Becoming a mum can be both a rewarding and challenging time. Not only are you learning to look after a new baby for the first time, but you’re also sleep deprived, and recovering from pregnancy and birth. The early days of being a mum can present many unique challenges, but there are a few things that you can do to help make your days as a new mum much easier. I’ve put together a few of my favourite life hacks that I learnt after the birth of both of my children. Make new mum life easier with these life hacks.
Have a Baby caddy ready:
A baby caddy, or nappy caddy is a basket full of everything you need for yourself and baby, conveniently all together so you can carry it around with you. Include some nappies, wipes, a burp rag, a spare outfit for blow outs, plus a water bottle, snack, and a phone charger or power bank for you. You can also throw in some breastfeeding essentials such as a silicone breast pump, some spare breast pads, and a nursing cream.
Use a Silicone Breast pump for creating a freezer of milk:
A silicone breast pump milk saver is amazing for building up a stash of breastmilk for in the freezer without having to pump. Just pop it on the opposite side while you feed baby, and let it catch the let down.
Have your nappy bag packed already:
Pack your nappy bag with everything you need before you give birth, and fill it up each time you use something out of it. This way you can get out of the house quickly without having to go through your bag, or run around searching for nappies, wipes or clothing while trying to get out of the house.
Don’t bother folding baby’s clothes after washing:
After you wash and dry babies clothes, just put them in baskets or draws, or hang them all on the tiny coat hangers. Don’t bother folding them. They
Order groceries online:
Taking a baby to the supermarket is hard work. Order your groceries online from your couch. That way you don’t even need to put pants on.
Have a postpartum recovery pack ready:
Pack a basket or bag full of everything you will need for your postpartum recovery. Include things like pads, breast pads, nursing cream, and your silicone breast pump milk saver. Keep it close by so you can pull everything out as necessary.
Make the most of delivery services:
You’d be amazed what you can have delivered these days. There are some amazing delivery services for food, baby items, ready made meals and more.
Freezer meals:
If you’re reading this before you have your baby, make some meals and put them in your freezer for after baby is born. You can also make double batches of meals so you can store more in the freezer without having to do any extra work.
Babywear:
Get yourself a good baby carrier and babywear. This means you have two hands free to get things done, and it’s also great for going for walks and ducking into the shops if you need to. Babies love the motion and contact, and babywearing is often one of the easiest ways to settle your baby.
Sleep close to your baby:
We all know that sleep is in low supply for new mums! Make your life easier by sleeping close to your baby. This means you don’t need to get up and walk to another room to feed baby, and you can get back to sleep nice and quickly after the night feeds. Have everything you need ready in a basket beside your bed to avoid having to get up.
Reach out for help all the time:
This is perhaps the most important one! Being a new mum is hard, and it’s hard to do anything when you are tired. Ask for help from your partner, friends and family around you. Even if it’s just to ask them for a chat, or ask them to pick something up at the shops, or drop around a meal. If you don’t have anyone around you, look into some paid help if that is an option.
Get a postpartum doula:
If you don’t have anyone around to help, paying someone to help is a great option. Postpartum doulas are there to help people after birth with all sorts of things such as cleaning, meal preparation, and entertaining older children.
Prepare with lots of snacks:
One thing nobody tells you about the postpartum period is how hungry you will be! Get yourself lots of snacks. Put some in your baby caddy, have some beside your bed and wherever you will feed baby. Get some nutritious snacks such as lactation biscuits, protein balls, fruit, bars, and trail mix.
Author Bio:
Rachel Preston Broughton is a mum of two, and the owner of Baby and Mumma Gifts, an online business stocking gifts, hampers, and products for new mums and babies to make your postpartum period easier. https://www.babyandmummagifts.com.au/
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