Tip #17: Take home as much stuff from the hospital as you can

While you are in postpartum care at the hospital you'll be inundated with diapers, wipes, and other baby accouterments. The hospital throws away anything that is opened or used, so make sure to take it home with you to help get you started. The blue bulb aspirators they use at the hospital are by far better than the ones you can typically buy in the store.

Source: Friends + I don't know how many times I've seen the generic hospital receiving blanket wrapped around a newborn.

Local Resource: Gyms with babysitting

Here are just a couple of gyms local to the Arlington/Woburn/Cambridge area that have babysitting so that mom and dad can work out without worry.

Woburn YMCA
137 Lexington Street Woburn, MA
Their website doesn't explicitly state childcare costs and availability for while you are working out, but a mom on the Arlington Parents list loves the facilities at the Woburn Y for child care. They have lots to keep kids active and a section to separate non-walkers from walkers.

Evolve Fitness
52 New Street Cambridge, MA
This gym is brand new. The website advertises monthly membership fees at $19.99. They don't have the price for babysitting services, but from an Arlington-Parents email list conversation, a parent said it is $4 for babysitting services for the duration of your workout.

Boston Sports Club
See this page for locations in the Boston area that offer babysitting services.
Rates for babysitting and membership vary from club to club, but the BSC clubs linked above all offer babysitting services for up to two hours per visit. They don't publicize babysitting fees, but I heard through the grapevine that it's about $1 per visit (probably for members). They also offer these services to non-members.

Healthworks For Women
Several in the Boston area offer child care so see link above
36 White Street, Cambridge MA
Babysitting services exist for this just-for-mom gym. Reservations for young babies are required. Enquire with Healthworks for membership and babysitting fees. I have heard great things as well about their Mommy and Me fitness classes. Apparently, bring baby to class and mom gets a very serious workout.

Work out World
200 Boston Ave Medford, MA
From a mom on the Arlington parent's list. Childcare is $1 for the first 45 minutes and an additional $1 for every half hour following. Childcare hours are roughly 8:30-12:30 and 4:30-8:00, these times are approximate, make sure to call WoW for details.

Local Resource: Postpartum Support Groups

There are free drop-in postpartum support groups and/or breastfeeding support groups every day of the work week in the Arlington/Cambridge/Somerville area:

Monday

2:00pm-3:30pm Mt. Auburn Midwives Support Group .
Vineyard Church Meeting Rooms, 2nd Floor
15 Notre Dame Avenue, Cambridge, 1 block south of Rindge Ave., between Middlesex and Sargent Sts.

You don't need to have delivered with the Mt. Auburn midwives (or at Mt. Auburn at all) to join this group of women. Each week there is usually someone in addition to a midwife, a lactation consultant, a baby massage specialist, etc.

Tuesday

10:00am to 11:30am Jewish Family and Children Services: Cambridge Group
Congregation Eitz Chayim 134-136 Magazine St, Cambridge

You don't have to be Jewish to attend JFC&S groups!

10:00am to 12:00pm JFC&S Breastfeeding Support Group: Cambridge
Cambridge Health Alliance , 8 Camelia Avenue , Cambridge

Wednesday

3:00pm-4:00pm Isis Maternity Drop-in BreastFeeding Group: Arlington
397 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington

Thursday

11:00am-12:30pm JFC&S: Somerville Group
Somerville Family Network, 42 Prescott Street (Cumming School), Somerville

Friday

10:00am-12:30pm JFC&S Arlington Group
Calvary United Methodist Church
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington
I've heard great things about this informal group of women from a friend.