It seems like no one tells potential parents...

EcoBaby · December 2009

that your baby is basically going to latch on to you and suck the life out of you for a while. Or maybe they do tell us, but you can't understand until you go through it.

Looking back on the early weeks/months wtih LO, I was so clueless about what to really expect with babies, and then it seemed like moms were coming out of the woodwork to tell me the truth about how it really is. Before that, all I would hear is "My baby STTN at 6 weeks" - or how a crib is a must-have item for a nursery, etc. It seems like the idea of becoming a parent and actually becoming a parent are SO different.

And now, I totally only have very positive feelings about DS as a baby - so I know that I'm starting to forget a lot of stuff too

I really had this idea in my head that the baby comes out, everything is perfect, you rock them to sleep, lay them in the crib and ta-da - Norman Rockwell scene.

PearlGirl519 · December 2009

DNK777 · December 2009

I was the opposite. People told me a lot of horror stories about the first six weeks, but honestly I didn't think it was too bad. Of course I was very lucky to not have a colicky baby, reflux, or any other issues close family and friends had.

howa0155 · December 2009

You should post this on 0-3 and 3rd tri.

phishphood · December 2009

Yes

I can remember bringing DD home for the first time, getting her out of her car seat, and then panicking because I had no idea what to do next.

LynnJones · December 2009

I totally agree. I am very lucky since my dd was sttn when she was 2 months old but until then I was up feeding her every 1.5-2 hrs. I didn't know any different though and figured she'd sleep longer eventually, and she did. Those first few months are totally hard though and they do latch on to you like leeches! It should be a psa as you leave the hospital: oh by the way, you aren't going to sleep again for a while.

erbear · December 2009

I had a slightly more realistic idea...but I thought it would be really hard for, oh, 2 months. Sad day for me when 2 months came and went, and hard times continued.

pretty_helmet · December 2009

this. so much this.

PearlGirl519 · December 2009

phishphood:

I can remember bringing DD home for the first time, getting her out of her car seat, and then panicking because I had no idea what to do next.

Yep, I went through that too. LOL.

It's like, now what?

jacksjerseygirl · December 2009

EcoBaby:

that your baby is basically going to latch on to you and suck the life out of you for a while. Or maybe they do tell us, but you can't understand until you go through it.

And now, I totally only have very positive feelings about DS as a baby - so I know that I'm starting to forget a lot of stuff too

lol

Everyone says ... sleep now .... blah blah blah .... and you nod and smile, okay. Even after reading dozens of parenting/baby books .... nothing can really prepare you for parenting.

Those first two months were the hardest and I did fortunately have a baby that slept well, didn't need to be attached to me physically, nor colicky. And, a husband that shares equally in parenting. STILL ... the limited sleep deprivation I experienced was enough to make me feel really terrible sometimes.

And now, I mean ... I cried on the way home from getting Grant's pictures today in aww of how much I love him and what an amazing child he is have the privledge of raising.

I just tell new parents now ... you just gotta survive the first few months and try to enjoy it as much as you can.

And ... no two babies are the same and not every parenting style will work for every child. You have to just do what is right for you and your child.

DEBBIE33CASEY · December 2009

totally agree

brideofscowboy · December 2009

DNK777:
I was the opposite. People told me a lot of horror stories about the first six weeks, but honestly I didn't think it was too bad. Of course I was very lucky to not have a colicky baby, reflux, or any other issues close family and friends had.

This.

Willisaurus · December 2009

Ohmygod YES. The only vaguely realistic thing anyone said to me while I was pregnant was "Sleep deprivation is no joke."

brooketini · December 2009

Because no matter what anyone tells you, there is nothing that can prepare you for the feelings you will have as a new mother. Yes, I could sit here and tell someone how anxious, exhausted, scared, drained, etc. they will be during those first few months- but it's just totally different to experience it.

EcoBaby · December 2009

Its also funny to me now how obsessed I was with having a natural labor and what would happen during the delivery process, etc. but not scared AT ALL about having a baby! Seems like someone should have said, "Hey, instead of taking hours worth of classes about delivery, take some about how to be a parent." lol

ashleyvc2 · December 2009

The whole baby thing was pretty much what I expected, however the whole toddler issue has thrown me for a major loop. Wait.....just wait....

DNK777 · December 2009

erbear:
I had a slightly more realistic idea...but I thought it would be really hard for, oh, 2 months. Sad day for me when 2 months came and went, and hard times continued.

Absolutely. DD started STTN at 6 weeks and stopped STTN at 4 months. She hasn't STTN since. When she was a newborn, the lack of sleep wasn't too bad because she'd go right back to sleep and I wasn't working. But working with a non-STTN baby is so hard.

Sunny1inTucson · December 2009

brideofscowboy:

DNK777:
I was the opposite. People told me a lot of horror stories about the first six weeks, but honestly I didn't think it was too bad. Of course I was very lucky to not have a colicky baby, reflux, or any other issues close family and friends had.

This.

me three. tritto.

2bejunebride06 · December 2009

I always tell my friends that have just had babies that it gets better, so much better. I think there is a misconception that the baby is born and everything is just perfect. This could not be further from the truth. A neighbor saw me with the stroller soon after DD was born and came over to see her and chat. When she asked how I was doing I said good, with a few hiccups here or there (we don't know each other that well so I wasn't going to go into detail). Then she went on to say how much joy I should be experiencing. I immediately went home and cried. Joy was not what I was feeling in those first few weeks. I was happy I had DD and loved her very much, but joy wasn't really present in our house at that point.

mollymurphy · December 2009

DNK777:
I was the opposite. People told me a lot of horror stories about the first six weeks, but honestly I didn't think it was too bad.

Dit.to.

Before LO was born, I had absolutely worked myself into a frenzy, petrified of sleep deprivation (I'm worthless on less than 5 hours.) Fortunately, my worst fears never materialized and the first few months were actually a lot smoother than I thought they might be.

Gramyson · December 2009

eco, i don't think i could agree with you more.

Mrs.C042807 · December 2009

Labour was way easier than the first few weeks of being at home.

yo.mama · December 2009

I did not expect perfection. I was prepared for a needy colicky baby. I got an easy baby, and those first few months were much smoother than I anticipated they would be. Well expect bfing. That was always an emotional roller coaster.

Caroline&Stephen · December 2009

Mrs.C042807:

Labour was way easier than the first few weeks of being at home.

yes!

Want a personalized experience?

It seems like no one tells potential parents...

Re: It seems like no one tells potential parents...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards