Whats the best advice you got given

The best piece of advice I ever got was don't listen to everyone else's advice lol Oh and don't read baby books theres too much conflicting and confusing info out there. If you want advice your own Mum is usually the best place to turn :)

Great advice Lisa!

Mine was (and is now the standard advice I give to new mums) to trust your instincts - if something feels right, it probably is, and if something feels wrong, it probably is    That applies to labour, birth, parenting etc.

(and sorry to be a downer, but sometimes labour takes more than a day! Just don't want you to say that to yourself and tick over the 24 hour mark and get discouraged!)

My one thing (for once the baby arrives) is to try and get outside the house at least once a day - for a walk, to the shop, to see a friend nearby ... anything! The more you do it, the easier it becomes and you will feel more connected to the world if you get out there each day

This came from a Chinese Hospital MW, I kept buzzing her the night Lily was born going "OMG is this normal?!" she said "I had my first at 15 in China, I now have 5 kids, just go with the flow, follow your heart, you know what is best and nothing beats a mothers instinct." And I have done exactly that and it has been the easiest 3 and a half months ever! I have absolutely no major problems or complaints!

And also the rest in the early weeks, get people to wait on you hand and foot, rest, rest, rest! Stay in bed with baby as long as you can just feeding and getting to know one another! They don't do much in the fisrt few weeks anyway, just eat sleep and poo really when you think about it!

Also don't be afraid to ask for help, no question is stupid - only stupid one is the question not asked!, in labour you know your body best, if you feel something isn't right or whatever then say so and make sure you are heard!

oh and if someone offers to do the dishes, vacuum, clean the bathroom or hang out washing etc.... let them!!!!! (unless its a load of undies/bras etc. hehe)

I just agree with what others have said, with follow your heart, your instincts are usually right, you know your baby best and smile and nod when ppl tell you what to do with your baby then do what feels right to you.

For labour much the same thing, you know your body best, listne to what its telling you and then make others listen, if something doesn't feel right then it normally isn't.

And sleep, baby is going to wake you up enough don't let others get away with keeping you up too :P

ETA: being calm helps your baby be calm so trusting your instincts def helps (however babies are wired the way they are so I'm def not saying calm parents equals 100% calm baby just that at the very least you will be more chilled out)

Edited by Kalimirella

Feel free to ignore any advice
BUT, accept every single offer of help.

The piece of advice I most often want to give is

"Stop stressing and go with the flow! It's all normal!"

OK, sometimes it's not normal but MOST of the time it is. Your baby may want to feed every two hours around the clock for weeks after he or she is born. It's OK. During growth spurts she or he may want to feed every hour! It's OK. You're baby may sleep through the night for a whole month and then start waking during the night again. It's OK. Etc etc. You don't need to "fix" everything

But I don't often give that advice as I don't want to come across as insensitive! It's easy for me to be laid-back but I realise that everyone is different and some people are just naturally "stressers". I usually only say it if i know the person I'm talking to is usually pretty laid-back also.

These have already been said, but a couple of pieces of advice I try to live by:

* Trust yourself, if you think something is right (or wrong) then it probably is.

* Never be afraid to ask for or accept help, there is no such person as 'Super Mum', and you certainly don't get an award for trying to do it all.

I was going to say, enjoy your baby also

just remember no matter how stressed/tired you are, they will never be this small again... they grow fast so enjoy each stage