Does anybody else feel like they don't know just what the hell they are doing?

AbJams

My DD is a week old today. I was never under any illusion that I would be some expert or something right away... but a lot of the time, I feel like I know nothing. I know she needs to eat, and I know she needs a nice place to sleep. And other than that, I feel like I am just improvising everything. Everyone here seems to know everything! Am I the only one who feels at sea?

harmonywolf

Nope, I felt the same way with my first one.  Most of what we do as parents is improvising anyway.  As long as your DD is happy and growing then you're doing it right!

sturgeje

i think they call that motherhood you'll learn as you go, don't worry!

bsmerelda@yahoo.com

I felt like that the first week too, but it's starting to get easier. Hang in there!

SoldiersGreenBean

You will always be improvising.  Nothing like a 2yo to keep you guessing.

harmonywolf

SoldiersGreenBean:

You will always be improvising.  Nothing like a 2yo to keep you guessing.

I second this!

FemmeNat01

sturgeje:

i think they call that motherhood you'll learn as you go, don't worry!

Yes, I agree with this. I don't think any first time mom knows what they are doing.

carrotcake06

harmonywolf:

Nope, I felt the same way with my first one.  Most of what we do as parents is improvising anyway.  As long as your DD is happy and growing then you're doing it right!

This exactly!  Just follow her cues - and don't worry, they'll let you know when you're doing something wrong.  It gets a lot easier as you both "get to know" each other.

katenney

I'm right there with you-- and my LO is two weeks and I feel even more clueless than I did last week. I keep hoping that it gets better.

doremi29

My DS is a week old today, too, and I know that I'm still learning his cues...when he's hungry, when he's hot/cold, or when he's just plain cranky.  It's hard, though, when they're upset you're not really sure what to do. 

AbJams

doremi29:

My DS is a week old today, too, and I know that I'm still learning his cues...when he's hungry, when he's hot/cold, or when he's just plain cranky.  It's hard, though, when they're upset you're not really sure what to do. 

I have the opposite problem, sort of. My LO isn't a very fussy baby. I usually notice her hunger cues before she starts crying, and other than that she only really fusses when she's cold or needs a new diaper. And not even always then. I wish she could tell me how she feels!

crittermama

Motherhood is the art of learning as you go.

thestewartsrock

Yes, I feel the same way! And, just when you think you are getting on top of things, LO will completely change things up on you! It's definitely quite the experience in improv to be a mommy! 

hikerbeth

With my first I had ZERO clue until she was about 12 weeks old and then I only had a little bit of a clue until she was 5-6 months old.

It just takes practice!

kna1980

Here is proof...my mom and I took LO to 2 month appointment.  She asked about me going back to work and I said yes and my mom would be watching her.  She was saying how that was great, and I shouldn't worry because I was leaving her with the best care giver because even I was still learning.  ha ha

almostabuck

It's ok, you will figure it out. One day you will be telling your DH, mother, or babysitter all about your LO and what they need and you will realize that you are the expert. Even if those people spend lots of time with your baby too.

Even now, you know your baby better than anyone else. Every day that knowledge will grow and adapt to your changing baby.

Enjoy it until they are a teenager and you truly don't have a clue WTF is going on in their head.

blissfully_caffeinated

My LO is 6 weeks old and I still don't know what the hell I'm doing. It does get better though. I still have no clue but I feel more confident in things with him.

BFab11

I'm totally lost. There are times when LO is fed, his diaper is dry, and he's screaming and I don't know what to do so I start crying too cuz I feel like I'm not doing anything right. Thank goodness for DH and my mom, they've both helped so much with LO, and they both assure me that I'm a good mom, but me and LO just need to get the hang of things.

AbJams

You have all made me feel so much better! I feel like such a dope sometimes and its nice to know its all just part of motherhood and not solely because I vastly overestimated my abilities.

Chelle0112

I'm just now starting to feel like I kind of know what I'm doing.  Everytime I think I have something figured out, he changes it up on me.

micheley88

I was just saying this same thing to DH today. DD is 4 weeks old and I feel totally clueless. I basically just go down a basic needs list to figure out what she wants and when that is exhausted and she still screaming, I just want to sit down and cry with her. One of these days I hope we can get into a routine and I don't have so many moments of feeling like clueless.