dear me {as a new, stressing, need-to-do-it-all-perfectly-right mom},
it’s ok….nobody knows what they are doing at the beginning (even if they pretend they do).
your water might just break at home, even though you’ve read it rarely happens.
your stressing about all the unknowns does NOT help anyone.
its ok……a C-section never crossed your mind, but having one doesn’t make you any less of a mom. you’ll feel like a hero for making it through it.
it’s ok……leave your modesty at the door, it’s nothing those nurses haven’t seen before!
buy lots of swaddle wraps and take one or two to the hospital. those receiving blankets are way too hard to use when you are tired.
it’s ok……babies aren’t as breakable as you imagine them to be.
forget what “they” say about having to nurse “as soon as the baby is delivered.” you won’t, and they will both nurse beautifully until they are one.
it’s ok…..schedules are important, but if you miss it once and while, the world does NOT end (shocker–i know).
get out of the house.
life being all about you–is over. get over it.
snuggle that infant—they don’t stay that small for very long at all.
it’s ok…..crib bumpers are for the birds…when can you even actually use them?
get newborn pictures because you’ll be kicking yourself forever if you don’t (kick, kick).
you’ll have anxiety, fear, bad visions of scary things, but that will pass quickly. be open and honest–you’re not alone.
read a lot, listen to a lot of advice, and then do what works for you and your baby.
babies are easier than toddlers….
it’s ok….. life isn’t “by the books.”
it’s ok….you’ll make mistakes and you’ll figure it out multiple times a day.
you’ll feel like a failure.
you’ll feel like a robot.
you’ll feel like a hero.
you will feel like you could never do it all again, and then a mere 21 months later, you do!
IT’S OK..
actually, it’s GREAT!
to read my “Dear Me {as a newbie blogger}”, click HERE.
Oh my goodness…this post made me want to cry! These are all great truths of being a mom, and I agree with every single one!
It’s especially nice to hear someone say that c-sections don’t make you any less of a mom. I went through 20 hours of labor and then had a c-section, and I can’t always relate when other moms talk about using no pain meds, because I had to for surgery. You should make every new mom read this!
Great post! I so needed to read this when my first one was born almost 17 years ago. I’m sending this to a few moms to be that need to read it NOW! Thanks
Awww, I’ll have to keep this post in mind when my first arrives in July
this was so incredibly sweet. i am not a mom, and i really enjoyed reading this from your point of view. it’s really sweet to read how real the experience was for you. seems like you handled it gracefully. thanks for sharing !
This was so sweet! <3
Just taking this as advice, since I’m not a mom yet, so thanks!
That was beautiful!
OMGoodness! Congrats, she is just perfect. Fabulous post… so true we have no clue what we’re doing in the beginning… you always figure it out somehow! Gorgeous family you have there mama!
Loved this post, Andi! If only we knew these things first, right?
I love this post. I think so many moms can relate to basically all of this. And that picture of the 4 of you? Who gives birth and looks that good?!!
I love this! Thank you for it. And seriously– you looked amazing after giving birth!