Being a new mom is such a magical experience- getting the opportunity to bond with your little bundle of joy is such a privilege and special time. Newborns are incredibly precious, and all they need is your love (and food and sleep haha!). The adjustment into parenthood however can be SO hard. We want you to know that you’re not alone in your feelings. If you are pregnant, here are a few things you can expect postpartum. Please know that yes it’s HARD but it does get better over time.
1. Sleep Deprivation! Your new baby sleeps 18 hours a day, which leaves you plenty of time to sleep, right? You hear the advice “sleep when baby sleeps,” which is good advice but it doesn’t seem to help with this overwhelming feeling of exhaustion. Waking up every 1-2 hours is quite the adjustment and by the time you fall back to sleep, it’s time to feed the baby again. Sleep when baby sleeps and ask for help. Have dad do a feeding and hire a postpartum doula.
2. Feeding your baby every 1 1/2-2 hours. Yes, that is 10-12 times a day. So many new moms don’t realize how often their new baby needs to eat and unfortunately, many moms don’t find this out until after baby is born. Even if they knew ahead of time, there is no way to mentally prepare for this. Babies eat this often during their first 2 weeks of life and as their stomachs grow, they can stay full for longer. Usually by a month out baby is eating only 8-10 times a day.
3. Breastfeeding is hard! If you do choose to nurse your baby, it can be a huge learning curve. Breastfeeding is a learned behavior, and it takes a LOT of practice. Some have an easier time with it than others. It’s so demanding of your body both mentally and physically. Those who do stick with it usually never regret it and are so thankful they persevered through the rough moments.
4. The number of diapers used in a day. It may seem unbelievable, but your new baby will go through roughly 10 diapers a day. One thing that may help is a changing routine. Many new moms find it helpful to change baby’s diaper before a feeding, in the middle of a feeding (before you switch nursing to the other breast), or after a feeding. If you change baby before a feeding, they will be comfortable during their feeding and will eat and sleep better. If you change in the middle of a feeding, they will be more “awake” for the feeding and have less of a chance of falling asleep before they finish eating.
5. Everything seems new again. Although this feeling can be overwhelming, it is also one of the beautiful things about having a baby. You feel like it’s your first time going shopping, going out to dinner, going to the movies. Everything is a new experience with your baby. Be prepared and know your limitations. Start with small outings: maybe a trip to a local store before tackling a trip to the mall.
6. Overwhelming amounts of contradicting information! You just want to know what stroller is best for city streets and you find 4000 blogs along with the same number of opinions and options. How can there be so many choices, options and decisions to be made? Although overwhelming, it is best to trust your own gut, do what you are comfortable with and stick to it.
7. Your single friends just don’t understand! This one is hard to digest for many new parents. It seems as though having a child has changed their relationships with friends and everyone. It has! You are in a new world that is exciting, overwhelming, exhausting and amazing all at the same time. Your new life appears to be a miserable one to your single friends that can’t understand why you are unable to go to dinner and have some drinks since you’re not pregnant anymore. Going out for dinner and drinks may not be appealing anymore. You would much rather sit at home in your pajamas and hold your baby. Enjoy your baby and again go with your gut. Your real friends will EVENTUALLY understand and accept the new you.
8. You will NEVER be bored again! The days of watching TV and letting a day slip by are long gone. You find yourself constantly busy and having an endless to-do list. This adjustment seems to be more difficult for dads than moms. When you do get a moment to yourself, soak it up and enjoy it. Create some calm moments for yourself and build them into each day.
9. Recovery from birth. You made it through the pregnancy and the birth, but now you have recovery time. It seems unfair. Pregnancy and birth is certainly a process and so is your recovery. Whether you had a c-section or a vaginal delivery, you will still have to recover. You should follow your body’s lead and the advice of your doctor or midwife. Take it easy! Recovery usually takes six weeks. You should rest and stay well-nourished. This is easier said than done. Ask for help and hire help if needed.
10. Intense Emotions! You were on an emotional roller coaster for your nine months of pregnancy and the roller coaster continues. Everyone is emotional in postpartum. You may tend to cry and feel intense emotions. This is normal. Many experience postpartum blues due to the adjustments and the large drop in hormones. Ask for help, share your feelings, and consider placenta encapsulation. You are not alone in your feelings.
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