A Postpartum Checklist for Vaginal Births

Disclaimer: Consult with your healthcare provider if you are unsure of items to use postpartum.

A Postpartum Checklist for mom's to be because there's so much more to post-partum care than 'snapping back'. 

How to make a baby nursery?

 

Let’s face it a baby needs a designated space to sleep - safely and on his/her/their backs as prescribed by the experts; whether that’s a shared bed (co-sleeping), shared room or a separate nursery. 

Scenario 1: Co-sleeping nursery

Opinions are still divided about whether parents should share a bed with a newborn but for now we know for a fact that it’s not illegal and that parents have got to do what they have to do with the child rearing resources they have. 

Let’s say you live in a one bedroom or studio apartment where there isn’t much space for a traditional crib and there is just one bed. You can get a cot to put the baby in the bed beside you. There are several of these bassinets designed for the bed on the market. However, like all bassinets, your baby can no longer sleep in it once they start rolling over (around 3 months) because of the risk of suffocating. Alternatively there are the bassinets that attach to the side of the bed so that baby is not actually in the bed but safely within arms reach. 

For a more long term sleeping option in a small space you can invest in a mini crib that is considerably smaller than a standard crib. There are mini cribs that are convertible up to toddler beds etc. just like the standard cribs and also come in rectangular or circular form depending on what works best for your space. 

Scenario 2: Separate Nursery

The recommendation to date is that baby sleeps in the same room with mom/caregiver for the first year of life. So an essential is definitely a bed for mom/caregiver in baby's nursery or you may opt to have a section of your own room designated for the nursery.

Whatever the case may be here are some other items, aside from the crib, to consider for your nursery if you have the space or resources:

✳Dresser or Chest of Drawers

✳Changing table/Changing topper for dresser

✳Rocking Chair/Glider

✳Diaper bin

✳Dirty clothes basket/hamper

✳Extra hanging storage (if you need it)

✳ Baby nursery decor 

✳ Lamp or other dim/ambient  lighting for late night feeds.

What else would you add?

They say a picture is worth more than a thousand words. So here's another baby nursery pic.

Comment below if you'd like to share your own baby nursery and be sure to follow @expectingmami on instagram for more baby nursery inspo. 

The Boppy Pillow: Breastfeeding Must Have

National Breastfeeding Month cannot end without me talking about one of my favourite new mom must haves - the Boppy Pillow!

As a first time mom I did not start out with a Boppy nursing pillow. I started out with a twin size My Brest Friend pillow because it was recommended by a friend. Turned out that pillow was way too big for me and I was having issues keeping the baby propped up on the pillow. 

I remember another mommy friend had used the Bobby Pillow for her first baby so I decided to try out the Boppy Luxe nursing pillow. Two babies later I've been breastfeeding with the Boppy pillow like a pro!

In my experience the Boppy pillow is great because:

• It fits moms of most shapes and size
• It is completely machine washable and can be popped in the dryer.
• No matter how many times it is washed it still maintains its shape and firmness.
• They sell affordable beautifully designed cases if for any reason you choose to change the look of your Boppy pillow.
• Great value for money as with proper care it can last a really long time and can even be regifted.

  

What is your favourite nursing pillow and what do you like most about it? Comment below!