I second going for a walk with bub in the pram, you get the exercise and feel better plus you get to show your bub off. THat is the best part, being the proud mum.
I am finding that motherhood, while always good got so so much better for me from about 4months, and it keeps getting better. We sorted out his reflux, over his colic, topping him up with formula and he was more interactive. The first 6 weeks unti lthey smile they are a blob. An adorable blob and all yours and the emotions you feel are amazing, but once you get that smile that you *know* is a smile, it's great. It is fun marvelling over their expressions, and talking about poo and poo stories. IT is the most exciting topic, eg "it went everywere, all over his back, out his legs, and then he put his hand in it". Tip, don't expect everyone else to be as excited about your babies poo stories.
The first 6-10weeks are the toughest as you sort out being amum, what your baby wants and breastfeeding, if you choose to.
I also found in hte beginning I stressed about doing the "wrong" thing. I introduced a dummy and felt so much guilt. Just go with whatever works, you can't break them or harm them by doing something that works for you and your family.
As long as you love your baby you can't go wrong. Don't worry if you don't get that overwhelming rush at first either, it will come.
Welcome to the mother club and enjoy the ride. It is the greatest thrill of your life.
The good stuff:
- newborn babies smell really cool. Take a big deep sniff of their head's and inhale all those yummy pheromones. That's what they're there for.
- it will be the only time in their lives that you can put them somewhere and they'll still be there when you come back.
- it's also a time when they'll happily sleep on you for hours, and hours.
- they aren't too busy running amok to cuddle.
- when their eyes first start to focus and they look at this big, previously fuzzy thing that is your face, and you can tell that they think it's the best thing in the world.
- did I mention the smell? It's like a drug.
Making it easier:
- do what feels right NOW. Don't worry about creating bad habits if you use a dummy or carry them to sleep or whatever it is that you are doing. The goalposts change so often that it really doesn't matter.
- enjoy each phase as it comes. There's something good (and not so good) about every stage of their lives, don't wish their lives away by thinking, 'oh, I can't wait until they are over this'. Just enjoy the good bits.
I just had #4, and haven't touched the vacuum cleaner for 9 weeks! Ok, so we have tiled floors, but a quick sweep has been easier than a vacuum! The dishes piled up for about a week, same with the dirty laundry! But I love sitting there with my baby (and my other kids of course, but they are a little more independent now! ) Their first smile just melts your heart! And like others have said, they really do only have eyes for you!
Something I was told during my pregnancy with #1 was listen to the advice, take what you want/need out of it and disregard the rest. Stop reading, enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and enjoy your little bundle when s/he comes along (they grow so quickly!)
Oh when they just stare into your eyes it is so special too, especially when feeding - bottle or boob. They just know that they are getting good stuff and you love them.
I just get all warm and mooshy thinking about my DS and how he looks at me.
You will also lose the ability to talk like a normal person to them. Everything will be in a happy tone. I catch myself sometimes and think "what the", but DS loves it and I don't care. everyone does it, except my 24yo BIL
I agree with the others, babies grow up so fast, just stop and take time to smell the baby! I envy you- i miss having a tiny new baby to cuddle. It is one of the most beautiful times of your life, don't stress just enjoy it.
Disclaimer: i within 8 weeks of DD's birth my relationship had fallen apart, XP was not always easy to live with and within 4months of the birth i had found and moved to a new flat. I had a thyroid disorder that made me really pretty ill and it was the most stressful time in my life - with that in mind:
Some wonderful things i remember:
When she was 3 days old and pooing, and i was holding her up and she was making all kinds of hilarious faces with the effort. Pooing was such a new thing to her and i had strong sympathy for the experience of strong and unfamiliar feelings on the belly, having just been through labour, but seriously, her expressions were PRICELESS. I was laughing and laughing.
On about Day 4 when my milk was well and truly in - they DO get milk drunk, complete with drunken expressions, half shut eyes, rolling head, drool, wavy arm and leg movements, the full lot - she seriously looked like we'd given her gin! LOL, i'm laughing remembering!
On day 6 when i looked at her on the boob and realised we'd pretty much mastered the BFing thing, and i felt this RUSH of pride over how great she was at this crazy thing called life.
At 5 weeks we gave her a dummy. BFing was well-established and we felt a dummy would pave the way for her having bottled EBM from her dada (which turned out to be very handy as it meant he could feed her after we broke up when he had her with him). I was so proud of how quickly she learned it, because sucking a boob is totally different and the tongue thrust that gets milk from a boob just pushes a dummy out, so seeing her master it was wonderful.
At 7 weeks she laughed at me and gave me the biggest widest "you are my mummy and this is FUN" smile. Still melt thinking about it.
At 8 weeks, around when we broke up, everything was so hard, but DD was learning to suck her thumb. Her limited arm control meant she would lie there waving her arms slowly and try to "grab" the thumb as it passed by her face - that again was probably the funniest thing i'd ever seen. And she was SO persistent and calm, never losing her temper with it, just try try try again. It really helped.
I could go on and on and on. So instead i'll cut to this morning. I woke up with a naked toddler climbing into bed with me "where's your pyjamas babygirl?" i asked - "lost 'em" she replied and stuck her freezing feet onto my ribs.
I would have TEN more, they are that good. Yes, you sleep less than you did, yes, life is suddenly all about another person and the smallest thing you took for granted (like going for a wee alone) now suddenly has to be negotiated for, but you know what, it's SO SO worth it. Once you've made the transition to Mummy you will never look back
Thanks so much everyone for bringing a bit of balance to the horizon! I'm back to feeling excited about the little boys arrival. And the books are banished for now.
As usual there's too much to respond to everyone, but you've all been really helpful and it was so good to hear each of your little joys - what an amazing thing we do.
Thankyou thankyou!!
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) Their first smile just melts your heart! And like others have said, they really do only have eyes for you!
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