- Posted by Matt Gieselman on February 7, 2009
Here is a list of things I learned in no particular order:
- 75% of women go with the intention of not having an epidural, of those women 80% end up having one and the other 20% wish they hadn’t waited too long to ask for one.
- You don’t need to bring baby wipes, diapers, lotion or the like, the hospital will provide everything the baby needs until discharge. At discharge you will need 1 outfit, 1 hat and 2 swaddling blankets.
- Clothes that fit the baby are 10 times better than clothes that are cute.
- You may hear words come out of your wife that would cause a sailor to blush.
- Sleep as much as you can.
- The nurses are there to help so let them and learn as much as you can.
- Bring light snacks for both of you, the hospital will provide all the beverages you can handle.
- If you are going to take pictures or video get a wide angle lens or adapter for your camera, a 35mm equivalent focal length of 22mm will work great.
- Nobody but you really needs to be in the delivery room with your wife.
- Cutting the umbilical cord is like cutting gristle with a pair of dull scissors.
- Circumcision isn’t nearly as horrible a procedure for the baby as you would think, he gets an anesthetic and is mostly healed after a few days.
- Express your desires to the hospital staff about how you want the delivery to go early and often.
- If they use a vacuum on your babies head it’s okay, even though it looks like the doctor broke your baby. The cone head only lasts about a day.
- It may take 20 seconds or so for the baby to cry, they have to suction out the amniotic fluid the baby has been in for the last 10 months.
- Breastfeeding is hard so don’t give up.
- If you are the dad bring something to entertain yourself, mom and baby will often be asleep.
- The typical stay for a first time delivery is around 48 hours.
- The 2 secrets to a happy and content baby are feed him well then wrap him tightly.
- Babies love Willie Nelson, especially “Seven Spanish Angles” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
- If you have a boy he will pee on you if you take his diaper off.