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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Lessons from Post Partum

I had my baby girl 18 days ago and already I have learned so much. So I thought I would share some of  my insight.

1. Postpartum is really hard but me telling you that won't fully prepare you until you experience it. It is exhausting and the hormones are unbelievable. However, it does get much better after the first couple of weeks.

2. Breastfeeding is way more difficult than any class will lead you to believe. I do believe it can/will get better, but establishing a pattern and getting all the kinks worked out is exhausting. Plus, as soon as you think you have it all figured out you will discover that you don't.. which is where I am at right now.

3. You are not a bad mom if you can't breastfeed or choose not to. As much as we all have ideals, every situation is going to be different and every baby and mom is going to be different. It's okay if you have to make the best decisions for your own situation.

4. Sleep is amazing and is very much missed. I don't think I will get a full night's rest for a while now and I consider a few 3 hour naps to be amazing because that really is the perfect night right now.

5. Diaper changes can be one of the most exciting things ever.. especially when your baby decides to have a blow out mid diaper change. The best part about this is that the lack of sleep will make this the most hilarious thing to you ever at 2 a.m. and you will laugh like a little school girl.

6. Everyone will have advice and an opinion about every decision you make. Your baby will have the most say 90% of the time and will dictate most of your decisions whether you like it or not.

7. People no longer see you as an individual. You are now forever "insert baby name here" 's Mom. You will suddenly have a lot more visitors, but it's all about your little one. Take advantage of it.

8. Pregnancy brain was bad, but having a newborn is the most distracting thing ever. I am constantly worried about every little need and if she is okay that I really don't feel like I have the capacity to accomplish much of anything else. A quick trip to the grocery store turns into amnesia from hell where I can't remember a 5 item list because I am trying to make sure people don't run into my cart with the baby in it.

8. Days fly by and revolve around baby's schedule. A break from work is not down time.. it's pure survival time and trying to establish a schedule.

9. Every new thing that your baby does will amaze you. Does it matter that she may have just had gas and not really been smiling at me? Nope.

10. The love you have for your child will not compare to anything else. There is nothing like it and I finally understand why my parents seemed a little crazy. Being a parent makes you a little crazy and the worry never goes away.

Rocking the bib because she is super messy with a bottle and mom doesn't want to do laundry every five seconds ha ha

Bath time.. she is still deciding whether or not she should embrace it. She did pee in the tub though so that was fun.

Tummy time. 

Chilling after her bath in her swing.. she has a mini mohawk.. 

What are lessons that you learned in post partum?