9) The answer is always, "Yes, I need help." The car is out of gas, we have no milk, can you pick up Child #1 from school, and sure he would love to stay for lunch. You would do these things for your friends, so when they offer, say yes.

8) The answer is always , "No, I can't help you with that right now, but I would love to in a month or two or five." You do not need to bake cookies for the PTA, watch the neighbor's kids, or pet sit for your cousin.

7) Bleeding is a great indicator of how you are doing. Light bleeding=just right. Soaking through pads= you are doing too much.

6) You are not losing the weight right now. Get it out of your head. You are HEALING. You just made a person for nine months. If you are hungry, go ahead and have a scoop of ice cream or a piece of pizza.

5) Water is your friend. Drink it until you want to drown. It will help with nursing, any urinary tract action, swelling, skin, and overall well being.

4) If you HAVE to cook (and that would be because you are not following rule #9 or #1), make 3 times what you normally would, and then you have to cook 3 times less. You will eat lasagna for a lot of days, but it will be OK.

3) Don't clean. Really. Let it go. It will be OK. Buy some clorox wipes or whatever, and rum them over the counter when the spaghetti sauce won't come off and when there are blobs of toothpaste on the counter, and then let the rest go.

2) Sleep. I know. When? Try. Don't watch Jon & Kate, or talk to that person on the phone, or get sucked into shopping for more onesies on Mini-Boden, or uploading pictures. The birth announcements can wait another week, you can keep your stuff on the DVR for a months, but 4 AM happens every day for a LONG time.

1) Shower every day. At least once. You can put your PJ's back on, but get in under the hot water and steam, and shower. Put the crying baby in the crib for 5 minutes and regroup. She will be fine for 5 minutes, and she will not be scarred for life, and you will feel better. MUCH MUCH better.