New Mom Welcome Kit - Share Your Advice!

With my first the best labor advice I got was not to "fight" the contractions or tense up with them, just breath deep and go with it... very good advice. 

Other advice I have gotten was that grandma's don't have rules... so don't put expectations on them that you know they won't be able to follow through on.  If you don't trust grandma's rules, then grandma doesn't need to babysit.  Good thing we trust the grandma that said that :) 

Sleep when your baby sleeps is a big help! I still do sleep when your toddlers sleep LOL.

Two key things you always want to have with you : Baby Wipes and Extra Clothes (if you have a really young baby, you may want to bring yourself extra clothes too.)

 Get the Book What to expect the First Year

 for the -powder-formula feeding mommys, i've found that when i take my baby out and i'm packing his bag, i pre-fill his bottles with the amount of water i'll need for them.  you never know when you might be somewhere where the water is questionable or there is none and the little one is hungry.

Just remember we are all learning...if you can go to sleep ( well whenever you catch some zzzzz's) at night and feel you have done your best then you are doing good momma :) try not to stress out over the small things...

sleep when the baby sleeps and a NICU nurse told me you can listen to your mom and your pediatrician but only YOU know your baby and whats best for YOUR baby.  I liked that bit of advice.

"Don't stress yourself after baby comes along"

I was told that by my mom...don't try to be supermom & super wife at the same time. Expect that there will be some messy areas in the house, expect dishes in the sink, expect schedule delays. I felt that was a great thing she told me, after our 1st was born I realized that we never left the house on time no matter how we tried...with the sudden need for a dipaer change; spit-ups; nursing; etc we never had a set schedule for at least 2 months.

If your hubby offers to do anything let him, let him, let him. True, it may not get done exactly as you would like (diapering, feeding, bathing, trips to the store, etc.) but it will be one less thing for you to do.

When baby poops from head to toe (and they will!), don't freak out - grab the camera and laugh it away.

Don't get dressed to go anywhere until AFTER you've fed, burped and changed baby. Having an extra outfit or two for baby,is a must..lol

Relax.  You will have many days that don't turn out like you planned.  Just learn to laugh about it and go with the flow.  Also, if someone offers you help, TAKE IT!  You don't have to be supermom.  I used both peices of advice many times when ds was a newborn.

 You will always be late for everything once you have a baby just remain calm.