The Nine Toughest Things about Being a New Mom
Oct 19, 2015 |
- 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 doesn’t seem too 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 its time to feed the baby again. Sleep when baby sleeps and ask for help. Have dad do a feeding and hire a postpartum doula.
- Feeding your baby every 1 1/2 to 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.
- 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. Baby will be comfortable during their feeding and will eat and sleep better.
- 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 its your first time going shopping, going out to dinner, going to the movies. Everything is a new experience with your new baby for good and for bad. Be prepared and know your limitations. Start with small outings, maybe a trip to a local store before tackling a trip to the mall.
- Overwhelming amounts of contradicting information! You just want to know what stroller is best for city streets and you find 4000 blogs and 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.
- Your single friends just don’t understand! This one is hard to digest for many new moms and dads. 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, your not pregnant anymore. Going out for dinner and drinks isn’t even 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.
- You will NEVER be bored again! 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 soak it up and enjoy it. Make some calm moments for yourself and build them into each day.
- Recovery from birth. You made it through your pregnancy and the birth and 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.
- Intense Emotions! You were on an emotional roller coaster for your nine months of pregnancy and the roller coaster continues. Every woman is emotional in postpartum. Woman tend to cry and feel intense emotions. This is normal. Many women 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.
