Hi - here are a few things that I have discovered over the last 6 days that I wish I had known before and may help someone here...

1. Lansinoh - for breast feeders, apparently you can get this on prescription (which is good because it's a bit pricy). Get some! And use if right from the start.

2. Maternity/Sanitary pads. I bought some Mothercare maternity pads, but was unimpressed. While I was in hospital, they were constantly leaking and spilling over. I would definitely recommend you take in some Always Night-time Sanitary towels instead - they are much more substantial and absorbant.

3. Jaundice can cause babies to be drowsy, which in turn makes them reluctant to wake up and feed or stay awake while feeding, and you can get into a bit of a downward cycle. This happened to our LO over the weekend, and we had to express and feed it to the LO which was tiring, but she has turned a corner now and has perked up.

4. If you have any problems during the week, the community midwives are great. You can get them to come out and visit, etc. If you have a problem at the weekend (at least in my area) you can't get the same level of support. You're limited to telephone support, which is good to a degree but I find that you never get the same person twice and therefore the advice you get is inconsistent.

5. Other useful things that we have had to buy in the last week - baby syringe (only cost about 50p and if baby doesn't take enough from the breast, it's an easy way to give some expressed milk), breast pump, alcohol hand wash (v handy).

I don't know if all of this is common sense, or if some of it may help someone out there.

Good luck everyone.

xx

Great tips thanks- congrats on your new arrival too x

Thanks for the tips

Thanks for the tips honey - I'm going to need all I can get!!! Xx

thank you hun, i have been looking at the Lansinoh but keep putting off getting it due to the price, so good to here that i can get it on prescription.

do u know if they will do me a prescription b4 the birth or do i have to wait till lo is here?

thanks for the tips hun much appreciated. xx

Can I add to your post as a first time mum on day 5?

- If you have stitches ask your hospital/MW for distiled witch hazel to put on your pads, it is amazing! Also, if you feel you can use the loo no problem in the beginning I'd say STILL swill your lady bits as you can introduce infection which will make you sore.

- Forget about everything that needs doing except wht baby needs, and don't feel guilty saying no to visitors. The more you try to do the worse you will feel.

- Take what your mw says re breastfeeding as advice and not gospel, everyone has a dfferent suggestion and opinion on certain things but only you know how you feel and how baby feels and it may not work for you - don't beat yourself up.

- Make sure you get lots of packs of maternity pads in before birth as you wil need to keep changng regularly (more for cleanliness than anything) and you don't want to have to worry about getting more on day two or three.

- Swallow your pride, let people do the dishes for you, hoover, shop etc. Just make sure you look after baby and yourself plenty of rest, food and fluid.

Lansinoh and other baby stuff (including disposable knickers and maternity sanitary pads) are half price at Sainsbury's at the moment. I just picked up a bunch of stuff tonight.

Thanks for those other tips.

Great tips thanks

I'm crossing over from second tri and will be a second time mommy, but for stitches, another great thing is Epsom salt! Even a quick 10 minute soak in the tub is a great bit of relief for any itchiness and is overall very soothing!