Top 5 Things You Need For The First 5 Weeks With A Newborn
Our Dark Pearl family has grown by one! We welcomed Beatrice on March 2nd. Which begs the question, what things do you really need to survive? As Moms-to-be we are inundated with items we “must” buy. As a second time Mom I already had a good idea of what I needed. I’m not telling you what you “must” buy, I’m telling you what I can’t live without. If you want more information about my favs click on the pictures.
1. The Baby Connect App
I used this app with Ryan and it saved my life. It tracks everything you could possibly want from feedings, pumping, to doctors visits. You might think “oh, I’ll remember the last time I feed the baby, I don’t need an app”. When you are sleep deprived one day feels like five days. Somehow time goes slow but fast. When you have to feed baby every two hours, it helps to have a frame of reference. Plus when you head to the doctor you’ll have all the information in the palm of your hand. The app is easy to use and has graphs for a visual person, like me.
2. The Solly Baby Wrap
To be honest, I never really used a wrap with Ryan. I was too scared, I thought it would not support him. However, when I spotted that Solly Baby Wrap collaborated with Rifle Paper Co. I jumped on the bandwagon! I was missing out all this time! With Beatrice the wrap is saving me. I can still play with Ryan while holding Beatrice. You can do stuff while bonding with baby, enough said, right?! It's just an added bonus that the wrap is super soft and comes in a variety of colours.
3. Uppababy Vista
I bought the uppababy vista when I was pregnant with Ryan and used it all the time. First off, it comes with a bassinet, I love when products have a double purpose. Ryan used the bassinet and so is Beatrice. When she is napping in it, I can carry her around the house to shower and brush my teeth, very luxurious, seriously! The stroller adapts with many car seats. I bought the Rumble seat for Ryan making it a double stroller. Now I can put Beatrice and Ryan in the stroller together or I can easily take Ryan’s seat out to stroll with Beatrice solo.
I’m not going to sugar coat it, the stroller is expensive but it was worth every penny for me. A few months ago I was having issues with the wheels, they were shaking. I contacted Uppababy and they told me how to fix it and sent me new wheels. Sadly, it didn’t work as the wheels would not separate from the frame, so they sent me an entire new frame. Talk about great customer service! After that experience I felt I truly made the right choice with my stroller.
4. Placenta Encapsulation
First off, I’m not a medical professional. I will be strictly speaking about my personal experience. I encapsulated my placenta with Ryan, it was a no brainer for me. I suffer from anxiety and depression and I was very fearful of postpartum. So, after some research I decided it couldn’t hurt to try it. A lot of research says it can ward off depression, increase milk supply, energy and help your uterus contract back. Some research found no benefits. Please do the research yourself to see if placenta encapsulation is right for you. It was right for me with Ryan, maybe it was the placebo effect but I did it again with Beatrice. When I found out we were moving to Calgary one of the first things I Googled was "placenta encapsulation" I found a great local company called Pure Birth, they picked up my placenta and delivered the pills to my doorstep.
5. Support
I saved the best for last. You need support! You cannot do this alone and that is okay. You know the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child". You may have a supportive partner or family member which is absolutely lovely but seeking support from another parent is key. To know that you are not alone, that other parents have the same fears, questions, concerns and love for their children. With Ryan I attended a “Mom’s” group, I was skeptical at first. But it really helped to talk to other parents, to get advice and support. It turns out the group wasn’t lame, I connected with the parents and still keep in touch with them. One important lesson learned was for the first three months to just do the basics - feed the baby and yourself, everything else can wait. That may seem simple but it is tough! Now living in a new city one of the first things I did was sign up for parents group with the City of Calgary, it starts in a few weeks and I can’t wait to meet other parents and hopefully future play dates for Beatrice.
The first few months with a baby will be one of the toughest things you will ever do but at the same time it is the most wonderful time of your life. No matter what people tell you including myself, you are really the most important thing your baby needs! Be kind to yourself, you got this!