I am writing this down partly for my own benefit so I remember and incase it might help others and/or prompt others to add their own suggestions!
Today I met a lovely man who asked if I would like a top tip on how to help no.1 adjust to no.2 arriving. Yes, of course, I am open to most things but did not guess in the slightest what he was going to tell me! Give no.1 the responsibility of the new babies feet and toes! It gives them a job to do, makes them feel good and gets them involved. Massage them, stroke them, are they the right temperature and so on. Brilliant!
Make with no.1 (or buy!) a cake so when the baby comes home we all celebrate the babies birthday. No. 1 gets to make the cake, eat the cake and blow the candle out.
Read Siblings without Rivalry - a brilliant brilliant book
Not only buy a present from the baby to no.1 but also get a present for no.1 to give to no. 2. I have just brought 2 little finger puppet mice and my 2.5 year old is so excited not only to play with his puppet but also to give one to the baby. In fact a baby came round for tea today and no.1 asked for the babies mouse and he ran and put it next to the sleeping baby that came to tea!
Read Brunus and the New Bear and Hello Baby to prepare no.1 for the arrival. Both lovely lovely books.
No.1 has come to all our appointments and gets to touch mama's tummy to feel the baby whenever he likes so he has some idea of what is happening. Whenever I hold another baby I gently say 'this is what we are going to have soon.' He always wants to hold the baby which he has been able to do and I say something along the lines of "the baby is so lucky to be held by you, you are so gentle, goodness this is a lucky baby."
I am gently making no.1 wait a little longer on some things so that he starts getting used to me not being able to do everything with him instantly.
Every evening I am massaging my tummy with the baby massage tummy oil so that when the baby arrives the oil I use on her/him will be known by them.
I chant 'head down, chin in, back to tummy, arms down' regularly! And visualise the baby being in the right position.
Have 2 baby pillows either side of me when I sleep so that when I turn in the night there is always something ready to support my tummy.
I would really recommend watching Ina May Gaskin's talks on Natural Childbirth on You Tube as she gives some great tips about how to make labour easier.
On top of all of this I practice yoga, meditation, chanting, drinking pregnancy related herbal teas, taking pregnancy related vitamins, minerals and fish oils, drinking green smoothies, going to bed early, walking my dogs for about an hour everyday and I feel really really great. Each pregnancy is different and most importantly you must listen to your own bodies needs and follow its wisdom.
Mama love,
Nixie xxx
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