We don’t know a lot of child-bearing aged people. Well, we do, but all live at least 7 hours of driving distance away. There are many things I wish someone would have taken the time or effort to tell me before I delivered our son 2 years ago. Things that seems logical and common sense, in hindsight of course. I’ll illustrate to you what I mean. And if you have anything to add for the first-timers (or second or third . . . as how you can never have too much advice, and you know how forgetful we all get as we get, ahem, older), so, please do share!

* If you have a sudden gush of (pinkish) liquid coming out of your cootchie at 38 weeks gestation, it is because your water just BROKE! Do NOT let the nurses at the hospital tell you it could be something else and that you don’t know anything because you never had a baby before. And do NOT let them make you wait 3.5 hours before being seen by a doctor or being admitted into the hospital. Because honey, you’re gonna have that baby within 24 hours.

* Ask to hold (and breastfeed, if you do choose to breastfeed) your baby right away. Let the baby suck as much as possible, as this is the fastest way to bring in your milk. And if the baby has problems latching on, ask for help from their lactation consultant. Apparently the hospital where I delivered do not provide their in-house breast pump unless you ask for it. So ASK for it!

* Speaking of breastfeeding, check out your local LLL chapter before you deliver. If you end up needing some help / support, they are very good at that. You might end up making some new friends too.

* Bring a baby nail clipper (and baby mittens) in your hospital bag. They will not trim your baby’s nail for you, even if the length exceeds the longest ever recorded in the Guinness Book of Records and sharp enough to poke someone’s eyeball out.

* Eat before you go to the hospital. They will NOT give you any solid foods once they admit you, even if your labor lasts 15+ HOURS and the last time you had any solid food was 8 HOURS prior. Yeap, that’s 23-hours without ANY solid food going into your tummy . . .

* If you are going with pain medication, get it as soon as you can. Don’t wait for hours trying to tough it out and suffer needlessly since you are going to get it anyways.

* Episiotomy is not as horrifying as it sounds, even with a second degree tear. Although it can be absolutely awful if the tear is too great / not sewn properly.

* Bring your own wipes (and possibly diapers too) for the baby. The ones that were used at our hospital were similar to high grade sand paper. I’m SO not kidding.