8 Surprising Things You May Lose When You Have a Baby

It may seem like a strange thing to say but there are many things you may lose when you start a new family. What could you possibly lose? Let’s explore.

The first thing you lose is your body image. Your physical size and shape will change significantly once you are pregnant and your baby starts to grow. This may be upsetting for some but in general it is accepted as part of the process.

The next thing you lose is your ability to do all the things that you used to be able to do in the way in which you used to do them. For example if you liked to do aerobics, your capacity to do aerobics will change radically etc, etc.

When you leave work and have your baby, you may lose?

These may include the following:

1. Your ability to have an uninterrupted lunch break
2. Your ability to have an uninterrupted tea/coffee break
3. Your ability to leave work at the end of the day
4. Your ability to have social connections with other staff
5. Your ability to have uninterrupted telephone conversations
6. Your ability to pursue sporting/intellectual/artistic/relaxation interests
7. Your ability to start and finish tasks in the way you would like
8. Your ability to feel that you are in control of things

I’m sure that you could think of a number of other things that you lose as a result of having a baby. Some people become very distressed because many things that they valued appear to have been lost. However it is important to recognize that the things you lose are not lost forever. It may seem very difficult, even overwhelming, at first but things generally do improve.

Your Sense of Self

Once that baby comes, your whole world shifts to revolve around their needs. And somewhere in the chaos of nappies, feedings, and sleepless nights, you may find that you lose yourself a bit.

Your priorities change from me time to baby time. Things you used to do for yourself like hobbies, exercise, and socializing may fall by the wayside. Make sure to still do little things each day just for you, even if it’s just taking a quick walk or reading a book. Your mental health and

Sense of identity matter.

You become known as “the mom” or “the dad.” While this new title is an honor, don’t forget that you’re also still your own person. Stay connected to friends, take up interests outside of parenting and make time for your relationship.

Your body and appearance change and adapting to this new normal can be difficult. Give yourself grace and time to adjust. Stay focused on all the amazing things your body did by bringing a child into this world.

You may feel a loss of freedom and independence. It’s normal to miss the ability to just do what you want when you want. Find ways to still exercise some autonomy when you can, even if it’s something small like running out for a coffee by yourself.

While being a parent is life-changing, you’re still you, and self-care is how you can be the best parent possible. Your little one needs that person you were before they came along, too.

Once that baby comes into your world, life as you knew it is over. But don’t fret, while you may lose sleep, your personal space, and the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want, you gain so much more. You’ll get to experience the joy and wonder of watching your child grow and learn new things each day.

You’ll gain a new appreciation for the little moments and find beauty in unexpected places. You’ll feel a love like you’ve never known before. Yes, becoming a parent means sacrificing parts of your old life, but what you gain in return is so worth it. The changes may be jarring at first, but embrace them – your new life as a parent will be the adventure of a lifetime.