Is anyone else worried or thinking about how it's going to be once the baby gets here? How you're going to act and feel?
I'm obviously a FTM and I'm worried because everyone always says its so terrible. It's a scary thought to hear such negative things. For any STM or moms, how did you get through your postpartum period? Do you recommend anything? And for anyone else what are your thoughts or ideas on it?
Re: Postpartum.
Every woman's postpartum recovery is different and every baby has a different temperament.
Take as much support as you can get, don't forget you need to care for yourself and don't feel guilty about doing so! Sleep when baby sleeps if you can (cause at night....you'll be up when baby is up!)
I'm worried being a STM how much more exhausting it's going to be with a 2 year old too... but I just keep telling myself that many women do this and more so I'll survive !
My mom will be staying with us for a few weeks once baby arrives to help and kinda show me what I need to be doing and how. I'm sure she'll be very helpful but I'm actually more stressed about having her here than dealing with a new baby. I'm honestly freaking out though bc I feel so unprepared.....
Also, don't be afraid to ask for help! It takes a village!! Have people come watch the baby while you take a shower/nap/clean/get things done. If you are feeling destitute, talk to your doc at your PP checkup and don't be afraid to ask for drugs!
For the most part, my maternal instincts kicked in and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.
Then came a miscarriage March '11
Then came a baby in the baby carriage May 16, 12
Waiting on our second little peanut!
TTC #1 since 3/2011
DX: anovulatory and severe MFI
DH is a testicular cancer survivor
IVF#1 w/ICSI lupron, gonal f, ovidrel
ER 6/15/12 6R 6M 6F! ET 6/20/12
Beta #1: 154 Beta #2: 509 Beta #3: 7326
Baby Boy born 3/1/2013
TTC#2: 6/2014 all testing came back normal
IVF#2 (#1 for LO#2) 9/2014 - 17R 10M 10F 4 blasts frozen on day 6.
FET #1 10/15/14 - Beta #1: 216 Beta #2: 823
Baby Boy born 7/10/2015
This is not directed at you, just piggybacking off of the discussion!
While I am by NO means out to scare FTM, I found the opposite to be true in my social media circles! I feel like there was so much pressure to "enjoy every second!" and to really pump oneself up as super mom that it wasn't realistic at all. I had friends (not close ones) seemingly trying to outdo each other with their "amazing" deliveries and "amazing" adjustments and "amazing" newborns. I feel like that mentality leads to pressure for FTM and ultimately a "well, WTF is wrong with ME?" feeling of failure. There is a happy medium that needs to be found, that is for sure!
I just try to tell them to take things one day at a time. It's not pretty, but everyone gets through it and manages to do it again! I also always say, "it's OK to not love every second!"
I think the best thing you can do is spend as much time snuggling that baby as possible and let anyone help you who offers (even if it's your MIL haha). I know all I wanted to do was cuddle my baby and I stressed about going back to work - even from day one. I wish I could have relaxed and enjoyed it more.
I only wish I did that earlier - one good solid nights sleep set me up to handle the rest of the early few weeks.
So this time, if I find myself getting overwhelmed - that's what we will do - at the time I felt a bit guilty- DH works a lot! But remember as a new mom, to look out for yourself too and don't try to be super-mom
It may be tiring at first but it gets better and you will see, it's SO worth it