What I Wish I Knew After Bringing Baby Home: Honest Postpartum Tips From a Los Angeles Mom
What I Wish I Knew After Bringing Baby Home
Guest contribution from a parent in the Life After Birth community
At Life After Birth, we believe there’s incredible value in hearing honest experiences from other parents. One member of our community shared the following reflections about the early postpartum weeks — including breastfeeding challenges, recovery after a C-section, newborn soothing techniques, sleep deprivation, and the emotional adjustment that comes with bringing baby home.
If you're preparing for postpartum or navigating the newborn stage now, we hope these practical tips help you feel a little less alone.
Breastfeeding & Lactation Support in the Early Postpartum Weeks
Breastfeeding was much more challenging than I expected, and I wish someone had prepared me for how much trial and error can be involved in the beginning. Between recovery, exhaustion, hormones, and trying to learn how to feed a newborn, it can feel overwhelming very quickly.
Spend Time With a Lactation Consultant Before Leaving the Hospital
If you’re planning to breastfeed, I highly recommend spending time with at least one lactation consultant in the hospital before you go home. I had an unplanned C-section, and because of my stitches, they only showed me one breastfeeding hold. Once I got home, that position stopped working because the setup was completely different than it was in the hospital.
Looking back, I wish I had asked them to show me multiple holds and helped me troubleshoot different positions before leaving. I’d also recommend bringing a nursing pillow to the hospital because it can make breastfeeding much more comfortable in those early days.
Consider Scheduling In-Home Lactation Support Ahead of Time
One thing I really wish I had done differently was arranging for a lactation consultant to come to the house shortly after we got home. Instead, I found myself scrambling at the last minute while already exhausted and stressed.
There are several lactation consultants in Los Angeles who offer in-home visits, and having support in your actual home environment can make a huge difference. Pump Station has several consultants, and many parents also recommend Linda Hanna at My Nursing Coach.
Learning to Pump Takes Practice
I also wish someone had shown me how to use my pump before leaving the hospital. I delivered at Cedars-Sinai, and although some parents are shown how to pump there, I wasn’t — so once we got home, I felt completely clueless.
If you plan to pump at all, ask the nurses or lactation consultants to walk you through the setup, cleaning, and storage process before discharge. Also, try to sterilize your pump parts soon after getting home because it can take longer than expected.
Nobody Warned Me How Much Breastfeeding Could Hurt
This may be TMI, but my boobs and nipples hurt a lot during the first few weeks postpartum. Nipple butter helped somewhat with the pain, but honestly, I was still surprised by how physically intense breastfeeding could feel in the beginning.
I remember needing to physically hold my breasts in the shower because they were so sore. Nobody had prepared me for that part of postpartum recovery, and I think more honest conversations around breastfeeding challenges would help many new moms feel less alone.
Tips for Increasing Milk Supply Naturally
If you’re trying to increase your milk supply, a few things that helped me or were commonly recommended included:
Oatmeal
Coconut water
Electrolyte drinks
Lactation tea
Brewer’s yeast in lactation cookies
Staying hydrated and eating consistently
Every feeding journey is different, and it’s important to remember that needing support does not mean you’re failing.
What to Take Home From the Hospital
Take everything that isn’t nailed down.
Seriously.
We brought home extra diapers, receiving blankets, mesh underwear, pads, gauze, knit caps, thermometers, and postpartum recovery supplies.
One thing I definitely underestimated was how many pads I would need postpartum. I used them for several weeks after delivery, and having extras at home made recovery much easier.
Newborn Soothing Tips That Helped Us Survive the Early Weeks
The newborn stage can be incredibly beautiful — and also incredibly exhausting. These were some of the things that helped us calm our baby and survive those long nights.
Skin-to-Skin Contact Can Be Incredibly Calming
When Zach was really upset or inconsolable, skin-to-skin contact against my chest helped more than almost anything else.
There were several nights during the newborn phase when nothing seemed to work, and simply holding him skin-to-skin helped regulate both of us emotionally.
The Exercise Ball Trick
One of our biggest lifesavers was an exercise ball.
When our baby was fussy, bouncing gently on the exercise ball while holding him often helped calm him down quickly. We used it constantly during the first few months.
The Five S’s and “Happiest Baby on the Block”
Watching The Happiest Baby on the Block was also really helpful for us. Seeing the calming techniques demonstrated visually made a much bigger difference for me than reading about them.
The “Five S’s” became part of our nightly survival toolkit during the newborn stage.
Baby Sleep Products That Helped
We found that baby swings were incredibly helpful during the early months when our babies were struggling to settle.
For our second baby, we also used a Snoo, which made a significant difference in sleep.
Important note: The Rock ’n Play referenced in earlier versions of this article has since been recalled and is no longer considered safe for infant sleep. Always follow current safe sleep recommendations from your pediatrician and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Baby Clothing & Swaddles That Made Life Easier
In the beginning, convenience matters more than cute outfits.
Why Side-Snap Shirts Were Helpful
Kimono-style or side-snap shirts were incredibly useful during the first few weeks postpartum.
Our baby mostly lived in a diaper, T-shirt, and swaddle blanket during those early days. We also liked avoiding too much irritation around the belly button area while it healed.
Easy Swaddles Saved Us at 2 AM
The hospital nurses made swaddling look effortless.
At 2 a.m. while completely sleep deprived? Not so much.
Easy swaddles like SwaddleMe and Love to Dream saved us so much time and frustration during middle-of-the-night wakeups.
Zippers Over Snaps
Another thing nobody tells you: zippers are infinitely easier than snaps.
During overnight diaper changes, anything that simplified the process felt life changing.
Protecting Your Mental Health During the Postpartum Period
The emotional adjustment after having a baby can be much more intense than many people expect.
There can be joy, gratitude, overwhelm, exhaustion, anxiety, identity shifts, loneliness, and emotional vulnerability — often all at the same time.
Sleep Deprivation Can Feel Overwhelming
One of the things that helped us survive the newborn phase was taking shifts overnight.
Ben and I would alternate in roughly three-hour blocks so that each of us could get at least some uninterrupted sleep. Even a couple of reliable hours made a huge difference emotionally.
Sleep deprivation can impact everything — your mood, anxiety levels, patience, coping abilities, and overall mental health.
Leaving the House Helped Me Feel Human Again
Getting outside helped me more than I expected.
Obviously recovery can look different after a C-section or complicated birth, but once I physically felt able, even short walks helped me reconnect with the outside world.
Sometimes just getting fresh air or seeing other people reminded me that life existed beyond feeding schedules and exhaustion.
You Are Not Supposed to Do This Alone
I also remember reading a post during early motherhood that made me feel incredibly seen because it described the emotional heaviness of postpartum so honestly.
The postpartum transition can feel isolating, especially when expectations and reality don’t match.
At Life After Birth, we often hear from new parents who feel surprised by the emotional intensity of pregnancy and postpartum. Sleep deprivation, feeding challenges, recovery, relationship changes, and identity shifts can significantly impact mental health.
Many parents benefit from additional emotional support during this transition.
If you’re looking for pregnancy and postpartum therapy in Los Angeles, support is available.
Schedule a complimentary consultation here:
https://www.ourlifeafterbirth.com/pregnancy-postpartum-therapy-los-angeles
Pumping, Milk Storage & Feeding Routines
Over time, feeding routines became a little more manageable as I figured out what worked best for our family.
Starting Pumping Around Week 3
I started pumping once a day around week three, usually after the first morning feed, so I could begin storing extra milk.
It helped me gradually become more comfortable with pumping without feeling completely overwhelmed.
Dream Feeds & Partner Support
Around week six, we introduced a dream feed where I would pump before bed and Ben would offer a bottle.
That allowed him to participate more in feeding and also helped us begin building a freezer stash.
Using a Haakaa for Passive Milk Collection
I also loved using a Haakaa during feeds because it collected milk passively while nursing on the opposite side.
For me, it felt much easier than constantly pumping in the early weeks and helped support my milk supply naturally.
Final Thoughts for New Parents
Every postpartum experience is different, and there is no perfect way to navigate new parenthood.
Sometimes the most comforting thing is simply hearing honest stories from someone who has been there before.
If you’re struggling emotionally during pregnancy or postpartum, know that support is available and you do not have to navigate this season alone.
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, overwhelm, intrusive thoughts, identity changes, relationship stress, or the emotional adjustment of becoming a parent, therapy can help.
Learn more about pregnancy and postpartum therapy in Los Angeles here:
https://www.ourlifeafterbirth.com/pregnancy-postpartum-therapy-los-angeles
Or contact the team directly here:
https://www.ourlifeafterbirth.com/formsubmission
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Editorial Note: This article reflects one parent’s personal postpartum experience and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding medical, feeding, or infant sleep concerns.
