Since so many babies are making early arrivals or coming soon 🥰
To the first time moms,
Congratulations on bringing your little one into the world! No matter how they got here you did it and your a mama ❤️
When I had my first I wish there were somethings that were talked about a bit more or explained a little better. It’s hard being a first time mom and the internet isn’t always your friend.
Baby blues, are something which caught me totally off guard. 3 days after having my little one and being discharged from the hospital I couldn’t stop crying. My husband just looked at me helplessly since there was nothing he could do to help me stop crying. It’s okay. Cry, be sad, let the emotions out. It lasted 2/3 days for me where just looking at my baby could make me cry. I didn’t want to harm him or myself. and I wasn’t even sad, I couldn’t tell you why I was crying I just was. With all the changes your body just went through, your hormones on overdrive, and sleep deprivation, it’s 100 normal. Maybe for you, your sad, angry, or don’t have it at all, and that’s okay. Some people it lasts a day, some a week, and some longer. Ask for help if you need it, don’t be ashamed your not a bad mom. Everyone needs help at time and asking for it makes you a better person.
Drink water and eat! It’s so easy to forgot to eat when your waking up every 3/4 hours to feed a baby. Keep fruit, granola bars, crackers, chips, cookies, anything by your side that you can snack on. Sometimes you won’t feel like eating a big meal and that’s okay just try to snack every now and then. After my first all I wanted was fruit and cookies (life’s all about balance 😉) If your breastfeeding it’s especially important to drink water non stop to keep your supply up and keep you from being dehydrated.
Sometimes you have weird dreams/ nightmares from being so sleep deprived. I would have nightmares that I fell asleep with my baby in the bed and he would be on the floor when I woke up. It never happened and he was always in his bassinet but it happens. Other people have dreams there babies are crying, hurt, or they can’t help them. They can be so real and so scary but it’s your sleep deprivation and fears creeping in. Your not alone if you are having them, if they get bad talk to someone about them.
Don’t worry about how quick other people have lost their baby weight. Some people will be below birth weight the month they have the baby others won’t lose it for years. Everyone’s body is different and everyone gained the weight differently. Comparing yourself to other people is the worth thing you can possibly do. Have a little extra pudge on your stomach, makes for a great napping area for your little one. Bigger thighs, don’t have to worry about them slipping through your legs when they are sitting on your lap. Your body is perfect and it just created the perfect baby for you.
Your baby is perfect just they way they are! Some won’t nap well, others have a tougher time eating, some sleep though the night and others like to party all night. Whatever your baby does own it! Don’t fall down the black hole of comparing your baby to other babies similar in age. Some will be bigger, taller, eat better, roll over faster, some will crawl faster, some will walk and talk before your baby and that’s okay. They all learn things at different points and grow differently and that’s what makes them special. Don’t get lost in comparing them and feel bad they aren’t doing something as fast as others they will all be doing things at there own pace which is perfect for them.
Finally make time for yourself and your significant other. The first two months it can be hard to leave your little one but do it. Maybe at 2 or 3 months leave them to walk around a store, grab a coffee, get your nails done, read a book for an hour, catch up with a friend, go pick up food on your own, go for a walk, sit on a beach anything that’s just you. You have given so much for them and you need some time for you. It will be nerve racking and scary but do it. You will feel better for taking you time. On the same note take time for you and your significant other. Sure you make have been home for a week, a few weeks or a month together with the baby but it’s not the same. Have a date night even if it’s ordering something fancy to eat in your kitchen if you can get a babysitter. Take advantage of your family if they are willing to watch your little one for a few hours on a weekend. Go to a movie, go to lunch, or walk around a store and look for things together. Enjoy your time together.
Hopefully this brings some relief and reassurance to some moms that they aren’t alone with these things.
Achieve your health goals from period to parenting.