Baby Fever
Now don't get excited. I do not have baby fever. I don't even have low grade baby fever. No it is Mama Kat's writing prompt! I chose the #1 prompt: Baby fever is in the air. Describe what you would do differently as a first time mom.
When I was pregnant with my first some 12 and a half years ago, I had dreams of walks in the park, a cooing cherub, and her playing happily and chewing on a toy. You know kind of like a diaper commercial. Yeah reality bites, and it usually bites you right in the butt. First of all, she was not a cherub. There are pictures of yours truly at 3 days old and I was a fatty. My mom had big babies. Kristin was tiny, just like she is now. She was very long and veryskinny thin. Just like now. She really was beautiful. She is beautiful. How I loved those big bright blue eyes. Her eyes are now grey, and they are still huge.
Now, nobody told me that they poop 20 zillion times a day. And nobody ever told me about diaper blowouts. And no one ever warned me that they poop whenever they need to, diaper on or not. I never knew a baby could spit up so much and grow so fast. I never knew about colic. Colic is evil. It is horrible for both baby and mom. Baby is miserable for whatever reason for 4 long months and mom is too. Plus she thinks she is the worst mother on the planet.
What would I have done differently? I would have slept every chance I got. I would have asked for help more than I did. I would have let the dishes go and the laundry instead trying to do it all. I would have gotten on some anti-depressants which I now know I seriously needed. If I could go back and talk to that poor distraught mother that was me, it would go something like this...
"You need to sleep when she does. The house will wait. I know it bugs you. Tell Rich you need his help. He'll do it. He's tired too, but he wants to help you. It's okay to ask for help. You are not a one woman show. And guess what else, Lourie. You can put that baby in her crib, close the door and let her cry so you can take a shower. You will feel so much better and she might even go to sleep. I know you feel like you have to do everything, but really all you need to do is take care of you, and I promise it will be much easier to take care of her. It's okay to put yourself first. Even on the airplanes they want you to secure YOUR oxygen mask first. That is so you can help your child more effectively. And lastly, it feels like forever but it will end soon. She will calm down and sleep through the night. You won't forget it, but you will be able to look back and say it was long and hard but it ended."
I wish I would have slept more than I did. And let her cry a little more in her crib than I did. But, I survived and so did she. Everyday brings a new challenge to a parent whether they a first time parent or a seasoned veteran--I am no veteran. It's a rough job, the hardest one you will ever have to take on. There is one more thing I would have done, and that is have a support system. Having lots of friends to talk to makes a lot of difference. It's amazing how much we can relate to one another.
Check out Metabolism Blues for the promised cookie recipe!
When I was pregnant with my first some 12 and a half years ago, I had dreams of walks in the park, a cooing cherub, and her playing happily and chewing on a toy. You know kind of like a diaper commercial. Yeah reality bites, and it usually bites you right in the butt. First of all, she was not a cherub. There are pictures of yours truly at 3 days old and I was a fatty. My mom had big babies. Kristin was tiny, just like she is now. She was very long and very
Now, nobody told me that they poop 20 zillion times a day. And nobody ever told me about diaper blowouts. And no one ever warned me that they poop whenever they need to, diaper on or not. I never knew a baby could spit up so much and grow so fast. I never knew about colic. Colic is evil. It is horrible for both baby and mom. Baby is miserable for whatever reason for 4 long months and mom is too. Plus she thinks she is the worst mother on the planet.
What would I have done differently? I would have slept every chance I got. I would have asked for help more than I did. I would have let the dishes go and the laundry instead trying to do it all. I would have gotten on some anti-depressants which I now know I seriously needed. If I could go back and talk to that poor distraught mother that was me, it would go something like this...
"You need to sleep when she does. The house will wait. I know it bugs you. Tell Rich you need his help. He'll do it. He's tired too, but he wants to help you. It's okay to ask for help. You are not a one woman show. And guess what else, Lourie. You can put that baby in her crib, close the door and let her cry so you can take a shower. You will feel so much better and she might even go to sleep. I know you feel like you have to do everything, but really all you need to do is take care of you, and I promise it will be much easier to take care of her. It's okay to put yourself first. Even on the airplanes they want you to secure YOUR oxygen mask first. That is so you can help your child more effectively. And lastly, it feels like forever but it will end soon. She will calm down and sleep through the night. You won't forget it, but you will be able to look back and say it was long and hard but it ended."
I wish I would have slept more than I did. And let her cry a little more in her crib than I did. But, I survived and so did she. Everyday brings a new challenge to a parent whether they a first time parent or a seasoned veteran--I am no veteran. It's a rough job, the hardest one you will ever have to take on. There is one more thing I would have done, and that is have a support system. Having lots of friends to talk to makes a lot of difference. It's amazing how much we can relate to one another.
Check out Metabolism Blues for the promised cookie recipe!
Photo By Emily Kathryn
Comments
Lucas didn't officially have colic, but he was a difficult baby. For some reason though I didn't realize it and just it was "normal" so I survived :)
That makes me sad.
But she's a great kid and seems to like me so that's good!
Your kids are beautiful!
Subsequent children, however, I have plenty of things I would have changed.