart. Trust your instincts as to what is best for the baby. If mother, mother-in-law or anyone else gives you advice you don't believe in, smile and do it your way! As for te doctor, make him listen to your observations and don't be intimidated by anyone.

-- Ardie/Wi (ardie54965@hotmail.com), October 20, 2001.

Amen!

-- Jo (mamamia2kids@msn.com), October 20, 2001.

If you want your baby to sleep through the night, then don't have her sleep in your room. That way you won't be waking her up every time she talks in her sleep. Believe me, if she's in a different room, you will know when she is fully awake and is wet and hungry.

Keep your baby portable. Put your baby in a snuggle pouch and go anywhere you want. Breast feed and you won't have to mess with bottles and stinky spit-up. If you are going out for the afternoon, their is no reason to take a months worth of diapers and clothing. Take 1 change of clothing, 3 diapers, a small pack of babywipes and a clean shirt for yourself, and a plastic bag for the soiled stuff. Yo should be able to fit all this in your purse.

Spend as much time in the rocking chair with your baby as possible. This is where the bonding takes place

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), October 20, 2001.


I like the rocking chair advice. Those days go by so fast. My baby is almost 3; this is the longest I've gone without having another one. I have been cuddling her a lot, but she doesn't always want cuddled! Also, at naptime, gather the little one(s) on YOUR bed. (My little girl loves to nap on Daddy's pillow!) Cuddle under a quilt together and read a few books. Then fall asleep with them. You will be rested and better able to handle the suppertime stress. If you don't want to sleep, at least read a book or do some simple handwork (something that does not require intense concentration, unless you find that restful).

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 20, 2001.

Keep baby's feet and ankles warm, cuts down on tummy aches. Rub baby's tummy if it's hurting. Read as much as possible as soon as possible. Always be honest. Pray with baby from day one.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 20, 2001.


My best advice is to NEVER lie to you children. Don't tell them the stork brought them, that Santa Claus/Easter Bunny/Tooth Fairy is real, or that if they don't behave, the Boogie Man will get them.

If a child is old enough to ask a question, they're old enough to have a truthful response. When my daughters were old enough to ask where babies came from, I didn't say they came from the stork, a cabbage patch, or even from their mommy's tummy. I told them they grew in their mother's uterus. Then when they asked what that was, we had a quick anatomy lesson, using books, or quickly drawn sketches. Then they asked what made the baby grow there, I told them! Again, more books, more sketches. I don't use 'cute' words for their body parts - I use the actual words.

Because of this opennes and honesty, my girls know they can come to me and ask me anything, and I will tell them the truth. And they know they can ask me anything they are curious or confused about, without being criticized for asking. If you want your kids to be open and honest with you, you have to be open and honest with them!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 21, 2001.


Sleep when they do. Always. Until they leave home.

Trust me on this. This was the best advice my mother gave me. The few times I have strayed from this I have regretted it, generally about three in the morning when they're ready to rock and roll and I've only been in bed for two hours.

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 23, 2001.


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