Things I Could Have Never Expected- A Blog

Things I Could Have Never Expected- Written when my daughter was 9 months old.

Before my daughter was born, I was aware that, like anything else in life that you’ve never experienced for yourself before, there would be some surprises in my new mommy journey. I had friends who would try to describe the many new wonders and frustrations I may discover. But as with everything, we all go on our own journeys and experience things uniquely. With that being said, I do want to share the surprises I faced in case another new mom faces some similar occurrences. I want you to know that, with whatever you're feeling and experiencing, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. I guarantee you there is another new mom that has felt or experienced something very similar.

Ok here we go...

1. 2 1/2 days of labor.. yup, 2 1/2 DAYS. Of contractions. 1 day of manageable pain. I day consistent pain. One long night and morning of intense, can't talk, crazy pain. All at home. I thought I had considered all of the scenarios of how labor could go but I never saw that coming. My water never broke on its own and my contractions never got closer than 6 or 7 minutes apart so the doctor told me to just wait it out. Yet, when we were finally told to come to the hospital, I was 7 cm dilated. Thankfully I was still able to get my epidural. 

Camille was born later that week

2.  Where's that magical mommy feeling? I had a C-section, so those first couple of days at the hospital were spent managing pain, trying to get out of bed to use the bathroom, and bonding and feeding my new baby. I was kinda disappointed that I didn't feel this magical "I'm a mom" feeling right away, but I chalked it up to the surprise surgery I'd just had, the overwhelming feeling of bringing an actual life into the world, and the reality of what that meant. I was sure that by the time we brought her home, the mommy magic would kick in. It didn't. I spend a couple weeks feeling like I was just existing and trying to keep this new life alive at the same time. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and disappointed. But it got better. Each day. And now I am starting to feel the mommy magic kick in. 

Not feeling too magical at that particular moment

3. Breastfeeding will take over your life.  If you choose to breastfeed exclusively, understand that all of the rest of your choices and decisions for the next 6 months or so will revolve around when you need to nurse. You'll base your eating schedule, shower schedule, cleaning schedule, bathroom trips, date nights with your hubby where you just end up at Target or the grocery store, and that illusive thing called sleep, on the times when you need to feed your child. And although you may want to try to put your baby on a feeding schedule, that doesn't always work, especially when they're very young. Newborns nurse about every 2-3 hours, from the time you start the feeding until the time you start the next feeding. It's definitely a commitment but it's a beautiful gift you're giving your child and it's so worth it.  

We out!!

4. Oh, the tears!  I have never cried more than I had in the first few months of my child's life. Exhaustion, raging postpartum hormones, breastfeeding challenging, frustration at not knowing why she was crying, being overwhelmed by the new experience and responsibility of being a parent; talk about OVERWHELMING! Just let the tears flow and lean on your partner, family, and friends. Also get outside at least once a day. It really does make you feel better.  

Exhausted and overwhelmed

5. Life-changing, indeed! They say that becoming a parent changes your life. And it's true. But you don't realize how true it is until it happens. I went from being a full time kindergarten teacher with an active life outside of work to being a stay at home mom with little interaction with the outside world, except for texting friends and family and looking at other people’s lives on Facebook and Instagram. I was not at all prepared for the mental toll that change would take, along with all of the challenges of being a first time mom. I found myself mentally exhausted within a couple weeks of her birth. She's 9 weeks now and I'm in a much better place. But I had to fight and work really hard to come to terms with my new life and my new role, as well as understand the current season is just that, a season.

To the new moms reading this: We all have our own, unique journey. There will be difficult moments. But make the choice to enter each new day just doing the best that you can for your child. IT DOES GET BETTER!                            

             

                                                                                   

Better 😀