What you need to know: Post Natal Care

You have been waiting 9 months for this great event. It is very exciting and scarey, but from my experience one were you can only grow from in your journey to becoming a mother. Labour, I pretty much knew all about, reading and attending as many classes as I could. However, nothing could prepare me for 'after' labour. I realized that there was not much detailed information about post natal care.

So I have provided a quick list below to help for the week immediately after giving birth...

1. You feel elated and extremely tired immediately after giving birth.

2. You may not bond immediately with your newborn, because you may be in a daze and very tired.

3. Cuddle your newborn and don't stress about having to breastfeed perfectly, it doesn't have to come naturally, you just perservere. You can also feed with breast milk from the bottle too.

4. Perk the area up before latching baby on, each side. I made the mistake of not knowing this, and found out much to my horror and pain that I had serious problems latching on. They were extremely red and sore.

5. It's okay to feel shock, like if you've had a fast natural birth, like I did. (I was still wondering were my big tummy had gone.) Or just the after shock of giving birth!!!

6. Focus on swaddling your baby and sharing those special sleeping moments with your baby.

7. If you thrive on the support from just your husband being around, most hospitals allow him to bunk with you.

8. Encourage hubby to rest with baby as well, to let you have a rest yourself.

9. Say yes the first time round to physio if you've had an episiotomy! Trust me you will be begging her to come back.

10. Relax, try to focus on taking one step at a time. Feel your inner strength.

And congratulations on becoming a mom!