16 Things Mums Told Us They Wished They'd Known When Pregnant

There are so many surprises that come with having a baby, but what are the most important tips that women should be told in pregnancy to help prepare them?
We found out what our members wished they had been told during pregnancy, about what to expect after having their baby.
The response was over 110 ideas, ranging from useful tips on coping with a newborn to incredibly honest emotions like anger, love and depression. We've included a selection below to help prepare other pregnant women for life as a new mum:

1. Babies don't poop everyday but you also shouldn't panic if they have a day where they use half a bag of nappies.
2. You lose all dignity in labour and won't ever be a prude again!
3. Little boys need their manhood pointing down in their nappies, otherwise they can pee out of the top of them.
4. No matter how many books you read, you'll never be ready for a baby.
5. "This may sound stupid, but no one told me that you have to actually deliver the afterbirth as if it were another baby."
6. "Even when LO starts to sleep for longer periods, you don't as you can't help but check on them."
7. Sometimes they cry because they want to be left alone; you don't need to be entertaining them constantly, occasionally they would just prefer some quiet time.
8. Newborns can have very erratic breathing: fast, shallow and loud one minute and then soft and deep the next.
9. It can be normal for a baby to projectile vomit (exorcist style) once or twice.
10. "Nobody told me you had to dry between their toes." Check the folds in their armpits and neck too.
11. Even though it is the women who give birth, the men will moan about being tired.
12. There is an awful smell when your waters break.
13. Don't worry too much about dressing your baby in its best clothes just for going to the shops. If you wrap them in a snow suit and blankets in the pram, nobody sees the outfit.
14. Don't buy bibs that go over your baby's head without undoing. They are difficult to get off without tipping the food back over your baby's head.
15. Winding a newborn by bouncing them over your shoulder can actually cause more wind. Instead, keep the baby still and pat them on the back.
16. Oh, and enjoy every cotton pickin minute of it as the baby days are over soooo very quickly

To find out the rest of the tips including colic, mother-in-laws and bathing after labour, as well as loads of other information about pregnancy, visit http://www.emmasdiary.co.uk
The views expressed here are those of mums on the Emma's Diary website. These views do not reflect the RCGP and Emma's Diary editorial staff