Working Immigrant Mom is collection of stories, recommendations, tips, and tricks for surviving early years of parenthood away from my own family. 

entrepreneur

Entrepreneur mom is the rearest of them all the one that will no mater where start her own business and head the way for support of her family

Stay at home

Mom that is sole pillar of family whose work is a lot of times underappreciated and goes by unnoticed. 

Lima01.jpg

EMPOLYEE

Surviving workday in and out and then surviving home and children while maintaning senity. 

Choices, choices ... 

 

It can be very overwhelming to choose from so many things for first time mom. You have no clue what you'll need. Times have changed a lot since your mom was mom, and things and technology have changed since you're nephews age 15 ware babies.

To clear out any doubt about how much of what here is the list:

#1: Bassinet

After having two kids I've realized that yes you'll need it oh so much! It's very hard to get up at night and go across the room pick up waken baby. You'll say no I'm ok with picking it up and feeding it. As no nonsense mom and work in progress minimalist this one is essential. Babies wake 3, 4, 5 times per night to feed and your hands, soul and body will be tired. Go for the bassinet! This is the one that I have and it has been life saver for me. Our bed is very high, and we are tall people so it serves well to have something that is tall enough for you to lay the baby down so it wouldn't pose any strain on your back or hands.  If your nursery is not read or you don't have a separate room for your baby, this will be the best place for it next to it's mama. Crib can be introduced at latter time and setup in separate room.

#2: Changing Table

Unless your one of the minimalist types that will use any surface to change baby (this will kick in latter) you'll want to have one stationary place where everything is going on when it comes to your baby. Changing table is where all your kids diapers, clothes, towels, burp cloths and socks will live. 

#3: Tub

You're babies umbilical cord stem has faller out, meaning you can give your little one bath and you're doing it on your own for the first time. It's very thought! You're nervous the baby is jiggly and anticipation of bathing is rising to the level of crazy. Many shapes sizes and configuration are out there and the one that has proved best was this  especially if you have tall / long baby. Our toddler is still using hers at age two and half just because it's that spacious and versatile. 

#4: Stroller and Car Seat

Two pees in the pod. You can't have one without another. there is a lot of offerings in baby stores, in essence it all comes down to are you going to go for a set carseat + stroller or are you going to use one carseat and different type of stroller / frame for pushing the bucket carseat around. 

#5: Swing / Rocker

And like other baby products there is so many of them. You may want to consider design preferences wood, plastic, automatic swing, hand swing. Your kid is going to enjoy lounging around and being next to place of action and conversation like living room. I've been fortunate enough to have friends to borrow from one of these so if I can't the swing will swing on it's own and if needed I can move baby around the house and have it next to me in kitchen or if baby is congested he can sleep next to me in it. 

#6: PLAYMAT

 For all those little firsts like first roll and first tummy time and first crawl and first walk you’ll want something that will be easy to clean and durable as well as entertaining for the kid. One of the better options is to go with is foam play mat that will be easy to wipe off like this one with combo of baby gym. Over the time you will remove the baby gym and keep the mat since you want something cushioning for you baby to land on once she or he starts to walk.

#7: DIAPER BAG

Just use large bag that you love and organize everything in Ziploc bags. Separate predefines outfits e.i. onesie, socks and leggings with fresh diaper.  Go with backpack if you’re going to be baby wearing, makes things equally distributed and easy to go about.

#8: BABYWEARNIG

Find local group that is gathering once a month like https://babywearinginternational.org/  and test out different carriers. Two carriers worked for me the best first one was Moby wrap it gave me support prior to birth of my second, I would ware wrap around my belly for support prior to birth and then after birth the wrap was used from the day one. Second carrier that I’ve used with my first kid was Ergo 360. I was wearing my girl in it until she was 20 months and hit the limit for the weight. Now at 30 months she still want to be worn around, and we moved on to carrier that is toddler sized for her.

#9: NURSING

It doesn’t matter if you’re breast feeding, chest feeding, bottle feeding, formula feeding as long as your baby is fed! With that said there are just few items that are essential for this. Burp cloth, brest friend and foot rest. You may or may not choose to get one of the gliders, as minimalist I’m opposed to getting more furniture then needed. With sofa in living room and place on it for me I opted out of getting additional gliders and extra stuff.

#10: CLOTHING

Getting clothing is very fun, especially for your little baby to come. However babies outgrow it so fast that sometimes you’ll put one outfit on your kid and it will be outgrown before you have time to wash it. With all that in mind you don’t want to have too small amount of clothing, then you’ll be washing them every few days or too many, since you wont have time to have them wear it. Don’t be ashamed to accept or borrow used clothing from friends it’s going in cycles and you can pass on everything excess to next new baby in your circle.

 

 

Woman body comes equipped with not one but two mammary glands whose intention is just that to feed the children as long as it’s possible. It provides all nutrients, nurturing and comfort for our little ones. Coming from breastfeeding family I thought it was one of the most easies / natural things to do. You put the baby on to the breast and baby feeds and everything is fine and dandy. Why would anyone need breastfeeding class?? Only reason I took the breastfeeding class was because it came free with the birthing class in my hospital (oh how little did I know).

 

Breastfeeding was one of the most painful things that I’ve experienced after going thru the birthing itself. Little did I know it had everything to do with thrush and nipple trauma from uneducated pumping. Who could remember all those classes in middle of the night when baby is crying and you can’t put it together in tears trying to feed the baby.

 

I have been obsess on how to do it correctly and how to go thru it without pain and how to make it last, and it wouldn’t be possible without following things:

 

1.     Breastfeeding Support Group

My hospital had it and I was lucky enough to have been moderated by IBCLC –International board Certified Lactation Consultant who resolved all of my issues. There are many FB support groups that can come helpful for this

2.     Correct equipment

Breastfeeding pump that suits your need with flanges that are correct size for you. For me best option was Pumpin’ Pal since it didn’t have hard border for my nipple to be crushed whit pumping (gal with sensitive skin over here)

3.     Nursing Pads

Found in the whole process that I’m allergic to bleach used in feminine products so had to go with organic option like these

4.     Nipple Cream

Mother love was the best thing for me… unlike lanolin creams these one helped with my cracked and damaged nipples

5.     Pumping bra

My nursing bras ware all that I needed and only thing that worked the best while pumping on work was to wear nursing bra and put this string bra over for fastest in and out time from mothers room was LactaMed Simplicity Hand Free Bra Kit or go for the ultimate nursing bra fit for supermom 

6.     Nursing pillow

 I’ve tried few options having my own pillows as support, using Boston pillow (hospital gift) using Boppy and best one that worked for me was Brest friend. Brest friend was easy to stay in one place and kept my baby aligned for extended time so I wouldn’t have issue with my already beaten wrists. 

7.     Nursing station

This can be place on the couch, glider or anywhere in the house you feel comfortable feeding your kid and contain following items, that will need to be restocked from time to time

a.     Outlet for charging phone hooking up breast pump,

b.     Little light if you’re doing it in the middle of the night,

c.     Favorite snacks feeding / pumping can be very time consuming and it can make you feel hunger – Trader Joes individually packed snacks worked the best for me

d.     Water … I had Costco size package of water for me next to it.

e.     Burp cloth for all kinds of messes

f.      Book if I’m tired of looking at the screen

g.     Glider or if you don’t want whole another peace of furniture little nursing stool(I opted for nursing stool)

h.  Nursing pillow

8.     Nursing neckless

Teething jewelry is optional, however it will give your baby in long haul something to hold onto and something to cling on other then your hair / clothes while nursing.

9. Cross use pumping parts

Since I've switched from one type of pump to another from Medela Pump in Style to Spectra S2. I was left with a lot of parts and bottles that don't fit together. To solve it I've found cross use parts that help with use of the old bottles flanges etc like these for flange adapters, bottles, and valves

At the end don’t’ forget, you are feeding your child, if you are bottle feeding, nursing or formula feeding you are giving your child nutrition it needs. You Got This Mama!!!

 

 

Working Immigrant Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.

 

Features Overview

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Donec eu est non lacus lacinia semper. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae. Nulla lectus ante, consequat et ex eget, feugiat tincidunt metus. Nulla eu pretium massa.

 

Feature 1

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Integer tempus, elit in laoreet posuere, lectus neque blandit dui, et placerat urna diam mattis orci. Nullam sit amet nisi condimentum erat iaculis auctor. Phasellus sodales massa malesuada tellus fringilla, nec bibendum tellus blandit. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae. Maecenas non leo laoreet, condimentum lorem nec, vulputate massa.

Feature 2

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper.

Feature 3

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Sed a ligula quis sapien lacinia egestas. Aliquam bibendum, turpis eu mattis iaculis, ex lorem mollis sem, ut sollicitudin risus orci quis tellus. Donec ac fringilla turpis. Vivamus a ante congue, porta nunc nec, hendrerit turpis.