You are in your twenties and you spend your time hanging out with friends and sharing quality time with your partner and before you know it, the years have flown by and you are now a new mom. Just like all the other phases in your life, you are completely unprepared for this one too! No matter how many tips your mother and mother-in-law share with you, the reality is vastly different. Here are 10 things that every new mom realizes soon after her baby is born.
1. There are a lot of mood swings.
Post pregnancy mood swings are very common. You are hormonal and will go from happy to sad in jiffy. You will cry a lot and get emotional often but remember that this is just a phase and you will be back to normal soon.
2. Breastfeeding can help you shed the pregnancy weight
Did you know it takes approximately 1000 calories a day to produce breast milk. In fact, women are even advised to consume an extra 500 calories when breastfeeding. Shedding that pregnancy weight is definitely a plus point!
3. You are obsessed with your baby.
All of a sudden you will understand why all the new moms can’t stop talking about their child’s first step or why they have to upload 20 pictures of the baby on social media. One day you wake up and you realize that you have become a part of this circle.
4. Everyone you know gives you tips on how to take care of your baby.
Right from your mother to your mother-in-law, everyone will have an opinion on how you should raise your child. What the hell, even your domestic maid can’t keep her opinion to herself.
5. Breastfeeding isn’t easy, but very important.
Breastfeeding is tough and slightly painful in the beginning, but only because you are not doing it right. In the long run, breastfeeding keeps your baby healthy and builds immunity. They become more resistant to viral and other infections. It is even keeps the mother healthy and creates a bond with the baby.
6. You should never let your baby go hungry for more than 4 hours.
While many claim that you shouldn’t wake up your baby to breastfeed, it is important to wake up your baby to feed if there has been more than a 4 hour gap between his meals. It is important for your baby to feed on schedule.
7. You need to be calm before you can calm your baby!
There will be times when you’ve tried everything but your baby will still not stop howling. You need to stay calm. Babies typically cry for 3 things – they are hungry, they have pooped or wet their diaper or they are cold. If you check for all 3 and still the baby is crying, then try something else – ask your husband to drive and take the kid for a ride in your car. It usually helps. If nothing works and the baby has been crying for more than 2 hours, call your doctor.
8. Breastfeeding relaxes your body.
It triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin which helps you as well as your baby relax!
9. You will love your husband more than ever.
Well, that is if he decides to do all the diaper changing. After all, even a supermom deserves a break.
10. You realize a new kind of love.
You love your parents, your family and friends but the love you feel for your child is completely different. You have heard of this unconditional love but now you get to experience it as well.
