If you’ve recently given birth for the first time and are overwhelmed by new feelings and the role of motherhood, certain thoughts may be running through your head.
Chances are, these thoughts are wrong.
Let’s be honest, the first weeks and months with a newborn can be pretty chaotic.
We all know this to be true, but for some reason, many moms downplay this truth in order to emphasize the beauty of life with a newborn.
Of course, it’s magical when your child is born.
And yes, that newborn smell can’t be intoxicating.
And yes, we’re all happy to have become mothers.
The list of the beauties of childbirth and motherhood is endless.
But for me, mostly because I’m a mom who struggled with postpartum depression, life after childbirth was one of the darkest periods.
Since emerging from that darkness, I now know that many of the things I seriously believed in those first weeks and months were wrong.
If you’re currently in this period, do yourself a favor and read on.
1. “I’ll never sleep again”
It would be physically impossible for a mother to never sleep again or to deal with a newborn’s routine forever.
The stage with a newborn is just that, a stage.
Your baby will start sleeping at some point.
You will begin to sleep at some point.
There will come a time when you’ll both sleep through the night and wake up rested.
Remember, it won’t always be that way!
Certainly, fatigue and the first difficult moments with your baby will make you feel as if it will never end.
But I assure you that you’ll rest sooner or later.
2. “I’ll never travel or do anything fun again”.
Hello, moms are people too.
Yes, you’ll have to be home and close to home for a while, but the time will come (sooner than you think) when you can do all those fun things again.
You’ll go out to dinner again, you’ll enjoy the good life.
You’ll travel again and have new adventures.
Then, you’ll feel like the old you again.
Seriously, your party days aren’t over.
For now, you can adapt your life to create beautiful, unique memories.
For example, taking hikes or creating funny costumes is possible.
3. “My body is destroyed”
Right now, your body looks like a big bag full of potatoes, your face is full of dark circles and you feel like you’ll never be able to sit down normally again without bags of ice.
Guess what?
Again, it’s all temporary.
It’s amazing how our bodies change because of our babies, and it’s even more amazing how everything returns to its old place.
Your body may not look the same as it did before baby, but with a little effort – it’ll almost look like it used to, just be patient.
Besides, your body doesn’t have to go back to the way it was.
After all, it has created a new human being!
But you can have a slim figure and be happy.
Even if your little top doesn’t fit anymore!
Is it really that bad?
4. “We’ll never be alone again
Babies don’t just occupy our homes, they occupy our bedrooms too.
But guess what?
It’s only temporary!
I know I’m repeating myself, but trust me, this will all pass.
In time, your baby will sleep in his own room.
He’ll start sleeping longer, at night and during the day, and one day he’ll start kindergarten and school.
Don’t neglect spending time with your partner ever so slightly.
After all, you’re not just parents, you’re lovers too.
And it’s important that your relationship remains a priority.
5. “I’ll never get out of these clothes or the house again”
When you give birth for the first time, you feel like you’re still in the same clothes, old rags covered in stains.
Don’t worry, your days in sweatpants, tights and constant laundry are numbered.
At some point in the near future, you’ll start dressing up, putting on makeup and conquering the world again.
Even when you can’t get out of the house too much, don’t isolate yourself!
Give your loved ones a chance: let them help you.
You can even invite your friends over for movie/popcorn afternoons.
All you have to do is adapt to this temporary period.
When it’s over, you can go back to your old habits.
Mother of three and a primary school teacher. I’ve always loved being around children and helping them, so I chose my path as a teacher. It is sometimes hectic with three children, but I am 100 percent into it and wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.