What Is A New Mom To Do? A Guest Post by 5oh Wifey!
I am very excited to be kicking off my week of guest bloggers with Ashley, more commonly known as 5ohWifey! As a fellow cop wife and mom to a brand-spankin new baby girl, we have lots in common! We have spent many times pregnant and alone {while the husband's were at work} chatting the night away on Twitter to keep each other company. It is always nice to have someone to relate too! Well Ashley is here with some *fabulous* tips for new moms....and some great reminders to us veteran moms too!!! Enjoy and make sure to give her some love!
What Is A New Mom To Do?
Hi everyone! I'm Ashley from over at 5ohWifey . I am so SO excited that Mandy has allowed me to guest post here on Mommy Musings! I am also a police wife and as if that wasn't complicated enough, we just recently added 5ohBaby to the mix. Before we had her everyone told us "Your lives are about to change" and they sure have, but not the way I thought they would.
She's cute, right?
We have gotten a ton of advice from other parents before and since we had 5ohBaby. Some of it we've loved, some of it we've researched and some of it we've totally ignored. I know when my sister told me it's 10 months up and 10 months down when I worried about weight, Iate at Yogurt Time twice that day more than gladly took it.
Today I thought I would share all the best advice I have gotten as a new mom
Wait Ten Months To Worry About Your Weight
It takes you 10 months to gain your baby weight, but boy aren't we surprised when it doesn't just drop off the minute we have that baby. As my sister says "Ten months up, ten months down". I didn't obsess over the weight while I was pregnant. To be honest, I gained 50incredibly delicious pounds. But not all at once. I slowly, pound by pound, month by month, gained the weight in a healthy manner. Now that I am 5 months out I am itching to get back into my pre-baby clothes. Don't laugh. Truth is, it will probably take me another 5 months to lose the weight I gained. But that's totally ok. At least now I can blog about mommy style.
Do it- it's a healthy mindset to have.
Write A Love Note To Your Child
I'm a sap for love letters. 5ohHubby and I went out and immediately bought this journal the day after we found out we were pregnant. I love the verse on the cover. We started writing 5ohBaby that day. We told her how we found out about her, wrote to her after her ultrasound, wrote about her baby showers, the plans we had for her, how much we loved her, what our hopes and dreams were, everything we could think to say. When she finally arrived, we wrote her birth story in it. We continue to write her as she continues to amaze us. As life goes on, we will write her on her birthdays, on special occasions, and about wonderful moments we wish to capture. We plan on giving it to her the day she graduates high school. Your letter doesn't have to be as involved as that. You can make it your own, but plan ahead for their future.
Do it- its important to invest in them emotionally.
Go Out With Your Baby
I know going out in public seems like the last thing you want to do when you have a new baby. But let me tell you, if you take the right safety precautions, it can make your life so much easier. You don't have to go anywhere fancy. As anyone who's had a baby can tell youyou can barely walk because everything still hurts like a mammajamma you don't necessarily feel like walking all over town right after you deliver. But you can, and should, do simple things. My mom took 5ohHubby and I to the park and to eat at Outback about a week after 5ohBaby was born. Once you get out in the real world you'll realize its not as hard as you thought it would be. When they are still so young like that, they have no idea where they are anyways, so you might as well get them used to doing things. That first time I needed a ton of help and a diaper bag full of unnecessary items. Now I can just grab 5ohBaby on my own and go just about anywhere on with only a few things.
Do it- its good for your body.
Go On Dates
I am exclusively breastfeeding 5ohbaby so it was really hard for me to leave her for the first time. There was crying, screaming, and separation anxiety but I calmed down eventually. 5ohHubby and I had a wonderful day where we sipped champagne, read grown up books, talked about things other than diapers and ate an uninterrupted dinner. True, we didn't go very far. True, we checked on 5ohBaby 4 times. True, although unfortunately, I had to pump in a public bathroom. But we got to feel like people again rather than just parents. We got to be us again and it was romantic.
Do it- it's good for your marriage
Set Up A Sleep Routine
We moved 5ohBaby to her room at about 8 weeks. I wasn't sure I was ready but 5ohHubby pushed it and I'm glad he did. We all slept better. To be fair, I did spend that entire first night staring at 5ohBaby through the video monitor, but eventually I learned to sleep without her right next to me. We also used a sound machine that plays rolling ocean waves. Buy one. Like, yesterday. She has slept "through the night" since then. It acts as a sleep cue when we lay her down (awake and on her back- no matter what) and also helps her self soothe when she wakes up in the middle of the night. We also have a simple bedtime routine to help her know it is time to go to sleep. Bath-Baby Massage-Book-Breastfeeding- Bed.
Do it- it's good for your sleep.
Set Up A Schedule
It doesn't have to be super complicated. It doesn't have to be exact. But it does
On Mondays, we do grocery shopping and have small group. Tuesdays, I work on my first responders wives ministry and we have guys night and girls night separately. Wednesdays, I have Mommy & Me. Thursdays, 5ohHubby does a class at a gym. Sundays, we go to church. One Saturday a month I have book club. Some weeks we do all of these things. Some weeks we miss a few. But routines are a positive thing for us and for our babies.
Do it- its good for your family.
Do Something For You
It is easy to get wrapped up in being a mom. I am blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom and make faces at my sweet little one all day. But sometimes I need contact with other grown ups. I wasn't getting any so I started a book club that meets one Saturday a month. I am a part of a girls night in order to build friendships and accountability. I go to a Mommy & Me group to pick other mom's brains. I learned to make cake pops because they are delicious and more fun than working out. It doesn't matter what it is you do that's just for you, it just matters that there is something you do that is just for you.
Do it- it's good for your mental health.
Ask For Help
Babies don't come with manuals. And just because you get advice from someone, doesn't mean you have to take it. Talk to friends and family members who are parents. Call your doctor. Get on twitter (follow me) and ask other mom's for advice. Poll your facebook friends. Talk to your spouse. Blog about it. Whatever you have to do.
Just do it. It's important.
What Is A New Mom To Do?
Hi everyone! I'm Ashley from over at 5ohWifey . I am so SO excited that Mandy has allowed me to guest post here on Mommy Musings! I am also a police wife and as if that wasn't complicated enough, we just recently added 5ohBaby to the mix. Before we had her everyone told us "Your lives are about to change" and they sure have, but not the way I thought they would.
She's cute, right?
We have gotten a ton of advice from other parents before and since we had 5ohBaby. Some of it we've loved, some of it we've researched and some of it we've totally ignored. I know when my sister told me it's 10 months up and 10 months down when I worried about weight, I
Today I thought I would share all the best advice I have gotten as a new mom
Wait Ten Months To Worry About Your Weight
It takes you 10 months to gain your baby weight, but boy aren't we surprised when it doesn't just drop off the minute we have that baby. As my sister says "Ten months up, ten months down". I didn't obsess over the weight while I was pregnant. To be honest, I gained 50
Do it- it's a healthy mindset to have.
Write A Love Note To Your Child
I'm a sap for love letters. 5ohHubby and I went out and immediately bought this journal the day after we found out we were pregnant. I love the verse on the cover. We started writing 5ohBaby that day. We told her how we found out about her, wrote to her after her ultrasound, wrote about her baby showers, the plans we had for her, how much we loved her, what our hopes and dreams were, everything we could think to say. When she finally arrived, we wrote her birth story in it. We continue to write her as she continues to amaze us. As life goes on, we will write her on her birthdays, on special occasions, and about wonderful moments we wish to capture. We plan on giving it to her the day she graduates high school. Your letter doesn't have to be as involved as that. You can make it your own, but plan ahead for their future.
Do it- its important to invest in them emotionally.
Go Out With Your Baby
I know going out in public seems like the last thing you want to do when you have a new baby. But let me tell you, if you take the right safety precautions, it can make your life so much easier. You don't have to go anywhere fancy. As anyone who's had a baby can tell you
Do it- its good for your body.
Go On Dates
I am exclusively breastfeeding 5ohbaby so it was really hard for me to leave her for the first time. There was crying, screaming, and separation anxiety but I calmed down eventually. 5ohHubby and I had a wonderful day where we sipped champagne, read grown up books, talked about things other than diapers and ate an uninterrupted dinner. True, we didn't go very far. True, we checked on 5ohBaby 4 times. True, although unfortunately, I had to pump in a public bathroom. But we got to feel like people again rather than just parents. We got to be us again and it was romantic.
Do it- it's good for your marriage
Set Up A Sleep Routine
We moved 5ohBaby to her room at about 8 weeks. I wasn't sure I was ready but 5ohHubby pushed it and I'm glad he did. We all slept better. To be fair, I did spend that entire first night staring at 5ohBaby through the video monitor, but eventually I learned to sleep without her right next to me. We also used a sound machine that plays rolling ocean waves. Buy one. Like, yesterday. She has slept "through the night" since then. It acts as a sleep cue when we lay her down (awake and on her back- no matter what) and also helps her self soothe when she wakes up in the middle of the night. We also have a simple bedtime routine to help her know it is time to go to sleep. Bath-Baby Massage-Book-Breastfeeding- Bed.
Do it- it's good for your sleep.
Set Up A Schedule
It doesn't have to be super complicated. It doesn't have to be exact. But it does
On Mondays, we do grocery shopping and have small group. Tuesdays, I work on my first responders wives ministry and we have guys night and girls night separately. Wednesdays, I have Mommy & Me. Thursdays, 5ohHubby does a class at a gym. Sundays, we go to church. One Saturday a month I have book club. Some weeks we do all of these things. Some weeks we miss a few. But routines are a positive thing for us and for our babies.
Do it- its good for your family.
Do Something For You
It is easy to get wrapped up in being a mom. I am blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom and make faces at my sweet little one all day. But sometimes I need contact with other grown ups. I wasn't getting any so I started a book club that meets one Saturday a month. I am a part of a girls night in order to build friendships and accountability. I go to a Mommy & Me group to pick other mom's brains. I learned to make cake pops because they are delicious and more fun than working out. It doesn't matter what it is you do that's just for you, it just matters that there is something you do that is just for you.
Do it- it's good for your mental health.
Ask For Help
Babies don't come with manuals. And just because you get advice from someone, doesn't mean you have to take it. Talk to friends and family members who are parents. Call your doctor. Get on twitter (follow me) and ask other mom's for advice. Poll your facebook friends. Talk to your spouse. Blog about it. Whatever you have to do.
Just do it. It's important.
Wonderful advice! And I especially like your one line "Do it" summary after each section. Your daughter is beautiful! Wishing you and your family good health and happiness!
ReplyDeleteGreat post 5oh Wifey! New or veteran mommies, we can all learn something here!
ReplyDeletethis was such an awesome post Ashley! I was nodding along as I read it (Hubs isn't much for writing, but I did start a journal and wrote to Goose during my pregnancy, and did really well with it up until she hit the 1 year mark... I was so sad when I realized I didn't have any more journal entries, then remembered - that's about when I got back into blogging again - *phew*!) We don't get date nights nearly enough, and my Girl Time is lacking - but when they happen, we make the most of them!! (and they are happening a little more now that Goose is a toddler and we aren't so nervous about leaving her for a few hours) ;) Great post - I'm so glad you shared!!
ReplyDelete