Things you wished you had known the first time around?

Question

What are some things that you wished you had known with your first pregnancy? This is my first pregnancy and I have no one to go to for help (like my mother). I just want to know what others have missed out on because they didn't know to ask.

Answer 1

Find out what the gender of your baby is & be prepared. My baby came 7 wks early & I was so unprepared, I had no baby items yet (cuz I didn't know the sex) & I didn't have my baby shower by then (it was for the week after he was born). Also if you feel something isn't right during your pregnancy, go to the doc. Two days before my baby came I had strong hurtful contractions, they just didn't feel right, & this sounds weird, but I felt "looser". I guess I may have already started labor, cuz two days later I was 4 cm dialated & in the hospital trying to stop an early birth. My baby turned out to be healthy, but it was just overwhelming cuz I didn't know what to expect. I also ended up getting an epideral, & got the spinal headaches, Ididn't get the blood patch (which is supose to help stop the headaches) & I wish I would of, I felt so sick that first week, I just couldn't think straight. All is great now, but just be prepared for any situation.

Answer 2

I wished I knew how much I was supposed to bleed afterwords. I was shocked to find that I was supposed to be bleeding nine months worth of periods after the baby was born. I hated the thought of a prolonged period but I figured "oh well. can't change that so I'll just wait it out."
Then I kept bleeding and bleeding, way longer than I should have, because I didn't know how long it was supposed to last in a healthy way.
It turns out that my epesiotomy (which is a cut made to the vagina to that large baby heads wouldn't tear it. It's been recently discovered that they really do not prevent the vagina from tearing so the procedure is being fazed out from the medical field) grew infected, causing me to get sick and my insides wouldn't heal. I nearly bled to death.
All in all, I really wish I knew that I would bleed and how much.

Answer 3

Well I was late, past my due date and very eager to meet my little wonder. I was told to hang on over the weekend and if I did not go into labor then to call on Monday and they would induce me. Well I was too impatient adn I drank Casteroil and Orange juice to induce labor on my own. Talk about stupid. Needless to say I was in labor for 42 hours and the staff at the hospital wasnt very pleased with my choice. Oh well I am now the proud mother of Lilly James who is a beautiful 11 year old and my best friend. Good luck to you and may you be as happy as I

Answer 4

A set of earplugs is helpful because
everyone loves to tell you their scary stories
give you heaps of advice and their own personal opinion
tell you things that just arent true and based on fact
your too big, too small, having a boy , girl, etc etc
hanging clothes will make the babies cord tie around its neck
.............to name a few!!!!! THESE ARE ALL UNTRUE

Talk to your midwife
ask all the things you want even if u think they are stupid

Answer 5

I wish I had known how much work babies actually are! But I wouldn't trade my son for anything in the world!!

I wished I had known the expenses involved

I wished I had known more about newborns(at that point)

I wished I had not named him after his Biological father..lol

I wished I had known how much love you could feel for someone you have just met(my son)

Lol, I could go on forever...

Answer 6

its my first pregnancy too...and im sorry to hear that you have no one to go to for help..you can email me anytime you want...I love to chit chat lol...and I am pretty early in my pregnancy so maybe we can help each other along..Good luck.