It was rightly said that parenting is not easy. You start realizing this, once you have your own baby in your hands. Your responsibilities start from that very first day of becoming a mom. Your expectations of managing everything and reality is totally different. Your whole day is spent by just feeding, cleaning pees and poops of your new born baby. It gets really tough for you to manage everything (feeding baby, cooking, laundry, and many more household chores) by yourself especially if your partner is working. You definitely need some help especially if it’s your first time having a baby. Let’s check out the list of things that you should know before having your first baby, so you can make a way out for all these things, which are as follows:
DON’T BUY TOO MUCH: Sometimes in excitement and lack of knowledge as what your baby will need makes you spend too much on baby stuff. Your baby doesn’t need too much stuff in the beginning, so don’t buy too much. Just be practical and do some research and make a list of the items you will need. Try to buy stuff as your baby grows, so you’ll come to know what’s needed at this time, so that you don’t regret your purchase.
IT’S OK TO BE IMPERFECT: As it’s a completely new environment and a new experience for you, it gets difficult for your to understand and know everything about your baby. Sometimes you end up breaking down. But remember it’s ok to be imperfect as almost all couples are in the beginning, maybe also your parents were when they had their first baby. Don’t worry, you’ll learn with your experience and instinct, just be patient and don’t expect too much. Just go with the flow.
BREASTFEEDING IS NOT EASY: While breastfeeding, sometimes you may experience nipple soreness, breast sensitivity, intolerance, bad latch, difficulty pumping etc, which makes it difficult for you to breastfeed your crying baby. This becomes a huge roller-coaster for you, so it’s better to know it in advance about breastfeeding and how to ease those issues. For this, you can ask your doctor in advance to let you know everything about breastfeeding and you can join online support groups as well. In some cases, breast pump is your way-out but make sure you read their instructions and learn to use before actually using it, because after having your baby you won’t have the time to read, learn, and then use. And don’t forget to properly clean your breast pump accessories.
YOU’LL SURELY COMPROMISE YOUR SLEEP: In the beginning, your baby sleeps a lot, for around 18 hours in a day especially in the first six weeks. This is the time when you can have plenty of time to take a rest and take proper care of yourself. After that baby’s sleep cycle changes and may change to naps. Now you too have to compromise your sleep and take naps when your baby is sleeping. You are surely going to miss your sound sleep after that. Then you will wish you knew this before, so that you would take full advantage of those first six weeks.
PARENTING CHANGES YOU FOR GOOD: Parenting comes up with lots of responsibilities and duties. It changes you for good like changing a habit of spending money, thinking about a more nutritious diet, driving more carefully, following good ethics, changing relationship with your partner, you may have more fun and feel a beautiful bond between you and your baby. These changes simply make you stronger and creative. All these changes are worth it for that cute little child.
GO OUT FOR A CHANGE: It’s a good idea to carry your baby in a pram or carrier and go out for a walk, drive, nearby mall, or to have your favorite cup of coffee. You too need some change from your all day taking care of your baby routine specially when you feel hopeless and saturated from your routine. Walking also helps to uplift your mood and relax your mind.
DON’T FORGET ESSENTIALS WHILE GOING OUT: Whenever you go out, don’t forget to always take your baby essentials with you like extra clothes, diapers, wipes, some polybags for your baby’s dirty clothes, baby’s water bottle, and some munchies/snacks for yourself. This little prep can make your outing more enjoyable.
TALK ABOUT MANAGEMENT WITH YOUR PARTNER: Take your partner’s help to manage cooking, laundry, dishes, taking care of the baby and other household chores. It’s good to discuss with him in detail even before having a baby. Just be each other’s support and make it a team work for taking care of the baby. This little help from your partner will help you in taking a break and relaxing. Baby will also make you understand each other in a better way.
DON’T FORGET TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH: After having your baby, your full attention is on your baby and hence your personal health gets neglected. Do take sometime for your own health, only then you’ll able to take full care of your baby. Take proper rest, go for a walk, have a healthy and nutritious diet, have your supplements, do meditate, do just one thing in a day which you like the most. From any other work, always prioritize your and your baby’s health.
BE PREPARED FOR EXPENSES: Apart from expected expenses with baby, many unexpected expenses also come around, so it’ better to be prepared for it in advance. Apart from just clothes, diapers, cereals, and toys, some of your baby’s other expenses are also there, like if you want to do your job after maternity leave, you have to pay daycare fee which is very expensive, medicines cost, cost of babysitting class, other activity classes for your baby, which may cost you hundreds of dollars per month. If you are doing good financially, then plan for your baby. Because once you have a baby, time flies and expenses increase rapidly.
During or after pregnancy, you have to change and go through a lot, but it’s all worth for your cute little baby. This feeling of motherhood is so special, that you forget all your tough days and cry spells just by seeing your baby smiling. Just don’t expect too much from yourself and overthink, let your instinct and experience guide you.