Yes, DD's birth made me the mother i am, or at least the mother i was thosefirst few months. Those first few months made me the mother i was the next few months, and THOSE few months made me the mother i was the following year. And so on.

It was an incredibly transforming time for me, her birth, and there have been many subtle transformations since, as i travel the road of motherhood. I think the main thing her birth made me is flexible. It gave me the initial flexibility that i couldn't have made it through the first 3 weeks without. It made me dig deeper than i ever had before, but i know i've dug deeper since (Leasha - your "night after night" comment made me think of this!) Birth is only a day (ok, for the lucky) but you have to go on caring and loving and responding FOREVER. DD's birth made me dig deep enough and rewarded me enough that i could get through the first few weeks. I have been "giving birth" to myself as a mother at regular intervals ever since.

Bx