So, you've gone and had a baby. As you're wandering around in a daze and wondering if that stain on your shirt is from the baby or your last attempt to feed the cat, you're probably hoping for some good advice. Look no further:
1. Find a doctor who is free with the prescription pad. Seriously. This is of particular import if your baby is colicky or fussy or sleepy or has taken up smoking, and you need a way to get through the day. Actually, a good rapport with your doctor is key. If you don't feel comfortable with your OB/GYN, your general practitioner or your pediatrician do NOT hesitate to find a new one. This is a stressful time and you need someone you can count on for support. I can't tell you how thrilled I was the time my daughter had croup, which resultedin a frantic [on my part] late night call to the answering service, and the on-call doctor called me back a few hours later to check and see if we were o.k. It was also much easier to speak to my own doctor about the fact that I couldn't stop crying for about three months after my daughter was born when I knew she was a good listener.
2. Nobody is going to die if you don't get your baby book done. Trust me. Sure, it's a nice thing to have, but aim low. Get a baby calendar, so all you have to do is periodically write something in a tiny block and you don't have to worry about filling out a whole page about your baby's first poop [it stinks, no matter what anyone says] [please don't include photos]. Also? You can spend that money on beer or wine or makeup or jewelry, which will give you a much better return on your investment.
3. You know best. Your mom or mother-in-law or sister or that random lady in the park may have raised 18 kids in a log cabin with no electricity or running water and they all turned out just fine, sure, but YOU are the boss of your kid. YOU. No one knows better than you how to take care of your child and what it means when your baby is tugging on her ears or that he really, really, REALLY hates it when someone tries to feed him peas. If your baby loves her binky, let her suck on her damn binky. Wouldn't you get pissed off if someone took away the thing that makes you happiest? Stand firm, stay strong. It'll be uncomfortable at first, but you can do this. Which should probably be the new parent motto.
There you go. My words of wisdom.
