Ultimate 7 month survival guide
The first 7 months with Baby O have flown by, but have also dragged by like a painful 3 day hangover. It’s been filled with total joy, and utter confusion, pain and anguish. I’ve never known any single “job” to be filled with so many contradictions.
Saying all of that, DH and I made it and Baby O is happy, healthy and here! So here is a my totally personal guide to the top 9 things you need to have to survive the first 6-7 months.
1) Dry shampoo. Or a hat and a ton of hair bands (one of which lives on your wrist)
I never thought I would struggle to find time to shower but I did, and often still do! Washing my hair (including actually rinsing shampoo and conditioner out successfully) sometimes feels like a real luxury. Feeding on demand in those first few weeks/months means your mummy milk/bottle needs to be accessible at the drop of a bra strap, and if little one is going through a growth spurt you can bet your life, they’ll be hungry the moment the hot water starts to wash the posset off of you.
2) A reusable water bottle.
Filled with water! Oh my gosh, I am thirsty. All the time. I tend to realise just how thirsty when I have sat down to feed Baby O. Communication with DH in the first few months tended to be just grunts and points requesting water. Whether you are breastfeeding or not, staying hydrated when you are exhausted is VITAL! Especially now it is sweatsville outside.
3) Silicone pump (I use the Hakkaa)
I hate pumping, truly. It makes me sad that when I finally have my body back when Baby O is asleep that I need to whip out a gadget to milk myself. I do it because I want to keep feeding him breastmilk but I shall continue to loathe it and openly complain about it, and you can’t make me not!
The silicone pump has been a saving grace. Hook that squidgy bad boy up to the free boob and let it catch/suck away. It’s not as powerful but I’ve used it to keep my supply up and build a little stash.
4) A sense of humour
This should be number one, but I thought I’d start with the "serious" stuff first. I have cried more times in the last 7 months than I care to admit. As I have said before, chalk up the wins and laugh at the disasters. The poop spraying at you, the fountain wee, the spilt milk - take a deep breath and then laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
5) A pack/tribe/friends/team
Whatever you want to call these people, and as cliched as this sounds, they are bloody vital. You need to vent, you need to cry, you need to ask questions, you need to laugh. Find your cheerleaders who tell you are doing an amazing job and go and drink coffee/wine with them. I am insanely lucky to have a varied group of mummies and non-mummies who I can lean on - their support has been and continues to be invaluable.
6) Snacks. All the snacks.
Bite-sized food is a joy when you have a babe in arms. There is literally nothing worse than your, very well-meaning, husband serving you up delicious soupy noodles whilst little one is attached to the boob. It is the worst kind of tease. I lived on fruit, granola bars and chocolate for the first few months but make sure you always have something to grab and eat. DH fed me sandwiches regularly and I mean actually fed me. Wiping mayo off my face, whilst I fed Baby O, that is love <3
7) Audiobooks or podcasts
I used to love losing myself in a book but I now rarely get the time. A good friend told me to listen to some podcasts and it has changed my day. My personal favourite is 'My Dad Wrote a porno'! Whilst playing with Baby O on the floor, we have listened to numerous books, including 'Belinda Blinks' - he is too young to understand right?!
8) A decent sized backpack
I tried a nappy bag because I used to always have a handbag and my back said "no thanks". Small people require a LOT of stuff, so a backpack was the way forward. Perhaps if I was in the UK and had a car, things would be different but navigating buses, mtr, lifts, and the heat, it is all about a backpack.
9) An ASOS, Amazon, Zalora, Petit Tippi, Baby Online etc account.
I did a lot of online shopping during night feeds, a lot. And it was fun having the doorbell go and not remember you had ordered anything. It is like a surprise gift. Although often it was nursing pads, pump parts, nursing bras or cloth nappies, so not as exciting as a new pair of shoes, lets face it!
I wanted to come up with 10 things, because it is a nicer, cleaner number but I am busy and lunch is ready. So, 9 it is.
What is on your survival list??
xx
Saying all of that, DH and I made it and Baby O is happy, healthy and here! So here is a my totally personal guide to the top 9 things you need to have to survive the first 6-7 months.
1) Dry shampoo. Or a hat and a ton of hair bands (one of which lives on your wrist)I never thought I would struggle to find time to shower but I did, and often still do! Washing my hair (including actually rinsing shampoo and conditioner out successfully) sometimes feels like a real luxury. Feeding on demand in those first few weeks/months means your mummy milk/bottle needs to be accessible at the drop of a bra strap, and if little one is going through a growth spurt you can bet your life, they’ll be hungry the moment the hot water starts to wash the posset off of you.
2) A reusable water bottle.
Filled with water! Oh my gosh, I am thirsty. All the time. I tend to realise just how thirsty when I have sat down to feed Baby O. Communication with DH in the first few months tended to be just grunts and points requesting water. Whether you are breastfeeding or not, staying hydrated when you are exhausted is VITAL! Especially now it is sweatsville outside.
3) Silicone pump (I use the Hakkaa)
I hate pumping, truly. It makes me sad that when I finally have my body back when Baby O is asleep that I need to whip out a gadget to milk myself. I do it because I want to keep feeding him breastmilk but I shall continue to loathe it and openly complain about it, and you can’t make me not!
The silicone pump has been a saving grace. Hook that squidgy bad boy up to the free boob and let it catch/suck away. It’s not as powerful but I’ve used it to keep my supply up and build a little stash.
4) A sense of humour
This should be number one, but I thought I’d start with the "serious" stuff first. I have cried more times in the last 7 months than I care to admit. As I have said before, chalk up the wins and laugh at the disasters. The poop spraying at you, the fountain wee, the spilt milk - take a deep breath and then laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
5) A pack/tribe/friends/team
Whatever you want to call these people, and as cliched as this sounds, they are bloody vital. You need to vent, you need to cry, you need to ask questions, you need to laugh. Find your cheerleaders who tell you are doing an amazing job and go and drink coffee/wine with them. I am insanely lucky to have a varied group of mummies and non-mummies who I can lean on - their support has been and continues to be invaluable.
6) Snacks. All the snacks.
Bite-sized food is a joy when you have a babe in arms. There is literally nothing worse than your, very well-meaning, husband serving you up delicious soupy noodles whilst little one is attached to the boob. It is the worst kind of tease. I lived on fruit, granola bars and chocolate for the first few months but make sure you always have something to grab and eat. DH fed me sandwiches regularly and I mean actually fed me. Wiping mayo off my face, whilst I fed Baby O, that is love <3
 |
| Belinda's pomegranate! |
7) Audiobooks or podcasts
I used to love losing myself in a book but I now rarely get the time. A good friend told me to listen to some podcasts and it has changed my day. My personal favourite is 'My Dad Wrote a porno'! Whilst playing with Baby O on the floor, we have listened to numerous books, including 'Belinda Blinks' - he is too young to understand right?!
8) A decent sized backpack
I tried a nappy bag because I used to always have a handbag and my back said "no thanks". Small people require a LOT of stuff, so a backpack was the way forward. Perhaps if I was in the UK and had a car, things would be different but navigating buses, mtr, lifts, and the heat, it is all about a backpack.
9) An ASOS, Amazon, Zalora, Petit Tippi, Baby Online etc account.
I did a lot of online shopping during night feeds, a lot. And it was fun having the doorbell go and not remember you had ordered anything. It is like a surprise gift. Although often it was nursing pads, pump parts, nursing bras or cloth nappies, so not as exciting as a new pair of shoes, lets face it!
I wanted to come up with 10 things, because it is a nicer, cleaner number but I am busy and lunch is ready. So, 9 it is.
What is on your survival list??
xx
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