Are things turning out how you expected?

mmsweeney1 · September 2014

I was thinking about all the things I expected leading up to labor/delivery and having a newborn, and everything has been completely different than I thought.

1. I thought my induction would be horribly painful and I would be destroyed by tearing again. Actually it wasn't so bad and I was pretty comfortable the whole time, plus no tearing!
2. I was excited to wear all my clothes again. Instead I discovered I have about 3 things that work for breastfeeding - sad. And I thought I had limited options in maternity clothes!
3. I looked forward to enjoying wine again before summer is over, but I am too worried about feeding DD to ever really go for it.
4. I thought I would have no idea what to do since I didn't read books about taking care of babies, but surprisingly I know what to do most of the time.

Anyone else care to share??

tamarar5 · September 2014

I had hoped to go into labor naturally. When my due date passed, I had expected my induction to go smoothly and relatively quickly (12 hours from starting meds to delivery with my second). I was not expecting my induction to not really work, to drag on for endless hours without progress, or to end up with an abruption and a c section.

I also didn't think recovery would be so hard for my toddler. He wants mommy and doesn't understand why mommy is only picking up or holding this screaming little thing and not him. He's very put out and his constant crying is getting to me... so I get mad.

But on the flip side, I expected to have a hard time with bfing initially and I didn't. I have a 100% hardcore nurser.

wandsandwine · September 2014

I expected breast feeding to be much easier than it is.

skalnajs · September 2014

I thought I'd love staying home with LO but really I'm just itching to get out of the house- I got so excited for my dental appt. on Monday it was pathetic.

BeachM · September 2014

Yes because with my first I learned to have no expectations that children are going to do what I want them to.

lookame3639 · September 2014

Theres so much o thought would be different. I think i was looking through rose colored glasses since its been so long since i had DS. The main thing i have to say is I'm boobs to Itty bit. Anytime i pick her up its like oh...I'm hungry feed me, cluster feeds make me wanna rip my hair out as well...and engorment, random leaking, letdown, sore nipples...some of the wonderful things breastfeeding offers

gahorseygal · September 2014

skalnajs said:
I thought I'd love staying home with LO but really I'm just itching to get out of the house- I got so excited for my dental appt. on Monday it was pathetic.

^This. I also get excited for doctors appointments. I'm seriously considering finding a new job because working from home just isnt going to cut it for me.

BabyM82714 · September 2014

Everything!

What everyone told me about pregnancy and its symptoms. Wrong for me. I basically had no "symptoms" besides major swelling the last month.

Delivery. Totally opposite of how I thought it could go. It went so smooth despite 16 hrs and 1 hr pushing. Very positive expierence and I would give birth again tomorrow if I knew I'd have the same outcome.

Post partum....every symptom. Yup not me. Been very easy...(easy delivery though no tearing) no night sweats or hair loss. My hair and nails look way better actually. I've lost 20lbs 3 weeks PP but another 20 to go and then hopefully more.

Newborn....nothing like I thought. I've picked up so many instincts and honestly I think LO has my laid back personality. She's just easy going awake or asleep.

mikrinikki · September 2014

Ugh...I must have overlooked how to take care of myself pp. I feel like my undercarriage is on fire, boobs hurt more than during first trimester, and not being able to lift things or drive makes me feel helpless.

ungraceful13 · September 2014

Well delivery went nothing like expected but that's ok there was no way to account for him flipping during labor and needing an emergency c-section.
Life with a newborn is going how I expected maybe even a little better. He definitely feeds better.
DD is handling him better so that's exciting.

caybeh · September 2014

Pretty much just labor/delivery. I didn't expect that I'd have pitocin again. It turned out DD's labor started exactly how DS's did (water breaking but only 1.5 cm). However, DD's labor was much easier and faster than DS's. Also, the after labor pains were way worse this time than I expected. But I'm told that's normal and they get worse with each child. Joy.

SoSayWeAll · September 2014

I was lucky to have a healthy uneventful pregnancy and C-section. Breastfeeding is going much better than I imagined. Taking care of a newborn is about what I expected. Postpartum hormonal changes though, holy shit! I was not prepared for the baby blues and feeling crazy for a week. I am glad it went away.

Laur110 · September 2014

Definitely did not expect my water to break while at work, 3 weeks before my due date! I wasn't sure what to expect as far as having a newborn being a FTM with no LOs in mine or DHs family. DD has been wonderful, but the night time witching hour really wears us down. I also really struggled with feelings of isolation at first, wasn't expecting all of the emotions.

poofwok · September 2014

I thought delivery was harder then I imagined. Or the aftermath of it is what troubles me. I had a 4th degree tear and I'm having difficulty with the healing process. It just doesn't seem to be getting better and the whole thing has me a little traumatized. Makes me dread another pregnancy.... Or even not want one. Makes me sad too.

On a positive note, I thought LO would be keeping me up at night but he only wakes up once so far and that makes me extremely thankful. He is pretty easy going. I feel lucky.

Allison7 · September 2014

I didn't expect that DH would instantly be a dad. I knew he would be a good dad, but I thought it was going to take him a while to really get into the role, but he really was instantly great.

I also thought the situation with our pets would be different. I thought our cat would be jealous and our dog would like or protect the baby. Well, our cat interacts with the baby and our dog is jealous and keeps his distance. Of course, this will likely change as the baby gets older and our dog feels better (he was diagnosed with diabetes days after she was born). But it is a surprise.

awalter5110 · September 2014

I didn't expect an easy baby but I also didn't expect to have a baby with a witching hour that lasts 4 hours with solid crying. It's so mentally draining. I also didn't expect to completely hate BFing or to have insane baby blues the first week. Now that we switched to formula I am 100% happier and that was not in my plans at all. I've learned that no amount of planning could have ever prepared us for what we have been given. It's a crazy ride for sure!

abnelsen22 · September 2014

I didn't expect to be diagnosed with a brain tumor at 36 weeks, and then be induced, end up with a c section, have brain surgery 48 hours later, and be basically unable to be a parent without help for the first five weeks.

But other than that...I got crazy anxiety (never had it before) after birth. But I'm not sure if that's because of birth or the brain surgery. Also, sleep deprivation has been sooooo hard. But I also wasn't allowed to sleep most of the ten days in the hospital (neuro checks), so I think that made everything worse.

Dawn5481 · September 2014

I didn't expect FI to cry more than I did when LO was born

caballablanca · September 2014

I didn't expect my older child to stop sleeping through the night every single night since dh went back to work.

I also didn't expect labor to be as intense this time around. I thought it would be the same as last time, but no. Contractions on top of one another lasting several minutes sucked so bad, but it did make labor and pushing go much faster this time around.

pmpkn219 · September 2014

So far better than my (admittedly low) expectations. I thought my son would be a good boy, but probably regress to more baby behavior, he really hasn't. My recovery physically is much easier than last time. This baby is pretty chill, easy going- as I cross my fingers because she just now 3 weeks and I know anything could change any second... But so far, so good.

in a strange way, this being our last is making things easier mentally. Like when she's eating every hour, or gets gas pains right as we're putting J to bed, I subconsciously think- she won't be a newborn forever, and then this stage is Over. Makes me sad related to the newborn snuggles, but easier to power through it when it's not so fun!

shevaCC · September 2014

Mostly as expected or better. Labor with DS was longer and harder than with DD which seemed unfair for a second child. But he's otherwise more easy going than his sister was as a newborn.

With DD I didn't really know what to expect, but it all feels very familiar the second time around.

sharkmama39 · September 2014

I was surprised how easy my labor was; I was prepared to be in labor for upwards of 48 hrs, but instead had less than 14 hrs of contractions and only 6 hrs of active labor.

On the flip side, while I knew bfing would be hard I didn't realize it would beas hard as it was to get started.

slippintrippn84 · September 2014

I thought BFing would come naturally. Instead, it didn't come at all. I had little expectations for everything else.
The only thing I didn't expect is LO's super demanding personality. He's on or he's off. There is no middle ground with him. It's frustrating b/c DH doesn't do well with him fussing. He takes about 2 minutes of it and (when I'm in a different room) I hear " Oh, Come on. Really?" or [mockingly] "whaa whaa". 8-| I warned him tonight about the 6 week growth spurt so he can prepare.

Venus04 · September 2014

I thought I would stress about everything, but I really don't. I also was terrified I'd secretly hate parenthood once it finally hit, but Luci makes it pretty cool. I did envision my labor and delivery being much less craptastic, but what are ya' gonna' do?

kaitm22 · September 2014

I certainly did not envision myself begging for an epidural.

I also didn't expect to be so freaking busy after the baby came. We have left the house way more than I planned on and I am not happy about it.

haliebabyx3 · September 2014

Delivery didn't go as expected, of course. My labor wasn't bad. My epi worked a little too well and I ended up pushing for 6 hours. It was turned off at 3 hours and I still pushed 3 more. I was miserable.

I didn't expect BF'ing to not work out, but it didn't after being put back in the hospital. I was amazed at how much I dried up in just 12 hours of not being able to feed or pump, but had no choice. I cried when I realized it wasn't going to work out , but reminded myself that all that matters was my child was getting fed.

I was expecting to be much more tired and have a fussy child, he's shockingly been pretty good. He gives us 3 to 3.5 hour stretches.

I also expected H to be all cutesy when LO was born. I don't think he shed a tear but I was very wore out so maybe he did while I was getting stiched up. Plus after 6 hours of pushing and him watching the whole entire thing, the first thing he said to me was that we were definitely having another and he's never seen something so amazing happen.

raquelynn714 · September 2014

I didn't expect... to be completely mentally exhausted after 36 hours of contractions and 2 days without sleep, a c-section, to be annoyed w breastfeeding, to love pumping, that LO would sleep through the night at 4 weeks

Want a personalized experience?

Are things turning out how you expected?

Re: Are things turning out how you expected?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards