No amount of research will prepare you for motherhood. You might have binge-watched videos on things you’re supposed to do but the inadequacy won’t go away. There are those that motherhood will come as second nature while others will have to learn with experience. Regardless of the mother that you’re going to be, there are a couple of challenges that will be common across the board. Here are some things that you can expect as a new mom.
Your Friends Might Stop Talking to You
This is something that will come as a surprise to a lot of new mothers. Your close friend might suddenly hibernate and the frequency of communication might reduce. It is not because you’re less of a friend because you’ve had a baby.
A lot of people might not know how to relate since you’ll be having a newborn. In most instances, they will be under the assumption that you’re busy with the newborn and don’t want to be disturbed. Don’t take matters personally as that could ruin the friendship.
You Become Stronger
If you’ve been living for yourself your whole life, everything changes once you become a mom. There will be someone whose life to be placed above yours. You should be prepared for sleepless nights in the first few months of being a new mom. One way to keep your strength during these months is to explore Majka.
Once the baby arrives, you get to experience a new capacity of feeling the love that you’d have never thought possible. With this newfound love and devotion, the strength and bond of the family grow. It is likely to be experienced by both parents. This is one of the greatest gifts of being a new mom and you will get to know it exists when the baby finally arrives.
It is OK to Freak Out
This is particularly true for new moms. You might find yourself Googling weird things in the middle of the night just because you’re freaked out with what is happening to the baby. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It is important to keep in touch with a pediatrician so that there is someone that you can get in touch with just in case you’re having questions.
You Will Need All the Help you can Get
You should never say no when someone volunteers to help. This is particularly important if you have young children who are also yearning for your attention. It could be days since you had a decent nap without interruptions. If a friend is willing to look after the children while you take a nap, take up the offer as you will need it.
Stock Up
You don’t want to realize that you don’t have diapers in the middle of the night when all the stores are closed. Make sure to have a shopping list and keep track of whenever the supply starts to run low. It is recommended to have extra diapers in the car too as you can never know when you’ll need them. Furthermore, taking advantage of maternity and newborn benefits cards to purchase prenatal essentials can help you stock up on diapers and other necessities in an emergency.
Say No
You don’t have to say yes to every request. You will not always be available because of commitments with the newborn. Your friends might want to meet up but since you don’t have anyone to help with babysitting, you’ll have to option but to say no. Don’t feel guilty and your good friends will understand.
It is a Magical Time
As much as there will be challenges along the way, motherhood is a magical time and should be enjoyed to the maximum. For first-time mothers, you might experience some difficulties which make you appreciative of the process. You might have to look for the best hospital grade breast pump if you’re having challenges producing milk naturally. People will tell about the things you’re supposed to do to increase milk production but no one will ever talk about the benefits of the formula. Not every new mother is going to be fit for breastfeeding and there is no reason why you should feel ashamed.
Conclusion
As much motherhood will not be a walk in the park, there is no greater satisfaction than raising kids. You get to create and nurture life which is one of the greatest gifts anyone could ever ask for. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help in case you feel overwhelmed. Having a support system is important because there will be days that you feel drained and you don’t feel like doing anything. The journey should be enjoyed and not endured.