Such a sweet little face, and not one single thing has changed except for the fact that you are chubbier and I love it. No one tells you about all the ugly and nitty, gritty stuff you go through after you have a baby. The extra skin that doesn't go back down and if it does its all lumpy, the bleeding, the breastfeeding or lack thereof, sleep deprivation, the raging hormones and mood swings that you have no explanation for, and the sudden need for a self esteem booster. Yes, even I, the "I don't need you to build me up" girl, needs Jordan to say nice things a lot more than usual, which is not like me at all.
Just a couple things to the new moms and moms-to-be out there:
- It is still ok to tell people that they don't need to solicit their advice
- Everyone has something to say, learn to tune them out
- Don't think for one second that you are a bad mother (unless you are doing crack) just because your baby is crying - I am 100% this person. I am constantly crying and beating myself up in private because Max cries and sometimes I can't console him
- Don't give up on breastfeeding, and unless it is the DR telling you so, DON'T LET ANYONE TRY TO PERSUADE YOU INTO SWITCHING TO FORMULA!!! We formula feed and breastfeed Max and it is so hard to get him to nurse once he gets used to the bottle. In the beginning he WOULD NOT nurse so we chose to try formula.
- It is ok to take up everyone on the help they are offering, especially if it means you get some "YOU" time, whether that be to nap, shower, or get a mani/pedi. You still need to do nice things for yourself because if you don't, that is when you start feeling down and blue.
Pregnancy was the easy part. Everyone loved seeing you, now you are forgotten about, you and your husband are chopped liver, get used to it. Besides, being jealous of a baby is just ridiculous. :)
Parenthood is hard, but it is WORTH IT!!! I love Max and wouldn't change any of it for the world, I just wish someone had warned me about how hard it is and how stressed out I was going to end up.
It's really overwhelming in the beginning isn't it? It DOES get better though. I promise. :) I felt totally overwhelmed and emotional for probably the first 4-5 weeks, and then it was like someone flipped a switch, and things started to fall into place. You're not alone! And I totally agree with taking some "you" time. I didn't do that enough, and probably still don't. But it is SO important.Feel free to e-mail anytime you wanna chat with someone who knows what you are going through. I could always use some adult conversation. :) You are doing great!
ReplyDeleteAdult convo sounds great!!!! and yes, it is overwhelming and hard, not too many people tell you that. In the beginning when the doctor mentions pp depression - I thought no way... I can't imagine being sad/upset... but it happens. I am pretty sure I have pp anxiety and will probably need to talk to my dr about it when I go in for my 6 week pp checkup. I don't know why I am anxious all the time and worried... ;) first time parenting I am sure.
ReplyDelete