New Baby Advice : Say Yes

Welcome Liz from Say Yes! Liz is funny, gracious, and so wise. She takes such good care of us and we look up to her so much. Her style is so effortlessly cool (this!) and We all jumped for joy at the news of her second pregnancy after a long hard road of Secondary Infertility – read all her posts about it here – and with every picture of Edie is a reminder of hope and a fresh start. Here’s Liz’s new baby advice with photos by Rachel Thurston:

1. What is one thing you would go back to tell your new-mom self?

SF New Baby Advice : Say Yes

Breastfeeding isn’t worth it when you feel like you’re fighting with your baby everyday and think you might pull your hair out! I had a horrible time nursing my son and am shocked and a little embarrassed how long I went struggling with it (over a year). I’m so much more relaxed about that stuff this time around. Generations of smart, well-adjusted, happy people have been fed formula (my parents being some of them!)

Also, don’t jump into baby outings too soon. You have the next 18 years for that! My group of friends at the time I was a new mom all had older children so I felt like I was always hanging out at the park with a 3 month old. So silly. Why wasn’t I toting my baby accessory around the mall and out to fancy cafes while I still could? Live it up while you still can. There is far too much Dora and playground babysitting already scheduled in your future.

2. Was there anything surprising or shocking that happened that no one warned you about?

SF New Baby Advice : Say Yes

Oh, yeah. That big fat lie that breastfeeding doesn’t hurt at the beginning. It kills! Even in the hospital this time around, the lactation consultant was trying to tell me I was doing it wrong soley because it was hurting (once again I had been lured into the lie!) Truth: It will kill and you’ll want to scream. But just wait 2 weeks and your beautiful bionic nipples will emerge!

3. What’s your bedtime routine?

SF New Baby Advice : Say Yes

My son hates when I sing. I know, he’s trying to torture me. But, so far, my daughter loves it. My favorite right now is “Moon, Moon Moon’ by Laurie Berkner. It’s pretty and simple to learn, and she’s usually dosing off by the second verse.

Such great advice! And we’re so thrilled that Liz could be the first to utter the word nipples on Small Fry, a momentous day!

Also, don’t miss our huge nursery giveaway with Land of Nod below!

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12 Comments

  • Melissa
    February 19, 2014 at 6:18 am

    i breastfed as well. it only killed for 3 days. Day 4 was a savior! i felt like taking a breastfeeding class and asking lots of questions really prepared me for success. i think when having a baby, investing in classes that appeal to you and setting yourself up for the best outcomes is always a good choice! if your birthing in a hospital don’t just follow what the doctors say! push the limits, read, ask questions. its your body, your baby, and your experience. go mamas!

    Reply
  • Amanda
    February 19, 2014 at 7:12 am

    great advice! and i’m so glad you said that about breastfeeding!! it’s wonderful, but not easy or necessary for everyone- i WISH women didn’t feel judged or less of a mom because they stopped (or didn’t) breastfeed! i didn’t with my first and i was HAPPY! we have an amazing bond- one that i am confident did not suffer because she was raised on formula!

    Reply
  • Marsha
    February 19, 2014 at 8:13 am

    So happy to read this! It’s so refreshing to know other momma’s experience the same things as me. I’m loving this series!

    Reply
  • Emily
    February 19, 2014 at 9:33 am

    Loving this series!! It’s so refreshing to hear real mama perspectives from all of these women we know and admire so much!

    Reply
  • Liz Stanley
    February 19, 2014 at 10:26 am

    Thanks so much for having me small fry gals! xoxo

    Reply
  • Jennifer
    February 19, 2014 at 11:03 am

    Thanks for being real, lady!!! I am loving these posts!!!

    Reply
  • Sara
    February 19, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    I am so glad that you are not afraid to say that it was hard for you to breastfeed. I too struggled for the longest time and beat myself up for not being able to provided for my daughter, but I will definitely give myself a break next time around. Thank you for the encouragement, and I totally agree it is super painful the first 2 weeks.

    Reply
  • Janssen
    February 20, 2014 at 12:54 pm

    I love Liz! She’s just so real.

    Reply
  • Jen
    February 21, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    Love this, Liz is inspiring.

    Reply
  • Katie
    February 24, 2014 at 8:12 am

    Thanks for the breastfeeding comment. My daughter is now a month old but those first couple of days of her life were so stressful & depressing because I couldn’t breastfeed her. I finally gave in to pumping & supplementing because, at the end of the day, she needed to eat! Best decision I made. I’ve received a few judgmental comments (the most hurtful from some family members) but as long as my baby’s healthy, I can block those out.

    Reply
  • Cassidy
    February 24, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    I always tell my girlfriends that nursing is not for the weak! But then suddenly it’s the best/easiest/most amazing thing ever!

    Reply
  • jovana
    March 26, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    thank you for the nursing comment also! nursing wasn’t painful for me at all and my baby latched on just fine, but it was a frustrating experience nevertheless with lots of ups and downs. to save you the details, i gave up after about a month for a variety of reasons. my son is now a healthy and happy toddler and we have a great bond that never suffered because of lack of nursing.

    next time around i’ll make sure to organize a meal train and feed myself before feeding the baby. (i now realize i wasn’t taking enough care of myself and that didn’t help with my milk production). i also won’t get intimidated by the guesswork of whether the baby is eating enough. don’t panic if the baby takes a while to get used to nursing. i’d love to get it right next time.

    but, if you can’t or don’t want to nurse, that’s perfectly fine. there’s a rich history of women hiring other women to nurse their babies, so it’s not like you’re breaking some sacred tradition. you need to do what it takes to be the best mom you can be, and if that means bottle feeding then so be it.

    Reply

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