Mommy Moments: Adventures in Motherhood
It is amazing how much time a little munchkin takes up. And when he's not taking my time, I am either sleeping or eating, then sleeping again. They tell you how much sleep you lose, but they don't tell you why!!! Now I know.... BREASTFEEDING! It literally is a 24-hour job! It's unbelievable how often they eat, and for how long. Afterwards, you soothe your infant back to sleep after a diaper change and burping session. And then in just one blink, you have to wake baby up and start ALL over! But it's true what they say, "It's sooo worth it" when you look down and see their little face. Even when they smile that "I have gas" smile, I pretend Camden is smiling at me saying, "I Love you, Mom! And thanks for the grub! I know it's hard work."
What was the most surprising part about having a newborn for you? Were there any tips you overheard during pregnancy that you now really can understand?
Xx, Vanessa
Photo credit: Justin Coit
24 comments
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my daughter was born march 15th of 2012 it is true after you have you second or third etc. it does get easier cuz you already know what to do, even though this was my third i was really nervous towards the end cuz they was going induce my labor which i knew once they induce my labor the pains were going to come i won't be abel to handle it, but then they had to stop the inducing and rush me in for a c-section cuz she had the cord wraoed around her neck and the medicine was stressing her out so i had to get epidural, i was scared, but it was all worth it cuz as soon as she was out and crying i started to cry myself, cause she was alright. ya it is an amazing feeling when they look up at you and them think this person holding me
is my momor dad and this is going love me and take care me. thanks Vanessa. -
my son was born on November and im a stay at home mom.. He is my second child.. It really is so much easier second time around..i was so surprised on how clam I was taking him home...because I was getting nervous towards the end of pregnancy.. Its truly an amazing feeling being a mom, an having your child look at u like ur all that matters.;-)your love it!
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That he would always be hungry and cry sometimes throughout the night....But it's all good for they are truly a precious gift.. -
l remembered my good memories of my two teenagers 19 and 16 were so cute baby and they were very different times for sleep and burp and change the diapers and many wonderful stuffs to do for them when l had a good focus with them when they were a good baby and good sleeping well when l took a short nap or read my book when every time l always check the baby s sleep on crib or the baby pram thats good time for me !! -
Nick said you guys were getting a Night Nurse but it sounds like you didn't. It's best to be hands on!
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Being a mom is the hardest thing in the world but the best thing in the world.I have 3 kids 20,19,4 .The 4 year old was born when i was only 24 week .He stay in the ICU for 13 weeks.So when he came home he had to eat every 2 hours for a long time than it went to every 3 hours.I was so tired and never got any sleep.But its all worth it . -
"And then in just one blink, you have to wake baby up and start ALL over" WHAT??? Why are you waking a sleeping baby?? I've never heard of such. It is awesome that you are sharing your wonderful experience breastfeeding. It is an amazing experience, but I think some women give up too soon. Enjoy every day because it won't last long enough!
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I'm a mommy of two, a girl who is 5 and a boy who is 3. They are night and day. Total opposites. My daughter slept through the night since we brought her home from the hospital. I would have to wake her up at feeding times. My son, on the other hand, was awake all night. He was up every hour and a half ready for his bottle and he had some powerful lungs to announce when he was awake. Now fast forward to present time, he's 3 years old still waking up during the night and I am still sleep deprived. Haha! I recently started going to school and I'm having maybe 4 hours of sleep at night. A mother's job is never done but getting rewarded with lots of hugs and kisses and with their tiny voices saying "I love you mommy" makes it all worth it.
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My girls are 10 & 7 now but I will never forget the first year. Tired is an understatement. I thought I was prepared for the sleep deprivation but no advice, no book, nothing can prepare you for that, and I didn't breastfeed. What surprised me most about being a new mom was how much of a control freak I became. As tired as I was, I wanted to do it all. My husband was hands on but only with things that I felt he could handle without my assistance or direction. It took a few months for me to let go and allow him to be fully engaged. I accepted the fact that although he wasn't me, he was her dad and wanted the best for her just as much as I did. We had our second daughter 3 years later. Of course by then I knew he knew what to do so things were very different with her. -
I wss surprised that my baby girl slept through the night for majority of her first year. She just turned 2 and wakes up more throughout the night now. She mostly wants to sing and play though! It's so adorable to wake up to her singing through the monitor. -
I lucked out with my daughter, she slept 6 hours every night from the day I brought her home. I wasn't able to breast feed because she stayed in the NICU for 5 days and my milk wasn't producing. I'm assuming the formula kept her full enough to sleep that long. I'm preparing to get pregnant with my second soon and I hope I am able to nurse this time even if that means no long sleeps.
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Thank you for breast feeding Camden!! So many times with celebrities, they choose to formula feed so they can start starving themselves to lose weight and get way too skinny. Ppl need to understand that it takes 40 weeks (10mos) to put on the weight, so it's going to take some time to take it off unless you're one of the lucky ones that lose weight at the drop of a hat..lol. Just remember everyday something new will happen and it's burned into your memory and your heart. -
We welcomed our second son on September 11, 2012 (yes just one day before your sweet Camden) but it was a long road for our little miracle. Our first son just turned 5 on January 21st. We had not problem getting pregnant the first time. He was the perfect baby and is a wonderful child. Slept through the night by 9weeks, took 3 long naps a day. We started trying again after 2 years. I miscarried twice at 7-8 weeks. After almost a year on Femera, I was referred to a fertility specialist. We found out the my pituitary gland was not producing enough progesterone to sustain the pregnancies. So after a round of belly shots, HCG, and IUI...we were finally pregnant but I had to stay on drugs until 10 weeks along. It was a rough pregnancy...the total opposite of the first. So we were not surprised that Grayson is the total opposite of his brother. He is happy but only cat naps, at 18 weeks he still doesn't sleep through the night, he follows no schedule. But we wouldn't trade it all for anything! During the two year process to get pregnant I found out how many women struggled with fertility issues. I was totally amazed. We all have a story to tell and amazing love for our babies ;0) I just need a little more sleep. -
As tired as I am, and I am tired often, I can't wait for her to wake up! I was told how I don't know what "tired" is until you have a baby, and it's true. She is 23 wks and every day, while exhausting, is the best gift I have ever gotten. It just seems to get better and better every day as she grows and learns. It's amazing. -
The most surprising part for me was how unprepared I really was to have this little baby actually in my home. I remember being home with her for about 10 minutes, she's crying, I'm crying and thinking "why did we think we could do this?!!?" Man were those first 6 weeks rough! Was anyone else sobbing in their shower around week 4? But as everyone says and knows, it's all so worth it.
The smiles and hugs and kisses make up for sleepless nights and long days! -
Now that my youngest is 7 months old and I am back at work - sleep when the baby sleeps! As my little one is still not sleeping through the night and I am breastfeeding, I am the one who gets up with him because I need to feed him. The days at work when I am so tired - I think of how I didn't utilize my time of 'sleeping when baby sleeps' to my full advantage! Also, I don't think you can ever be prepared to love someone SO much - it's an unbelievable feeling!
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The madness of it all!!!! Breastfeeding, no sleep, the worry even while the baby sleeps (is he breathing?)! So much! It was overwhelming for me. I am an only child so I didn't grow up around babies. Thank God we got through it and learned so much together. Now our son is three and our 2nd came April last year and it was a completely different experience. Breastfeeding is EASY now because I knew what I was doing the second go around. I have really relaxed! It feels good - natural. What a blessing! Love to you and your growing family! Love your site! -
The most surprising part to me with my first born is how hard it was to get her to nap. She did not like to nap for longer than 15 minutes at a time which didn't let me rest much and the feeling of abandonment that it was just me and her when my husband left for work soo soon after I gave birth. I wasn't prepared to do this on my own only 2 days after leaving the hospital and recovering from a C section. -
@Jen - not to mention the sick part. My son (who is 16 now) didn't get sick at all, he still doesn't, and I believe its due to him being breastfed. All the other kids around were sick all the time.
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I agree with the breastfeeding part...when I was pregnant, all I knew was that bf-ing was important to me. And how hard could it be, really? But having a new baby, and being sleep deprived, its alot harder than it seems. I am glad that I have stuck it out with the breasfeeding bc it really is the best nutrition. I feel like I have accomplished so much when my baby girls pediatrician tells me that by nursing her the first 6months of her life, I have significantly lowered her chance of childhood obesity, pediatric cancers, etc. not only that, but her IQ will be higher than her formula fed peers. -
Honestly my most surprising part was dealing w a little loneliness. No one really prepares you when the baby comes and ur with the baby while hubby is working how kinda lonely it gets !! I mean that was my experience but it did pass and now my daughter is two and talks so not so bad hahaha plus I feel you are so cooped up in the beginning it can happen but anywho,,, ur son is gorgeous!!!! God bless!!!! -
Instant LOVE and Protection of my Son. I was only 19(51 now) and not ready and a little scared. But the minute I had him I was instantly IN LOVE and everything just clicked. I was super protective too. He's 32 now and has 2 sisters and I'm still married to my high school SWEETHEART 32 years :) -
My most surprising thing was how much stuff she needed. we had baby seats, pack n plays, swings, car seats, bassinet ... etc. I remember packing for our first family vacation when she was 6- months old. The car was so full lol.
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