Things I Wish I Knew Before my C-Section

I thought I knew what to expect going into our planned c-section. After all, I read all the books and thought I knew all the steps and heard all the stories - but I soon found out I didn’t feel prepared at all and it was VERY different than I expected. Our first baby we had naturally - in fact I was able to hypnobirth her pain-free (and drug free!) and remain calm, cool, and collected (you can read more about that in my previous post HERE). However our second baby was wedged in breech and would not turn so we opted for a planned c-section. The c-section was SUCH a different experience, with a lot of surprises (for me anyways)… | This post contains affiliate links |

Disclaimer: This post shares my personal experiences and realizations and is not medical advice. Please always check with your doctors for the best advice/recommendations and know that your experiences can be very different from mine.

Things I Wish I Knew Before my C-Section

The IV Fluids will Make You Puffy.
Prior to going into the OR, they will give you IV fluids as part of your prep to make sure you’re well hydrated. For me, they made me quite puffy (thanks water retention), especially around my face and neck. Seeing myself in photos after I was surprised how puffy and swollen I looked. (I also could not take my wedding rings off and thankfully they didn’t make me as my hands somehow didn’t swell.)

The Operating Room (OR) is Intensely White.
To be frank, this totally freaked me out. Walking down a normal hallway with decor and warm lighting into a very bright, very starkly white room was absolutely jarring. It kind of felt like that scene from the original Willy Wonka when they try to send Mike Teavee through Wonka Vision. Everything was just so white and so harsh-looking. I understand the need for it (for cleanliness and sterilization purposes) but if you’re not expecting it, it can kind of set you on edge.

You Can Feel So Helpless and Not in Control.
Inserting the epidural was thankfully very fast and not bad, but once they laid me down and it kicked in I felt so helpless. I HATED not being able to feel or move anything from my chest down. I felt groggy, extremely emotional (thanks hormones), and totally helpless.

You May Feel Non-Pain Sensations After The Epidural.
Right before they got started, they pulled a piece of tape off my stomach (I think they were repositioning the drape), but I could feel the tape pulling off. This scared me and I spoke up, but they assured me it was okay. Apparently epidurals numb your ability to feel pain, but sometimes you can feel other sensations (like tape being pulled off).

You’ll Feel Like You’re Being Dissected by Aliens.
Okay, so this sounds a little dramatic but it was the most accurate description for me. Even though everything was going well, the doctors and assistants were all cheery, and everything was perfect and professional - I still couldn’t help but feel like I was in some sci-fi movie in a stark white spaceship, being dissected while I was still alive.

They Squeeze the Baby Out.
Somehow I was not aware of this… they make the incision for the baby to come out, but then they push (and push hard) down on your uterus/upper abdomen/lower ribs so the baby starts to squeeze out of the incision, then they help guide and pull the baby out. Our baby was really wedged in there, so the assist had to jump and put all her weight on me to get the baby to come out.

The Whole Procedure is FAST.
The doctors and team were very skilled and experienced and very fast. Our doula had warned us it would feel like everything was urgent and rushed but that’s just how they go (and she said during an emergency c-section they can go even quicker which is incredible). From the time we walked into the OR to the time I was being stitched up it was maybe 20 mins tops. They were fast, efficient, and experts at this.

Those Moments After Delivery Can Feel so Lonely.
Immediately after delivery they showed me the baby but then she went over to a warming table to get a quick exam and her vitals checked. She was totally fine but it’s pretty standard for baby to be checked over nearby while they finish working on you and sewing you up. My husband understandably went over to stand with the new baby and watch her, and even though he and the baby were only feet away it felt like miles. I was emotional, numb from the chest down, and felt abandoned (dramatic, huh?)… I was crying and everyone was busy (taking care of me and baby) but I just felt so alone.

You Might Have a Catheter Longer Than You Think.
They leave the catheter in until the epidural wears off and you feel strong enough to get up which was quite a while for me. And even once they do take it out, be aware that sometimes your bladder is the last thing to “wake up” - it took a long time for me to be able to pee on my own.

You’ll Get an IV Port for Most of Your Stay.
Even though I was done with the IV right after the c-section procedure, they tend to leave the IV port (in my case it was in the side of my wrist) in for the remainder of your stay in the unlikely event you need an IV for an infection, dehydration, medication, etc. And every day they need to flush it with saline to make sure it stays clear and clean… the flushing feels very weird and extremely uncomfortable which I was not expecting.

Getting the Staples Out Surprisingly Didn’t Hurt (Whew!)
I was dreading the day when they removed the staples from my incision. I thought for sure it was going to hurt or pull or there would be blood but none of those things were true. For me it didn’t hurt at all thankfully and the doctor removed them quickly and easily.

You Will Regret Standing Too Long.
For me, especially in those early days, standing or walking for just a few minutes was HARD. I would be standing - feeling fine and great - and then all at once I would suddenly feel warm and get a deep burning sensation around my incision and I would have to immediately sit down because I felt like I was going to pass out.

You Will Still Have Postpartum Bleeding.

Even though they “clean you out” during the c-section there will still be residual material that will have to run it’s course and be shed just like from a normal delivery. So get those Depends ready and be prepared to still deal with that. For me, it definitely wasn't as heavy but it still lasted several weeks.

Your Incision Can Have No Feeling For a Long Time.
For weeks my incision felt numb or very “weird” to the touch… like I was touching it through a thick quilt even tough I was touching my own skin. Apparently sometimes it takes awhile for the nerves to reconnect so that numb feeling around the incision can linger for quite a long time. It slowly wore off though and I regained my feeling there over time.

You Will Be Defensive of Your Incision for Months.
My incision healed beautifully and well but even months after the surgery I was very subconsciously protective of it. Even much later when I picked up my kids, if they pressed their foot on my incision I thought for sure they were going to pull it apart. It was all in my head though.

Overall, my c-section and recovery were all textbook and went perfectly without any real setbacks thankfully. Still, in the moment and as I recovered I realized I wasn’t as mentally prepared for the c-section as I had thought. Just because a mama goes through a c-section and not a vaginal delivery doesn’t make it feel any less emotional. It definitely helps being prepared and asking questions ahead of time so you (hopefully) won’t have as many surprises.

Best of luck, Mamas!!

---

Related Post:

• “Pain-Free Childbirth: My Hypnobirthing Experience”

• Important Tips on Creating Your Baby Registry

• Our Top Baby Registry Must-Haves

---

Disclaimer: This post shares my personal experiences and realizations and is not medical advice. Please always check with your doctors for the best advice/recommendations and know that your experiences can be very different from mine.

Pain-Free Childbirth: My Hypnobirthing Experience

When you're a first-time mom, the idea of childbirth can be pretty terrifying.  Of course it doesn't help that everyone is always quick to share their horror stories with you which just adds to the stress and the fear of the unknown.  The bottom line though is that everyone's labor and birth experience is different - and yours doesn't have to be stressful, painful, or scary.  It IS possible to have a pain-free natural labor and delivery.  | This post contains affiliate links | 
Disclaimer:  This post shares my personal experience and is not medical advice - please always consult with your doctors for what's best for you and know that everyone's birth experience is different.

For our first baby, I was induced (she was a week late) and through guided relaxation and trusting my body to do it's job I can honestly say I felt no pain during labor or her birth.  The whole experience was still absolutely exhausting, draining, and overwhelming at times - but I never felt anything I can describe as pain.  In fact, towards the end of my labor I stopped feeling the contractions and even dozed through some of them.  It's incredible what a woman's body is capable of, and how much you can control mind-over-matter.  

Here is how I was able to have a pain-free, natural delivery:  

Do Your Homework

During your pregnancy read up on labor and delivery techniques. Know that anything is possible and learn all your options, but really focus on learning and practicing all of the relaxation techniques. I particularly liked The Pregnancy Book and The Birth Book. Both books had overall very positive messages and covered everything from natural birth to epidurals to c-sections, but The Birth Book especially talked about natural birth coping techniques. Doing this homework really lays the groundwork to mentally prepare yourself for labor and birth, and being mentally prepared is most of the battle.

Tune out Negative, Seek out Positive Stories

When you're pregnant, everyone will give you unsolicited advice - from your friends and family to total strangers in the grocery store - and probably 95% of these stories will be negative.  It's hard not to let all the horror stories get to you after awhile but really try to tune these out because your birth experience doesn't have to be like that.  When someone has a positive story to share, pay attention - viewing the whole process with a more positive mindset will help you see that a wonderful birth story can be possible.  

Take a Hypnobirthing Class

This was something I actually did not do... I lucked out being able to hypnobirth without formal training (being mentally prepared, having wonderful support people, and a little luck allowed me to be successful without training, but I'm probably an exception).  By taking a hypnobirthing class you will learn about all the natural coping techniques and be given time to practice and visualize how you hope your birth to go.  All of this will help you be more mentally and physically prepared for delivery day.  

Hire a Doula

When you go to the hospital to deliver, you have no choice on which nurse you will get.. and for all you know you might get the one that will just rub you the wrong way.  The L&D nurses also tend to come and go throughout your labor.. they will check on you and stay with you if necessary, but otherwise you'll labor a lot on your own especially in the beginning.  A Doula is your own personal labor support person - someone who has experience and training attending births and helping the laboring mother.  A Doula is not a doctor or a nurse, and will not make medical decisions, give medical advice, or deliver the baby.  She is strictly there to be your personal cheerleader and coach you on ways to make your labor more comfortable.  By choosing your doula, you decide who will be there to support you and can pick someone you feel comfortable with and enjoy.  

Our Doula came armed with a bag of "labor tricks" - which included aromatherapy, relaxing music, spiky rubber handles for you to squeeze (the discomfort of squeezing them with your hands is supposed to help distract you from the discomfort of your contractions), tennis balls to massage your back, and LED candles to give the room a relaxing atmosphere.  She also was a certified lactation consultant and had a certificate in hypnobirthing so she knew all the relaxation techniques.  

Create a "Birth Wishes" List

I say Birth Wishes instead of Birth Plan here because nothing about your labor and delivery may go "to plan."  If you have a "plan" that tends to fall in the mindset of expecting your birth to go exactly a certain way and that's almost never the case... but by having "wishes" you set yourself up to be more flexible with the whole situation.  When you write your Birth Wishes list make sure to phrase it all as wishes too, in order to keep that flexible mindset (for example, don't write "I will not have an epidural" or "I will do skin-to-skin", but instead say "I would like to labor all naturally for as long as possible, hopefully the entire time.  I hope to have a natural birth" or "I would like to do skin-to-skin immediately after the birth").  

Definitely write out a "Birth Wishes" list as it will help you visualize how you'd like things to go, and will give your medical team an idea of what things you do/do not want to do - but keep in mind it can all change at any time, some things are just beyond your control.  

Start Relaxing from the First Contraction

In the beginning of labor your contractions can start out slow and not bothersome.  You may be able to move and talk through them at first or at least stop and easily let them pass over you.  Even if they're easy to deal with in the beginning it's important to set yourself up for success for the remainder of your labor and start relaxing now.  Relaxing when something hurts seems counterintuitive (after all, if you stub your toe you tend to tense up, right?), but by totally relaxing during contractions they will actually hurt less because you're not fighting it and you're letting your body do it's job.  The best way I can describe this total relaxation is letting yourself "melt."  When you're having a contraction just let yourself become a puddle on the bed or in your chair, etc.  And if you're standing, have your husband support you and just let yourself melt.. let your knees go soft and your arms and head drop and have him hold you.  It's so important to not hold any tension anywhere in your body during the contractions, and the more you're able to relax the easier it should be.  Having a Doula really helps here because she can help coach you through the relaxation ("relax your jaw, relax your fingers, let your shoulders drop...").  After a few hours of coached relaxation, my body went on autopilot and I honestly didn't even feel the contractions anymore and was even able to doze through some of them.  

Don't Watch the Clock

Once you're safely laboring in the hospital, put your phone away and pay no attention to the clock.  Time means nothing in labor... some women labor for minutes, some for hours, and yes.. some even labor for days.  The important thing is to take each contraction one at a time - it doesn't matter how many contractions you've had or how many more are to come, all that matters is the moment you're in now.  Taking it one contraction at a time is the easiest way not to feel discouraged or overwhelmed, just take it one step at a time.  

Save the Tub as your Last Resort

If you have access to a labor tub, it's heaven.  The warm water and being able to let yourself float during contractions is just such a huge relief.  However, you don't want to play that card early in your labor since the relaxing effects of the tub tend to wear off the longer you're in it.  Instead save the tub until you just can't take the contractions anymore (like during the Transition Phase of labor), then savor all the warm relaxation the labor tub has to offer - it'll feel like heaven.  

Realize that Sometimes Decisions are Made For You

Above all, go in with a positive mindset and ready to relax yourself through labor but understand that ultimately sometimes decisions will be made for you in the best interest of you and your baby's health.  For us, I was lucky enough to successfully hypnobirth our first baby and have the incredible all-natural birth experience I always wanted.  However, for our second pregnancy baby #2 stayed breech and just would not turn.  For us this time, I did not get the opportunity for an all-natural birth but instead had a planned c-section - and guess what?  It was still incredible!  No matter how your baby is delivered it's an amazing experience - enjoy and savor it.  

Best of luck, Mamas!!  

---

Related Post:

• “Things I Wish I Knew Before my C-Section”

• Important Tips on Creating Your Baby Registry

• Our Top Baby Registry Must-Haves

---

Disclaimer:  This post shares my personal experience and is not medical advice - please always consult with your doctors for what's best for you and know that everyone's birth experience is different.

A Family Outing with L.L. Bean (Diaper Tote Insert Review)

Whew, this post was a long time coming!  The end of our pregnancy really knocked me for a loop as did the reality check of having a newborn again (how you forget these things!).  So the past couple of weeks really has been a whirlwind.  Thankfully L.L. Bean had been kind enough to send me their new diaper tote insert to try along with their large boat tote bag and it's been so helpful to carry around our gear as a new family of four.  
| This post contains affiliate links as well as an honest review of products provided by L.L. Bean |

Since we got home from the hospital after the birth of our little one, we've kept our outings pretty minimal - grocery store, doctor appointments, school, that sort of thing.  But now that momma is feeling better and baby has been doing well it's high time we get back outside and enjoy this beautiful weather before the snow flies.  

So much room and so easily organized!

Packing a diaper bag is always a little tricky - and even more-so when you have both a newborn and a toddler! After all, you don't want to be caught without a necessity, but you don't want to overpack either. Thankfully using the Diaper Tote Insert has made packing so much easier. In the insert I am able to pack all the necessities like a changing mat (which is included!), diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for the newborn, small first aid kit, nursing cover, bottles, etc - all in handy pockets and zippered compartments.

After the Insert is packed it's easily interchangeable between a Medium or Large Boat Tote Bag, depending on what fits your needs best. We've found that putting the insert in the Medium Tote works perfectly for grocery trips, school drop-offs, errands etc. The insert fits snuggly inside with all your necessities.

For longer outings we've really loved putting the insert in the Large Tote (with long handles), which allows for extra room along each side of the insert as well as at the bottom of the bag.  This additional room gives plenty of space for extra changes of clothes, blankets, toys, etc and the long handles make it a breeze to carry, even if you're juggling two kids.  

By using the Boat Tote Bags as diaper bags, they really pull double duty!  Their classic looks never go out of style and by going with a simple last initial monogram for the large bag, it becomes something that will grow with us and can be repurposed by anyone in our family.  By picking something classic like this you won't be stuck with a diaper-specific bag that you'll never use again, and that's so important.  

This past weekend we finally got out of the house as a family of four and headed to do something fun - and what better way to take advantage of this beautiful day than spending time down by the lake and hitting up the playground before visiting family.  

Since we were going to be out for the full day, I made sure to pack the insert in the Large Boat Tote so I could pack extra supplies for everyone - and it's a good thing I did!  Right before we left our toddler got her pants all dirty playing in the wet sand at the edge of the water so it was great to have clean clothes packed for her for the rest of the day.  

We had a lot of fun exploring around this brick boathouse from the 1900's!

Diaper Bag Must-Haves

• changing pad

• diapers

• wipes

• baggies for dirty diapers and soiled clothes

• nursing cover

• change of clothes for baby

• small first aid kit

• hand sanitizer

• wrap carrier

• pacifier (and a backup one!)

• snacks and water for mom and older siblings

• bottles

• formula

• a small receiving blanket or swaddle blanket

• small toy or book

Overall, having the versatility of this diaper tote organizer has been so helpful!  And I especially love that I can easily switch it between bags on the way out the door to best fit our needs for the day.  

Click here to Shop: L.L. Bean Diaper Tote Insert | L.L. Bean Boat Tote Bag

L.L. Bean Style

Scroll sideways to see more ->

- I received the Large Boat Tote and Diaper Tote Insert from L.L. Bean but all opinions expressed are my own.  Please see our full Disclosure Policy for more information.  Thank you to L.L. Bean for providing these items to me for review. -   

All outdoor photos by Adrian Pelletier Photography.  

Related Posts:

Even Harley is a fan!

Attention Wholesale Accounts

 I have already reached out to all my current wholesale accounts, but if you were thinking of working with me this Christmas season I'm asking for orders to be placed (very early) by May 15th.  

We're expecting baby #2 right around when I get all our large holiday orders and I'm trying to plan ahead for what will be an extra busy time.  If you'd like wholesale info or have any questions, please send me an email.  Thanks so much for your understanding! 

We're expecting baby #2!

So the reason I haven't been posting as often lately is we're expecting baby #2!  ...and those early pregnancy symptoms have been kicking my butt the last few months (morning sickness?  I think you mean all-night-and-most-of-the-day sickness).  But I'm finally starting to feel a little better and am excited to get back at the blog and Etsy shop more regularly again.  

Please let me know if you have any favorite New England-made baby brands - I would love to check them out and shop local when I can :)  

(Fun Fact - the duck pull toy in the photo was mine when I was a baby!)  

Cute Fall Maternity Photo with Pumpkin

Okay, throwing it back to our last pregnancy and still in love with this easy Fall-themed maternity picture my husband and I took with a pumpkin!  It's so simple but I think it came out so sweet.  This idea would also be perfect for a Fall pregnancy announcement too.  Fall is our favorite time of year, so I'm happy we could capture a classy Fall-themed "belly" picture.  

I promise I'll share some photos from when I was farther along at our Christmas maternity photo session too - some sweet, simple ideas for your "special delivery" to come!  

Shop Fall Fashion

Favorite Finds: Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter

I know that pregnancy stretch marks are hereditary, and they say there's no escaping them.. but somehow I did.  

Stretch marks run in my family and I was sure I was going to get ginormous ones during my pregnancy but somehow I didn't get a single one (whew!).  My lack of stretch marks was probably due to a combination of slow, steady weight gain, staying well-hydrated, moisturizing, and a ton of luck, but I'm also going give a bunch of credit to Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter.  

I used this stuff twice a day on my belly and I'd like to think it worked wonders!  It smells amazing, rubs in well, and soothed the awful itching that comes with stretching skin.  I'm definitely recommending it to all my expectant friends! 

Our Top Baby Registry Must-Haves (many will surprise you!)

Getting ready for a new baby means.. a lot of stuff.  Like, a boatload.  Some stuff you’ll hardly ever use, and others you just couldn’t live without. 
Read on for some of our favorite baby registry must-haves - some will surprise you! 
| This post contains affiliate links |

1. Coconut Oil - This will become your go-to every time baby has dry skin or a rash. It helps treat cradle cap, dry skin, various diaper rashes, and heat rash. It's is a natural anti-fungal and antibacterial so it heals, moisturizes, and helps keep the issue from coming back.
   (FYI - coconut oil can be expensive.. the place where we've found the best deal has been in-store at Trader Joe's.)
   

2. Aden+Anais Swaddle Blankets – nearly all babies love to be swaddled, and these blankets are perfect. They’re made of very breathable muslin which helps ensure baby doesn't overheat and are also over-sized so you always have plenty of material to work with.
   When baby no longer wants to be swaddled, they make perfect lightweight stroller blankets.
   

3. Sophie the Giraffe - I thought this was the most ridiculous thing at first (nearly $20 for a little rubber giraffe? Really?!), but our daughter absolutely loves it! It was one of the first toys she could hold and play with thanks to it's long neck and legs, and all of it's different parts and textures give her a lot of options for teething.
   Now that she's crawling she loves holding on to Sophie and squeaking her against the floor as she goes along. It's become one of our daughter's favorite toys, though our dog did take some convincing that it wasn't for her.
   

4. Convertible Pack 'N Play (with bassinet + changing table) - In the first few weeks when you're sore and beyond exhausted, you're going to want some place close to put your baby down or change her. These convertible pack 'n plays are ideal, but don't get too carried away with them! When we were first comparing all our options we were tempted to get the most expensive one will all the bells and whistles, but instead settled for a mid-range model and I'm so glad we did. Our little baby outgrew the bassinet within weeks so if we had spent extra money on one with an extra-fancy bassinet it would have been for naught. As a whole though these pack 'n plays grow with baby, so this is a purchase you'll be using for a long time.
   

5. Insulated Lunch Box or Small Cooler - Bottle feeding or breast feeding, at some point you will need to take milk or formula with you. Whether you choose a novelty lunch box that will take your little one into daycare and preschool or an ordinary small cooler, having someplace to keep milk and first foods cold on the go is essential.
   

6. Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit - This is another one of those things I thought was a total gimmick at first but after weeks of our little one walking up no less than 15 times a night (oh how I wish I was exaggerating) and refusing to nap during the day, I gave it a try and it certainly was magical!
   The Sleepsuit helps transition your little one when they no longer want to be swaddled, but are still being awoken by their Moro reflex. It allows them to sleep on their back in a stretched out position but the puffy padded suit helps "muffle" their startles, keeping them feeling cozy and safe and allowing them to fall back asleep on their own. The suit comes in two sizes (3-6 months and 6-9 months) and should no longer be used when baby is able to start to roll over in the suit.
   For us this suit was a sanity saver and got our little one's sleep back on track. It also was instrumental in helping us establish naps and start our daughter on a schedule when she was a few months old.
   

7. Stain Removers - Babies are messy, and you don't realize just how much so until you have one.
   So far Seventh Generation Natural Stain Remover Spray has been able to take down every laundry stain we've thrown at it - even set-in stains that have already been through the wash once already are no match for this spray.
   For the instances when baby poops, pees, or spits up on things that can't go through the washing machine (like the carpet or the couch) Bi-O-Kleen Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator does a great job at lifting the stains and smells out.
   

8. Jogging Stroller - It doesn't matter if you're or runner or have never worked out a day in your life - get the jogging stroller over the regular stroller with the little wheels.
   After going for walks with friends that have regular strollers, it made me all the more thankful for our jogger! Our BOB stroller navigated the walking path and sidewalks with ease but for our small-wheeled stroller friends, relatively small cracks and uneven parts of the sidewalk became like hitting a brick wall with stroller, baby, and mom coming to an abrupt halt.
   And don't let price and compatibility deter you - my sister-in-law found our nearly $400 BOB stroller on Craigslist for only $40, so don't be afraid to buy used! Also most joggers have car seat adapters available so you can still use your travel system like you would with a regular stroller.
   

9. The Baby Book by Dr. Sears - Ever wish babies came with directions? This is probably as close as you'll come. This easy-to-read book covers all the basics and more and is a great reference for just about everything that will come your way.
   While you're pregnant I also highly recommend reading The Pregnancy Book and The Birth Book (also of the Sears Parenting series). I read several pregnancy/labor books while expecting and these were the most thorough books hands-down. And while they were a little too "touchy-feely" for my taste at times, I felt as though they really helped me prepare for and understand my pregnancy and labor.
   

10. Mattress Protection (for your mattress) - It's a given to get mattress covers for the baby's mattress, but until someone suggested one for our mattress too it never crossed my mind.
    In your last trimester get a good-quality, non-crinkly mattress cover for your own bed. That way in case your water breaks in bed, you're protected. Then even after baby is born, leave it on because at some point baby will poop, pee, or throw-up in your bed. It will happen more than once, trust me. And do you really want to ruin that $400 mattress? Didn't think so.
    

11. Fan - White noise can help lull a baby to sleep and good air circulation can help reduce the risk of SIDS, so having a fan near wear your baby sleeps is a great idea. Some people swear by sound machines to help their baby to sleep, but personally the thought of whale sounds going for hours on end gives me a headache.
    Whatever you decide to do, have a little white background noise and make sure baby's room is well-ventilated.
    

12. Infant Carrier – there are lots of great ones out there. I suggest going to a local Babies ‘R Us or baby boutique and try some on to see what features you like and don’t like. Some people really like a structured carrier (like an Ergo or Boba), and others prefer the ones made of stretchy material (like a Moby wrap). Personally, I prefer the structured carrier.. it’s definitely a lot easier to take on and off when you’re out and about. Just make sure not to get one that's considered a "crotch-dangler" - they're bad for baby's hips!
    Whatever you choose, baby-wearing is not only great for bonding but it’s a HUGE sanity saver. It allows you to be able to still get things done around the house when your little one won’t let you put them down.

That's our list of our top baby must-haves, but of course there are a million other things you'll need - diapers, wipes, bottles, breast pumps, diaper pail, saline drops, co-sleeper or bassinet, crib, high chair, car seat... The list goes on and on but we hope we gave you some ideas for things that you might not have thought of.  
It can be a hard and exhausting job, but motherhood is the most rewarding thing you'll ever do.  Good luck, Mama - you'll do great!  

---

Related Posts:

• Important Tips for Creating Your Baby Registry

• Pain-Free Childbirth: My Hypnobirthing Experience

• “Things I Wish I Knew Before my C-Section”

---