5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Having A Baby
The space between deciding to try for a baby and finding out I was pregnant was a very short period. Garrett and I decided we wanted to get pregnant in June then found out in July that we were pregnant. The entire time we were trying I really thought I was fully prepared to have a baby. Then like most women, during pregnancy reality set in. A TINY HUMAN IS GROWING. IN MY WOMB. AND THEN I'LL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. FOREVER. Wow. But oddly enough I feel that before I got pregnant, my confidence in raising a child was accurate. Having a baby is hard, but I took every opportunity to help with my nieces to really feel prepared. I knew that I knew a lot of tips and tricks that most new mom's wouldn't. But there were a lot of things I was NOT aware of. Here are 5 things I wish I knew before having a baby.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety are such common things. If you are a mom who hasn't dealt with this, remember that when posting pictures about how happy and perfect your life with your babe is that there are mom's out there feeling completely lost as a person. I still suffer from PPD and PPA. When Hudson was first born I was unable to sleep. I was so anxious that my sweet Hudson was going to get SIDS. I was so scared every night. I suffered so many panic attacks for this reason. I've struggled with both. Since having a baby I've had a hard time just getting out of the house. Some days I can barely get out of bed. Be kind to mom's. It's hard and sometimes I can barely handle myself and my baby let alone anyone else.
After Birth Troubles are a...b word. I had no idea what after birth pains were. No one warned me about after birth. After birth feels like labor for weeks after giving birth. They can leave you doubled over on the floor in pain. I got hit the first night with my first boat of after birth pain. I wasn't given an epidural so I had them very soon after birth. I also didn't realize I could ask for pain medication so through my whole hospital stay I didn't really have medication. But you're also dealing with an immense amount of...discharge. So you feel like you're constantly peeing your pants and wearing a diaper. It's...a lot of fun.
3 month exhaustion is the time when PURE exhaustion hits you. My first few days of Hudson's life I was on a major adrenaline high. I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to. That is a huge reason I'd recommend a natural birth. The first few days were emotional. I was so amazed that this human I'd admired and loved so much was here. In my arms. But if you think you're exhausted the first few months just wait a few months and pure exhaustion will truly happen. But luckily you're baby has a schedule so you can work around that and sleeping through the night to try and catch up on sleep.
Trust Your Mother's Intuition. You WILL get it. I feel that it slowly comes when you're pregnant. Then it really comes full force when the baby comes. You can never be too careful when it comes to your child. The choices you make for your child is YOURS to make. NOT ANYONE ELSE'S. I chose to breastfeed, co-sleep, and not vaccinate (yet, as in I will vaccinate. But I don't believe babies should be pumped full of antibiotics in their first few months of life. My personal thoughts). I'm still scared to say that I do those things. They are decisions that people WILL have an opinion that they NEED to share whether you want it or not. But the way you raise your child is your decision. Trust the Mother's Intuition that will come to you.
The love I'd have for Hudson is something I never realized. The very thought of him still makes me teary eyed. From the moment I found I was pregnant to now, has been such happiness. He is my light and life. He always can make me smile even when he's crying. He is a champ at everything. I wanted so badly to have a natural birth but I asked for an epidural. Then Hudson came so fast that I couldn't get an epidural in time. Hudson makes me a better person. He pushes me to be my best self. I couldn't never put into words my love for him. I love who he's made me. He is part of me. My life is changed for good because of him.
I hope this had offered some insight and guidance to someone. Motherhood is the hood to be in! I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to personally guide one of Heavenly Father's children back to him. If you don't have the desire to have children, that doesn't mean anything is wrong with you. As women, we feel motherhood has to be part of our identity. But it isn't an issue if that isn't something you've been given. And truthfully, most women need to find that desire at some point. But if you struggle to conceive, please hold onto hope. Heavenly Father blesses the righteous. Trust His plan for you.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety are such common things. If you are a mom who hasn't dealt with this, remember that when posting pictures about how happy and perfect your life with your babe is that there are mom's out there feeling completely lost as a person. I still suffer from PPD and PPA. When Hudson was first born I was unable to sleep. I was so anxious that my sweet Hudson was going to get SIDS. I was so scared every night. I suffered so many panic attacks for this reason. I've struggled with both. Since having a baby I've had a hard time just getting out of the house. Some days I can barely get out of bed. Be kind to mom's. It's hard and sometimes I can barely handle myself and my baby let alone anyone else.
After Birth Troubles are a...b word. I had no idea what after birth pains were. No one warned me about after birth. After birth feels like labor for weeks after giving birth. They can leave you doubled over on the floor in pain. I got hit the first night with my first boat of after birth pain. I wasn't given an epidural so I had them very soon after birth. I also didn't realize I could ask for pain medication so through my whole hospital stay I didn't really have medication. But you're also dealing with an immense amount of...discharge. So you feel like you're constantly peeing your pants and wearing a diaper. It's...a lot of fun.
3 month exhaustion is the time when PURE exhaustion hits you. My first few days of Hudson's life I was on a major adrenaline high. I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to. That is a huge reason I'd recommend a natural birth. The first few days were emotional. I was so amazed that this human I'd admired and loved so much was here. In my arms. But if you think you're exhausted the first few months just wait a few months and pure exhaustion will truly happen. But luckily you're baby has a schedule so you can work around that and sleeping through the night to try and catch up on sleep.
Trust Your Mother's Intuition. You WILL get it. I feel that it slowly comes when you're pregnant. Then it really comes full force when the baby comes. You can never be too careful when it comes to your child. The choices you make for your child is YOURS to make. NOT ANYONE ELSE'S. I chose to breastfeed, co-sleep, and not vaccinate (yet, as in I will vaccinate. But I don't believe babies should be pumped full of antibiotics in their first few months of life. My personal thoughts). I'm still scared to say that I do those things. They are decisions that people WILL have an opinion that they NEED to share whether you want it or not. But the way you raise your child is your decision. Trust the Mother's Intuition that will come to you.
The love I'd have for Hudson is something I never realized. The very thought of him still makes me teary eyed. From the moment I found I was pregnant to now, has been such happiness. He is my light and life. He always can make me smile even when he's crying. He is a champ at everything. I wanted so badly to have a natural birth but I asked for an epidural. Then Hudson came so fast that I couldn't get an epidural in time. Hudson makes me a better person. He pushes me to be my best self. I couldn't never put into words my love for him. I love who he's made me. He is part of me. My life is changed for good because of him.
I hope this had offered some insight and guidance to someone. Motherhood is the hood to be in! I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to personally guide one of Heavenly Father's children back to him. If you don't have the desire to have children, that doesn't mean anything is wrong with you. As women, we feel motherhood has to be part of our identity. But it isn't an issue if that isn't something you've been given. And truthfully, most women need to find that desire at some point. But if you struggle to conceive, please hold onto hope. Heavenly Father blesses the righteous. Trust His plan for you.
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