First Time Motherhood...

Christina - posted on 12/23/2008

I am surprised no one has really discussed childbirth! I was completely ready for the birth of my children, after taking natural childbirthing classes and everything. I was able to go through a 47.5 hour UNMEDICATED labor with my first, which I was up for. What I was not prepared for was the immediate pounding....or at least that is what it felt like....of the fundus (sp?) after the birth. Then the rubbing of it every couple of hours to make the bleeding stop. I was ready for the birth, but not the after-birth cramping and everything else. I think I have been prepared for basically the unpreparable of childhood. My oldest is only five though, so we will see!!

Stephanie - posted on 12/23/2008

1) How painful it is to be overdue, 2) but that labor isn't as bad as some those TLC shows make it out to be, 3) the amount of stuffed animals which will all of a sudden appear in your home is ridiculous, 4) 90% of those cute toys you've bought before and after your childs birth will NEVER be played with, 5) even tho they say "don't use baby powder till their 1yr" its fine and does wonders. It was A LOT of learn as you go for me.

Lauren - posted on 12/23/2008

Wow... great question. There's so much they leave out of those pregnancy and childbirth books! How about hallucinations from sleep deprivation in the first few months? How about PPD? Here's a fact that I just recently learned, and when I found out I felt like everybody knew this but me! (My daughter is now 2 years and 3 months old.) You are only supposed to give little girls bubble baths every once in a while! I had been using Johnsons bedtime bath every night, and she started showing some redness and complaining when she went pee on her potty chair, so I stopped using it. All the advertising says this product is gentle and non-irritating to your baby's skin, and encourages you to make it part of your bedtime routine - how misleading!!!

User - posted on 12/23/2008

I wish someone would have told me that my sex drive wouldn't decrease - it would disappear! My baby girl is now 3 1/2 months old, and my sex drive is now just slowly re-appearing with the help of some supplements.

Ann - posted on 12/23/2008

I am a first time mom of a 5 1/2 month little girl who decided to come 2 months early, but thank goodness has absolutley no health issues. My favorite time is when she gets up around 4 to eat and she is all snuggly and just looks up at me and makes her little cooing sounds. She has just started baby food so that is a fun challenge every day, some times she gets the spoon thing and other times she acts like she has never seen one before and we all end up a mess but its fun to see her with peas up her nose!

Yomara - posted on 12/23/2008

I agree that it does get harder the older they get, but I wouldn't exactly call infants "easy". My daughter was as ideal as it comes. She was not colic, she slept through the night at 6 weeks, has always slept in her own bed, she never had any feeding issues or vomiting issues and still I was a mess from exhaustion. It was sort of an out of body experience for me and I look back on it like, "huh? what happened" lol. Now she is 18 months and as much fun as she is, I sometimes long for those infant days of being able to lay her down and wash dishes without her climbing on something, throwing things, hanging on my leg, asking to go to the bathroom every 2 minuets, etc...but honestly, I thank God for the insanity she brings to everyday life because she is healthy and happy and I couldn't ask for anything more. I'm trying to enjoy every minute of it because I know one day I will miss the toddler days as much as I miss the infant ones.

Rachel - posted on 12/23/2008

I once was a first time mom and one thing I have noticed is up until about 6 years old the things that they say and what they can come up with are so cute and innocent and then after that the cuteness starts to wear off because it turns into them knowing exactly what they are saying and starting up with little attitudes. My daughter just turned 9 and I am not looking forward to teenage years with the smart remarks she is already coming up with!! Don't get me wrong, I love being a parent, but it is the toughest job in the world and don't let anyone tell you differently!

Kathy - posted on 12/23/2008

I agree with Lucy!



You watch those baby shows and after like, 8 weeks they are like "Awww she is such an easy baby!!" It's like WAIT!!! Ha ha, every age has its challanges but as they get older, it defnitly gets harder because they get bigger and more indendent and smarter.

At first I thoight, what am I going to do with a baby, now my daughter is 21 months and I wish I could stop time!

Lucy - posted on 12/23/2008

Everyone makes out it's so hard with a new baby! But they sleep all the time when theyre new. I think it's harder the older they get, when they will only sleep favourite places, need playing with and watching, more safety things, tantrums, know what they want, throw food everywhere. They say make sure you have lots of help in the first few weeks but I think its harder now than it was at first. Mine's only eight months and my friend with a 2 year old says it gets worse! OOh the joys

Liv - posted on 12/23/2008

Hi Tric! Thanks for your message. Congratulations on your twin girls! What an achievement!! It's funny what people say & no matter what, EVERYONE has an opinion about YOUR babies. As you say, everything IS trial and error and instincts always win .How are you going with feeding? Are you breast feeding both the bubs or are they on formula? I had a friend suggest a Baby Sling for Colic... you just pop them in it when the bubs are upset and you can wander around and do a few things and the motion settles them down. She said she used it for all her 4 and it worked wonders. Just something to think about! Pleased to hear you love being a mum. It's an incredible journey. xx

Tric - posted on 12/23/2008

Hi Olivia, it's great to talk to someone who's a first time mum also. I became a first time mum in October to identical twin girls. A lot of people always say the same thing, "you've got your work cut out for you" or "how will you cope?". It's annoying, because hey all motherhood is work regardless of how many you have and you have to cope. I admit it is hard sometimes when they're both crying at night with colic and there's nothing you can do but at the same time you love them and thank god every day that you have them. Everything is trial and error which i discovered recently through feeding them but your instincts always come out on top. At 37 I never thought it would happen but at last it did and I so love being a mum.