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When I was pregnant with my son, I read all the books there are about pregnancy, attended antenatal classes, and talked to other mom friends about pregnancy and motherhood. I thought I couldn’t be more prepared, and nothing could surprise me. So, when I came home after delivery, I was pretty confident about the journey ahead. But I was wrong. There were a few things that took me by surprise. And by few, I mean 11! Yes, I know! And I realized that not knowing a few things can be nice because instead of reading all about it, your baby will amaze you with the facts. So, I have made a list of 11 things that took me by surprise in the first weeks home after having my baby:
11. He Sleeps A Lot
It’s no news that babies sleep a lot. They need their sleep. My little one sleeps for about 15 hours a day. You would think that would get me enough time to do my stuff. But time always runs short in my house.
10. He Keeps His Fists Balled Up
I believed babies would only clench their fists tightly in the few hours after birth. But my little one kept his fingers tightly into adorable fists for the first few weeks after birth.
9. His Poop Doesn’t Smell So Bad
I always imagined that a newborn’s poop would stink so bad that diaper change would be a challenge. But it didn’t smell bad, which meant I could change diapers without holding my breath.
8. He Doesn’t Make Eye Contact With Me
Rarely does he look at his Mommy’s face. I guess the ceiling fan and the walls are more interesting to him than me.
7. He Burps Louder Than His Daddy
I expected a tiny little sound the first time I patted on his back after our feeding session. But what came out surprised me. I just don’t understand how a tiny human being like him can burp so loud. It’s one of the many wonders of the human body.
6. His Smell Is Intoxicating
I have heard how the baby’s smell can be intoxicating. But I have to say it’s magical. I guess they should make perfumes of the baby’s smell. I don’t know if it’s the baby powder or the moisturizer, but my baby smells magical even after giving him a thorough wipe.
5. The Faces He Makes Cracks Me Up Every Time
The faces he makes when he’s wide awake or taking a nap covers the entire spectrum of human emotions. He puts an award-worthy performance every time I look at his expressions. Maybe he’d be an actor one day, who knows!
4. He Can Sleep Through Anything
I am not exaggerating when I say ‘anything.’ My little one falls asleep when I’m breastfeeding almost every time. But he doesn’t wake up even during a diaper change. And, hey, I’m not complaining.
3. How Feeding Him Will Take Up My Whole Day
Have you ever wondered why you are not getting enough time to get anything done around the house? It’s because most of your time goes into feeding the baby. I feed my baby every 2-3 hours. So most of my time goes in feeding and burping him, and finally putting him down for his nap.
2. I Got Toned Biceps
Barely getting enough time for myself, working out seemed like a distant dream. But in spite of doing nothing other than taking care of my baby, and then falling on the couch for a quick nap, my biceps got toned. I guess carrying around my son had its perks, after all.
1. How Much Love I Had In Me
I never knew how much I can love someone until I gave birth to my son. The lengths to which you can go for your little one’s happiness – now that was a big surprise for me.
Have you too encountered any surprises along the journey of motherhood? What was the one thing that surprised you the most? Do share with us in the comment section below.
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