Its all happening so quick- am I ready???

[fionas]

I agree that it's natural to be worried/nervous and I think it's healthy to be thinking ahead and wondering how your life will change and whether you will cope.

I just about drove myself MENTAL wondering and worrying if I would be a good mum. And for what it's worth, I now think I'm a bloody legend.

I did mentally prepare myself for it being VERY difficult. I didn't know much about babies but knew they cried a lot and needed feeding a lot.

I had major problems feeding (I spent the first two weeks feeding for 2.5 hours out of 3 ) but because I'd prepared mentally, to me it didn't seem like that BIG a deal. In retrospect, I don't know how I kept it together but I did. Because you know what, even when it's tough there are so many things/moments that make up for it. A lot of people told me that I wouldn't be able to get anything done because babies are such hard work. In actual fact, I don't get anything done because I want to play with her all the time because she's an absolute joy to be around.

So expecting it to be hard work I think is the absolute best thing that you can do. Then if it's not as hard as you expected, it's a bonus.

I think a lot depends on your expectations. Because my expectation was that the first few months would be hideous, I think my baby is an easy baby - she doesn't cry much and she sleeps a fair bit. Yet I know other mums whose babies sleep for the same amount of mine who think their babies are a nightmare and want to take them to sleep school!

One of the most helpful things I read when I was pregnant was to not expect to fall in love with your baby immediately and don't feel freaked out if you don't. You read so many stories about "as soon as I held them I fell completely and utterly in love." I didn't feel that way immediately and am so glad that I'd read that was normal. Don't get me wrong, I was absolutely fascinated with my DD but love was something that grew.

So just to reiterate ... your concerns are normal and healthy.

And you'll be a good mum, because anyone who's worried about what sort of mum they will be is already putting their child first.

[Tannis]

You will find once bubs is here it will all come naturally.

It didn't really hit me until Jayden was a few days old and I was up feeding him in the early hours of the morning and I've thought....this is my life now, I have to get up to feed and tend to the baby whenever he needs me....As overwhelming as that may seem, its the most rewarding too...I would change my life for anything.
I am however curious as to how I'm going to handle terrible 2's and a newborn but like the first time it will just happen and things will be fine. Oh and I haven't had much help from DP from the beginning either so having a partner that is supportive will be a great help to you.

Good luck with everything, can't wait to hear your birth announcement