what they don’t tell you.
it’s easier for some women.
they had more help, or they got help sooner, they had made plans and schedules, and internally kept it all together. this breed and brand of women, exist. and it doesn’t mean they’re evil or judgey. but it also doesn’t mean that they’re not.
I wasn’t one of those women. Every single step was hard. I’d say after 3 months things started to get better. By the 4 month mark, it’s like the honeymoon phase. She’s learning how to utilize me, so it’s an important time to also teach her boundaries. Saying no to a crying baby is not a bad thing. But understand what they’re needing. If they’re fed, changed, well rested, and teething (but you’ve given them something to gnaw on), then it’s okay to give them a minute. But let’s dive into those first couple of months.
I couldn’t remember the last time I cried so much. Every time I looked at her I’d cry because I couldn’t believe she was finally here. The anticipation had literally been killing me, and I couldn’t wait to meet her for 8 1/2 months, and there she was. Fragile, and perfect. and mine.
But then I kept crying. When I’d wake up, when I’d eat, when I’d randomly made my way to my apartment complex lobby and saw our concierge, when I showered, when I talked to anyone, when I breastfed. This continued for a solid 3 weeks.
WEEK 1
The first week we were in the doctor’s office every single day, because she had come 3 weeks early at just 5 ibs and change. She had a little bit of jaundice on top of that. This was a very stressful time, because on top of being a new parent, on top of learning how to breastfeed, on top of the hormones your body is still slammed with, there was this. Add another anxious parent to the mix, a million opinions, a million gadgets you haven’t learned how to use, spending all of your money on anything that will help, only to end up with an excess amount of things that were supposed to help, but didn’t. This was week 1.