When I found out I was pregnant I immediately started reading anything and everything. And, of course, once I announced my pregnancy everyone was quick to put their two cents in. By the end of the pregnancy I was convinced I'd never shower or sleep again. I was convinced my baby would cry non-stop. I was convinced I'd never have a free moment. And yes, at times, some of this was true. But most of the time, it was the total opposite. Now don't hate - I do have to preface this post with the fact that I got a REALLY good baby - like a REALLY good one. And yes, I count my blessings EVERY day for this because I know this isn't the case for everyone. But anyways, here are some mommy myths - debunked!!!
1) "You'll go days without showering." Actually, I showered every day while I was on maternity leave (unless we were having a lazy day at home in which case I didn't shower not because I didn't have the time or energy but because I just didn't want to.) I really don't get this one. I mean it takes what? 5-10 minutes to shower. Take a shower while baby is napping. If the baby is awake put him/her in a bassinet or swing or bouncer while you shower. The only situation where it could be difficult to shower, if you're home alone with a baby, is if your baby is super colicky or something like that. But honestly - you will shower daily once you have a baby (if you so choose that is....) 2) "You'll never get a full night's rest again." Again, my baby slept GREAT which means I did too. The first week I woke him up every 3 hours to eat, then every 4 hours when he was two weeks old. Then when he was about 3 or so weeks old I stopped waking him in the middle of the night and let him dictate (in which case he only woke up once to feed.) I also helped facilitate good sleeping habits (look for a post on that later!) I was getting a lot of sleep (heck the first few weeks I didn't even get up for the day until like 8 or 9!) I got more sleep at night in the beginning than I do now!! (please don't hate on me...I know some people will just shake their heads at this like I'm crazy...but really it's not that bad) 3) "Breastfeeding is painful." Yes - there were times I'd wake up in the morning and the girls were rock hard - full - and achy - and it wasn't pleasant. But again I was lucky enough that nursing was never painful. I remember a little bit of soreness in the beginning but it was never excruciating. I never cried because his latch hurt. I never dreaded a nursing session. I know this is mostly just luck and that a lot of women experience pain in the early nursing days. However, not EVERYONE does....remember that. 4) "You'll fall instantly in love with your baby." Yes, the second they laid him on my chest it was awesome and I loved him. But that deep, love-like-you-can't-even-imagine feeling didn't hit me the second he came out. It took time. It took getting to know each other. It took some bonding time. Now...now, I love my son more than I ever imagine. Now I understand what everyone says. It's a love like no-other. It's an obsession and I wouldn't trade it for the world. BUT it didn't happen the second he was born. To some it might but that wasn't the case for me (and no, that doesn't mean I love my son any less than a mom who felt that love instantly!) 5) "You'll never have free time." OK, yes, free time will become VERY, VERY limited. But it is there - even if you have to search hard for it and make good use out of it (free time might not be 2 or 3 hours like it was pre-baby...it might just be 15 or 30 minutes.) But we all have free time in our day. Think about it - you probably spend 15 minutes at a time scrolling through Facebook or stalking Instagram. Maybe instead of doing that you take that 15 minutes to do something more meaningful that you truly enjoy - like reading a book, or taking a bath, or knitting, or scrap booking, or whatever. It might not be a lot of time but it is free time. I'm sure there are other things that aren't always true when it comes to motherhood that I have forgotten (in fact read Bonnie's post here....) but these are the ones that come to mind right away. And remember - if these all happen to be true for you - it's OK. You aren't failing. You aren't doing anything wrong. It's just a season and it shall pass. Just hang on and take it day by day <3
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AuthorHey ~ I'm Renée...just your ordinary, 30-something Accountant, new mommy, wife, runner, foodie, & Pinterest addict! Welcome to my newest adventure...stay awhile...look around...and keep comin' back! Archives
January 2018
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