This is a partnered post.
Trust us, you can read all the baby books ever published – and self-published – and download all the parenting apps ever developed, babies have an inherent ability to throw you a curve ball at least a dozen times a week. It is their superpower and, what’s more, they’ve managed to keep their identities hidden; at least that is how it looks because no one ever tells you about certain hiccups that sit on the horizon.
It could be breastfeeding battles, the undecipherable cry, taking forever to get into the car, or going back to work; there are certain unforeseen moments that you will never forget as a result. What we hope to do is make these moments slightly easier when they arrive because half the battle is managing the shock, something that seems harder to manage when you become a mom or dad.
News Flash: Breastfeeding Isn’t Always A Walk in The Park
A lot of moms presume that breastfeeding will be as natural and easy as breathing. They have all the apparatus they need – nipples and boobs full of milk – and that’s all there is to it. If only that was the case. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Now we don’t want to sugar-coat anything because, well, what benefit would that be to you, so we need to tell you that it may not come naturally and it will probably hurt. The important thing is to not beat yourself up about this. There are loads of potential frustrations that might arise from your baby not latching to your milk not producing quick enough, but they are all normal. Just take a breath, speak to a midwife, ask other new moms what they did or change your routine. The answer is out there, we promise.
News Flash: The Car Is Your Nemesis
This is one thing that crept up on us like a wrinkly ninja with years of sneaking experience under her belt. What used to just be a matter of getting in the car and going somewhere is now a battle worthy of the history books. In short, it takes about forty-five minutes to get you and your baby ready, make sure you have everything you need and then pack the car. That’s just the start of it too. You also need to be super clued up on car seat safety, including everything from the benefits of going Isofix to what car seat cover is best for winter. You thought studying for your finals was hard. Ha. This requires a whole-nother level of detail and research because it involves your little one. There is good news, though, all the information you need is out there. All you need to do is ask, which is what we recommend you do. Oh, and practise a bit of meditation because you are going to require a bunch of patience and get used to being late to everything.
News Flash: Most Newborn Clothes Are Wasted
Your baby is going to grow a whole bunch in those first couple of months. We’re talking rapid growth. Like an asparagus or bamboo shoot. It’s crazy. As such, most of those cute little newborn clothes you bought will go either unused or barely used, which is frustrating, to say the least. Luckily, this is one of those mistakes that are easily avoidable: don’t go crazy when it comes to buying baby clothes and babygrows. Those first three to six months will see your baby wear onesies pretty much all the time because they are comfy and easy to change. It is as simple as that.
News Flash: Your Baby’s Cry Is A Foreign Language
One of the most frustrating – and at times heartbreaking – things you will have to shoulder is the sound of your baby crying and you have zero-idea of why they are crying. It is the worst. You just feel so helpless. You may even start beating yourself up and thinking you are a terrible mother. YOU ARE NOT A TERRIBLE MOTHER. It is going to take you at least three months to figure out what the different cries mean. Hungry? Teething pains? Trapped gas? Needs a poo? It’s all so foreign. The only thing you can really do to help yourself in this situation is to stay calm and pay attention to the way your baby cries. That way you will be able to decipher what she wants the next time it happens. We’re sorry we can’t offer you more but each baby is different. Time will change this, though, and then you’ll have a life of them saying the darnedest things.
New Flash: You Will Have ZERO Time For Anything Else
You get all these warnings about how full-on being a parent is, but you have no idea just how true that statement is until you become a mom. You have to take care of your child 24/7. You think that you will be able to do your other tasks, like keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, washing up, drinking a cup of coffee etc. But no. You will be looking after your baby around the clock and all your other chores will pile up on you and it will be aarrrrrggghhhhhh. The best way to get around this and prevent your baby sucking up all your time is to create a system with your partner or family so that they can help do chores and run errands. It may not mean that you will get everything done perfectly but you will save yourself some sanity, which is pretty crucial.
News Flash: Going Back To Work Sucks
Even if you absolutely love your job, going back to work is one of those things that hurts and hurts badly. You may think you are prepared for the separation depression that will arise, but you have no idea just how much it stings until you have to face it head-on. You may have loved your job in a previous life, but all you will want to do these days is spend every day with your baby, no matter how stressful and frustrating it can be at times. It does get easier, though. We promise you that. It does get easier. To help this along, try and find ways that you can stay in the loop, whether it be lunchtime Skype calling or speaking to your daycare periodically through the day. They will understand.
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