What would you do differently if you could redo the first 3 months?

[DucksNuts]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

I always used to hate the hours of 4pm to 6pm with my boys. It was just really tough because they were totally fractious and I had other stuff to do at that time always. It's the same for most new parents from what I've heard.

The thing I'm planning on doing differently with the new one is to get stuff down beforehand so that I can devote my attention to him at that time. Dinner be damned!

Arsenic Hour....awesome funness!!

Originally Posted by Riddil

Sorry to admit, but this thread is entirely for selfish reasons. My wife and I are expecting in June. Last night I had a sudden realization: we were spending so much time pouring through the "how to handle the pregnancy" stages I realized that I haven't begun to consider how to handle the days following BIRTH.

Agreed, so much focus is on the birth...its no wonder the first 3 months can be so daunting.

Take as much time off work as you can after the birth, to help your wife (and yourself) settle in to the new life.

Prepare yourselves for the fact that breastfeeding doesnt always come *naturally*...it takes some work, some sweat and at times....tears. Worth the effort for sure, but sometimes its not easy. Listen to all advice and pick what works for you, dont be scare to comp feed if you have too.

Over here, there are *breastfeeding clinics* which are a free service offered to any new mother and the ones here are fanfriggentastic, mainly helping with attachment issues and confidence.

We have a swag over post birth help services here..sleep school, settling classes, breastfeeding clinic, in home Maternal Health Nurse visits, House cleaning for c/sections etc

Take advantage of them all, if nothing else you get to talk to other new parents and realise they are facing the same challenges, and gets you guys out of the house.

3 - 4 months are pretty taxing, but once that bub starts sleeping through most of the nite...you will wonder the fuss was about.