I remember the moment when I realized that everything in my life had changed after I had Lil’ Tea Cup very clearly. I was in the shower at the hospital, the morning after I had given birth. I had a head covered with shampoo and had just gingerly put soap on a cloth while trying to keep my balance (I was still a little unsteady from being off of my feet for almost a day). I heard a noise and then saw the door of the bathroom swing open and my husband burst in through the curtain. I can’t remember the exact words but I think it went something like, ” she needs you right NOW.” As in my little newborn was hungry as a tiger and wanted to eat yesterday. And then, there I was, on the shower chair, completely naked and freezing with the water off, breastfeeding with shampoo running down my neck.

Hello motherhood!

I remember thinking I was “ready” for things to change when I became a mother. I read books, I talked to other Moms, I prepared the nursery with all the goodies I thought were necessary, and my bags were packed and ready to go. I prepared our world for “baby” as best I could. However what I forgot to do was prepare for “Mom.”

It’s not like I completely forgot that I would be involved in the game. I preemptively bought my first tube of nipple cream ( which is very important and in my opinion should be purchased if you are planning to breastfeed), and I had the nursing pillow that was recommended by all the new Mommies on the internet. However other then that, I dropped the ball!

Here are a few things looking back that would have made those first weeks of motherhood a little easier.


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Always Ultra Thin Overnight With Wings Unscented Pads – You are probably thinking that I am a dummy right about now. I mean who forgets to buy pads after they have a baby? I did in fact buy some – the ones that were on clearance at the drugstore when I was packing my hospital bag in fact. After childbirth, things are obviously sensitive and if you go with the cheapest option… well let me say you will regret it. Talk to other Moms and see what brand worked for them best and were the most comfortable. These were my personal favourites.

TIGI Bed Head Matte Dry Shampoo for Women –  I had never used dry shampoo before I had Lil’ Tea Cup. I also had never tried to wash my hair with a baby who liked to eat pretty much all the time. Dry shampoo helped me look somewhat presentable when visitors came. Also it helped me feel a little more like myself on the days when a shower just didn’t happen. Bonus: you don’t have to find the time to blowdry!

Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea – I actually found these by chance in drugstore in the days after I had Lil’ Tea Cup. I never considered how I wouldn’t always find the time to wash my face. However in the heat of summer, these helped me feel refreshed and clean after a day of new motherhood.

Disposable Nursing Pads – I try to be a thrifty parent. When I was preparing for our little girl’s arrival, I tried to buy things that could all be cleaned and reused instead of relying on disposable items. I purchased many different brands of washable pads to try out and eventually did start using them and had great success. However in the early days, when I was sore and uncomfortable, nothing felt as gentle as the disposable nursing pads. This perhaps is a good lesson for early motherhood in general – don’t beat yourself up when things don’t go exactly as you planned.

Frasier: The Complete Series: Kelsey Grammer – I did a little investigating before I started writing this post and one of the most common things that people told me surprised them about EARLY motherhood is the amount you sit. You sit while your little one is sleeping, you sit while they are eating etc. I am not a big television watcher but in those very early days my Netflix account got a work out like never before. If you have a series that you always wanted to watch this may be the time to purchase it.

What item helped you, as a new Mom, get through those early days a little more comfortably?

Postpartum Care Essentials part 8 of 11

1. Postpartum Pain Relief by Checklists
2. Postpartum Essentials for Mom by Mrs. Checkers
3. Postpartum Survival Kit by Mrs. Superhero
4. New Mom Tips by Mrs. Bee
5. Post Vaginal Delivery Recovery - Day 6 by Mrs. Bee
6. Postpartum Essentials by Mrs. Pen
7. Postpartum Survival Kit by Mrs. Oatmeal
8. How to Survive the Early Days of Motherhood by Mrs. Tea
9. Things I thought were invaluable during the first month by Mrs. Chipmunk
10. Postpartum wardrobe - Where to Splurge and Where to Save by Mrs. Confetti
11. 5 things I wish I had known. by Mrs. Owl