What to have for Baby's First Week Home

As many lists as I consulted when ascertaining what I would need for Baby's first week home, no where did I find laundry hamper  on a list. We realized within Baby's first six hours home that Baby needed one!

Being naturally frugal people, we also thought we could use the changing pad without a cover. Poor Baby was so cold being laid on the waterproof pad we bought a cover for it ASAP. Another justifiable large purchase was a video baby monitor. We tried the sound only one, but were quickly frustrated that we never knew if Baby was waking up or just stirring. Bite the bullet and get one. It will save your sanity.

Although I primarily nursed Baby, we had received some formula samples from Enfamil. These came in handy when Baby had to be supplemented with formula while on lights for jaundice.

Without further ado, here is my list:

For Baby:
6 sleepers
2 Swaddle Wraps (with velcro)
2 muslin Swaddle Blankets
Knit hat (the one you bring home from the hospital will work)
Receiving blankets
Fuzzy, warm blanket
Newborn diapers
Wipes and Diaper Cream

For Nursery:
Cradle, Crib, or Bassinet with mattress, waterproof cover, and 3 fitted sheets
Dresser/changing table
Changing pad WITH cover!
Diaper Champ (or other pail)
Baby's laundry hamper
Humidifier
Video monitor

Miscellaneous Stuff:
Infant car seat
Diaper Bag
Formula samples
Baby bottles

For Momma:
Maxi pads
Nipple cream
Nursing bra
Nursing pads
Nursing Pillow
Snack food and bottled water

For Daddy:
Snack food
Freezer meals

Don't worry about having everything perfect for baby. Baby won't remember anyway.

Maternity Fashion

When I first got pregnant, I spent hours browsing "what to wear when pregnant." With Pinterest as my search engine, I created a secret 'baby' board so I could stockpile the wealth of information I was gathering. Basically, I learned three things:

1. Conceal the bump until it looks like you are pregnant. Y'all know that girl wearing the skin-tight shirt with the little pooch...Is that a baby? Or was it a baby six months ago? Or does she need to do a few more planks? This time period differs in length for everyone. I could disguise my pregnancy with the right clothes and the right layers for six months. The secret: wear a loose fitting shirt with a banded bottom or a loose fitting t-shirt tucked in. Oversized hoodies are your casual layering friend. For dressier outfits, a fur vest does a great job of disguising the bump. See below pic: I'm 26 weeks pregnant under that vest.

2. When you can no longer cover it, make it clear you are pregnant. You can still wear the oversize hoodie, of course. But when you are in public, wear something more form-fitting to show the shape of your bump. I found that long, knit tops were great for this. (Sidenote: make sure to get long ones, or they won't cover your bump later on! More on that later...) The t-shirt below isn't as stretchy as some, so it's not a perfect example, but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. I'm 37 weeks in this picture.

Also, knit sweaters are your friend! Some long sweaters have ruching, which accentuates your bump to its best advantage. Others can be fitted with a sash. Sweater dresses are the best-no bottoms to deal with!

3. Go for long shirts, low pants. You MUST have a long shirt, otherwise it won't cover the bottom of your bump. Several shirts and sweaters that looked great in my 2nd trimester showed a large strip of skin on the bottom of my belly in the 3rd trimester. No matter how cute your bump is, if your shirt is too short, it's tacky. The bottoms corresponding to your shirt should be low enough to go under your bump. In the above picture, I'm wearing a pair of jeggings (with no fly) that stretched well and tucked under the baby. In the below picture, I'm wearing a pair of pull-on pants with an elastic waistband. Note the trick to disguise a too short shirt-wear a long shirt over it.