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Becoming a mother for the first time stirs up a whole of emotions in women. Your baby becomes the center of your universe, and you become overwhelmed with all the new responsibilities. Not to mention, your body goes through several changes; some that you were prepared for, and others that you weren’t. No matter how ready you feel about becoming a mother when it happens for the first time, you are faced with surprises, which might probably be difficult to deal with. You might read many books, blogs, and mommy magazines to help understand the good, bad and ugly side of motherhood, but unless you are in those shoes, you would not fully fathom the emotion behind it. So here are 7 things that you learned about being a mom without prior warning:
1. Breastfeeding Is Not As Easy As It Is Made To Seem
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While breastfeeding is a natural process, it does not happen to every woman. Some women choose not to breastfeed, and some cannot. They do not meet their expectations of producing the required amount of milk. This can happen due to many reasons, but it puts an added pressure on mothers because they are expected to breastfeed. Besides, you could also have a blocked milk duct that could interfere with your feeding, leading to mastitis (1).
2. You Might Have To Be The “Bad Parent” During More Than One Occasion
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Everyone adores your baby and will not hesitate to spoil them. But as a parent, you will have to play the bad cop and correct your baby. Your friends and family who come to visit your baby might feed them with chocolates and ice creams, but you will have to put your foot down and take the yummy treats away. Your duty as a parent does not pertain to pleasing your child, but doing what’s best for them, and sometimes, you’ll have to be the strict parent to achieve that.
3. Your Appearance Becomes A Ghost Of The Past
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When you become a mother, your mani-pedi days are long gone. You don’t care about the gray hairs, split ends, and breakouts because your whole day is spent taking care of your baby. You’ve lost count of the number of clothes they’ve spit upon, and you stop worrying about your pregnancy weight because how you look is a thing of the past when you’re a new mommy.
4. Diapers Are Not Your Best Friends
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You might think that diapers are lifesavers because you just have to put one on your baby and not worry about washcloths like your grandmother did. But the trick here is to find the one that suits your baby. Babies are prone to diaper rashes, and the wrong kind will make things worse for your baby’s tender skin.
5. Your Marriage And Social Life Will Change
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With the added responsibility of a newborn, the time you spend with your friends will reduce. You might have to say goodbye to your girls’ night out, date nights with your partner, and naughty nights for a while. Your focus will be your baby, and you and your partner will reach a new level in your relationship. It might even make your marriage stronger because raising a baby together is not a joke and requires immense understanding, patience, and dedication.
6. You Will Put Too Much Pressure On Yourself
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You often look at your other friends who are moms and wonder how they do it so easily. But the truth is everyone has their struggles when it comes to being a mom, and you gotta remember that you’re doing your best. However, you will inevitably put too much pressure on yourself and feel inadequate at times. Brush past that and know that you’re awesome!
7. You Will Receive Tons Of Opinions About Everything From Everyone
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If there is one thing that ticks you off the most about motherhood, it is all the unsolicited advice you receive from everyone around you. Right from your mothers to friends, to even strangers around you, everyone seems to think that they are entitled to an opinion about you raising a baby, and that’s enough to make your blood boil.
Motherhood is a magical journey filled with learning, growth, crying, surprises, and sleeplessness (lots of it!). We hope this article made you realize that you are not alone in this journey. If you could relate to this article, share it with your mommy friends to make it known to them that we are all in this together.
