5 Tips from My Postpartum Nurse

Today I’m sharing how my postpartum nurse made the difference as I became a first time mom. I’m sharing 5 Tips from My Postpartum Nurse in honor of Nurse Appreciation Week. This review was made possible by iConnect and Pampers. I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions stated are 100% mine.

5 Tips from My Postpartum Nurse

The hardest thing for a nurse to do is to be a patient. That’s EXACTLY how I felt when I had my son, my firstborn. Used to being the care taker, having to be the patient was a tough mindset to wrap around as I lay helpless and in labor. Thank goodness for amazing Labor & Delivery and Postpartum nurses that surrounded me with motivation, caring and love in those crucial moments to becoming a first time parent.

Today I’m sharing my 5 Tips from My Postpartum Nurse that she gave me in those emotional moments as a first time mom.

1. Your Body Is Healing

I’m a doer. So to get up and do something was my norm. As a pediatric nurse that would be on my feet 13+ hours a day and an average walk of 5 miles, sitting in a bed for about 48 hours was insane. I was going stir crazy looking at the same room. But then my nurse reminded me, that I’m healing. I need to rest for the days and months ahead when my baby would need me. I needed to stay put for my baby. WOW.

2. Accept Help

On day two in the hospital, I cried hard. My son was cluster feeding into the middle of the night. Sleep deprivation for the first time in my life, I was at my breaking point. In utter defeat, I hit my call button and my nurse came in. She coached my into letting her take my baby for just a little while so I could rest. It was the best 2 hours of sleep ever. And then she brought him back and we were BOTH ready to start over. Getting help is super hard for me, especially when I do everything myself. But realizing that help allows me to be a better mom, I’m learning.

3. Say No

We had visitors like a revolving door. Our first child and the first grandchild on my family’s side, I had tons of family in and out of the room at all hours of the day. And that’s when my son would be most happy to sleep in someone’s arms and be extra cute. But I wasn’t taking advantage of those precious moments to get sleep myself. I was too busy hosting from my bed. But my nurse gently reminded me that it was ok to say no to visitors. To get a few hours of the day to ourselves to rest and to be able to see our family at home so I could heal. Wow, what a difference that made!

4. Diapers Are For More Than Just Babies

BEST thing ever! My postpartum nurse took a Pampers Swaddlers diaper, ripped open the liner and stuffed it with ice. BOOM. I’m sure you can imagine where mom would need that, especially if there were stitches involved! I asked for an ice diaper for the next 24 hours, and was totally NOT ashamed to do so.

5. LIVE In The Moment

Mom, as adorable as it is to take 50 pictures of your new baby in every single angle possible, it’s time to put social media on hold. Take in those precious features, that new baby smell, those coos and smiles (ok, maybe gassy smiles…but smiles none the less). These are the only FIRST moments you will ever have with your baby. Take them all in before your baby grows up before your eyes.

Pampers Thank You Nurse Awards

Did you know that last week was National Nurses Week last week? To celebrate nurses during the month of May, Pampers Swaddlers is announcing a grand prize nurse honoree to acknowledge her dedication and commitment to making life better for babies and new parents. The grand prize honoree will be featured in an upcoming Pampers advertisement placed with AWHONN.

Congrats to Labor & Delivery nurse, Anne Gallagher, selected as the Pampers Swaddlers #ThankYouNurses Award Grand Prize honoree! With 38 years experience under her belt, Anne is currently a nurse at University of Illinois Hospital. She focuses on empowering moms to form special bonds with their newborns and uses her special skills to make those first moments between mom and baby extra special! Get those tissues ready and learn more about the Grand Prize #ThankYouNurses Award winner and check out her incredible story here.

#ThankYouNurses Twitter Party

Want to celebrate that special nurse in your life? Then join the #ThankYouNurses Twitter Party TONIGHT! Here’s the details:

When: Wednesday May 11, 2016
Time: 8-9 pm CST
Host: iConnect
RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/24gcaIN
Prizes:

Prize 1: Thermometer ($25), Safety 1st Baby Kit ($25), Pampers diapers
Prize 2: Humidifier ($50) + $50 AMEX + Pampers diapers
Prize 3: Steam Sterilizer ($120), Pampers diapers
Grand Prize: Video Baby Monitor ($230), Pampers diapers
RSVP: Pampers Diapers and Wipes

I’m so honored to know lots of amazing nurses from my time in the pediatric nursing field. They truly are heroes among us everyday. I hope that you will feel inspired to thank a nurse for their hard work and service.