When you announce your pregnancy, free advice starts to come in from all directions, including from those who have never given birth before! Most of the time, only encouraging words are spoken, such as the proverb “life changes after a baby.” But there are many things I wish I had known before I held my child for the first time. When I learned I was pregnant, I began reading, researching, and preparing for every scenario (after I got over the first joy). I learned there was a lot about pregnancy, labor, infants, and parenthood that I didn’t know.
This is my feeble attempt to put together a list of the ten things I wish I had known before having children.
Use Your Arms:
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To ensure a healthy delivery, I continued to do my usual stretches and walks while pregnant. I didn’t anticipate the baby’s weight, which I would have to carry for more than 24 hours. You’ll ultimately develop those mommy biceps, of course, but I wish I had given my arms more time to develop. Work on your back while you’re at it!
Feed, Feed, Feed:
Your child will be hungry the majority of the time (if not all of the time). You’d just finished nursing and burping your kid for the hundredth time, set him down to shower, and then it was time to feed him again! While nursing, don’t go insane or hide in your room. To read, browse, or connect, keep your books/mobile/tablet nearby. If there is privacy, take a seat on the sofa or in a comfy chair in the living room. This will keep you sane, amused, and content. In addition, your baby will be able to feed in a variety of postures. My recommendation is to always feed on both sides. You will feel lighter, believe me.
Don’t Keep It Too Quiet When Your Baby Sleeps:
Don’t keep your surroundings quiet when you finally get your infant to sleep throughout the day. Allow the regular noises to continue, such as normal conversations, background music, the washing machine spinning, traffic noises, and so on. Allow your kid to be exposed to all of these sounds while still in the womb. Just make sure the noises aren’t too loud so they don’t wake up your angel.
Be Gentle With Baby Stuff:
The only things you’ll initially require are diapers, wipes, baby clothes, caps, socks, mittens, napkins, swaddling, bottles, rattles, nail clippers, bathing seats/tubs, body wash, body lotion, a crib, and a car seat. Don’t fill your closet too full with clothes. Faster than you would anticipate, your child will outgrow them. You can purchase items like a stroller, baby carrier, high chair, baby bouncer, walker, Playmats, toys, Teethers, and a baby monitor after your child is three months old.
Listen, Grin, and Move On:
You’ll continue to receive advice for everything your child experiences, such as tummy aches, burping, burping, superstitious beliefs, and so on. I only listened, grinned, and moved on.
Even if your mommy instincts are 7 out of 10 times inaccurate, go with them. When in doubt, trust your Daddy instincts.
Get Your Hand Sanitizer Out:
If you are having family, friends, or neighbors around to see your new baby, don’t hesitate to offer them the hand sanitizer before letting them touch him or her. They will probably hold your cherub, therefore it’s perfectly fine if your notion that they might not have clean hands offends them. Etiquette and motherhood don’t have to coexist!
Be Shameless
There are many nurses, doctors, and occasionally even male nurses bustling around when you walk into the birth room. The last thing you should worry about is how you look because you’ll probably be completely exposed and everyone will be looking down at you.
So go ahead and be shameless, and let the physicians do their job—get the baby out!
Postpartum Dᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ:
The “baby blues” following labor and postpartum Dss are two distinct conditions. When you have the “baby blues,” you may experience brief episodes of crying, poor sleep, emotional irritability, irritability, and anxiety. These symptoms usually pass on their own in about a week. After giving birth, some mothers experience postpartum DSS (PDD). These symptoms are present, along with a depressed mood, a loss of interest in activities, and a number of other physical and emotional signs that become troublesome and obstruct daily tasks. To learn more about PDD treatment options, including therapy and medication, speak with your doctor.
It’s a myth to “Sleep Like A Baby”:
The most amazing story I’ve ever heard is this one. If you’re lucky, you’ll sleep for approximately 6-7 hours per night, or maybe even just 2-4 hours at night. This information is intended to help you, not to frighten you.
Indulge Yourself:
Even if it’s only for 30 minutes every now and again, you are allowed to take a quick rest. Take a long shower, eat your dinner all at once, or finally treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure. If the mother is happy, everyone is happy.
There are a hundred more things I wish I knew that I could add to this list, which could go on forever.
But it’s also a fun adventure to learn new things, and it’s quite OK to be surprised by your motherhood experiences.