Hello! Welcome to part two! Now, please remember, that these experiences that I’m sharing are ones that I had and it is never the same for everyone. These are also some things that I was not knowledgeable of beforehand! Or, I did not know the extent of it! I’m writing about this for my own sake, for the memories! Oh and to share and inform the people that didn’t know some of these things about motherhood… like me!

9.  Waiting for your milk to come in is slightly nerve-racking. Mine came in on the fourth day after giving birth and waiting those four days were tough! Why? Because  you want to make sure your baby gets the nourishment he or she needs and going that many days without milk/food is scary! Many times people supplement with formula during this time however, I decided not to. 

10.  Getting up every 1-2 hours is excruciating after awhile. Sleep deprivation is in full effect here.  I knew this… And I knew it would be tough but this was and is the most drained I’ve ever felt! 

11. Hearing your baby cry makes your insides hurt. Literally. It’s gut wrenching.  Especially the first month! It killed me to hear him cry. Call me a sucker, but I’m pretty sure it’s a million times worse than nails on a chalkboard. 

12.  Gavin had jaundice and had to go to the doctor every day for 5-7 days after to get labs drawn. This poor guy had been stuck with a needle on the bottoms of his feet so many times since being born I felt so bad.

13.  You feel like a milk factory if you’re breastfeeding. Don’t get me wrong, it truly is a special time to bond and I wouldn’t change it for the world… But yes I feel like a drive through milk factory at times.  

14.  You’ve never worn sweats or pajamas so much in your life. Especially the first few weeks! Just go with it. Put on whatever is comfortable because there’s no use getting dressed up to nurse every two hours and have spit up on your shoulder. 

15.  You’re lucky if you shower. No seriously the first 4-6 weeks are brutal. You’re in survival mode and trying to get to know this little being all while trying to stay sane. 

16.  You eat whatever you can whenever you can. And when you do, you’ll eat like you’ve been starving for the past year. 

17.  Postpartum baby blues can be tough. I would just start crying for no reason or because of the smallest thing. Stress, no sleep, and trying to figure everything out all at once is totally and completely overwhelming especially if it’s your first. It will pass! And if you need to take medications, that’s okay too! Don’t be hard on yourself because it is a tough time you’re going through and try to be kind to yourself!

18.  Cramping happens while breastfeeding. Ok I didn’t know this. But it kind of hurts. It is actually your uterus contracting while your little human is sucking on your boob. Mind blown. 

19.  If you have a baby with a super sensitive digestive system lik I do, your diet is going to be BLAND. For a foodie, this is hell. I know it’s temporary but I dream of eating anything and everything. No garlic, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, lentils, beans, limited raw veggies, or dairy. I swear you can still eat food – I swear. 

20.  You will hear…”It gets better!” And “enjoy this time” a zillion times. Yes, it’s a number. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this over the last few months from well-intentioned, caring individuals, especially during the first few months. Heck, I’ve said it to others. And while the truth is it really does get better, and I truly am trying to enjoy everything…something about those statements have bothered me a bit. It’s kind of like when people tell you that it will be okay.  Or telling you to enjoy minor forms of torture. Just kidding. Kind of.  It’ll be okay though right?! Ha! I’m not doubting that the end result will turn out okay, but in this current moment, I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about when it will get better, how exactly it will get better, what I have to do or not do to make it better, etc. I am also trying to enjoy the moments of smiles and coos as much as possible. I’m trying to think positively about everything but when youre in the middle of a regression or something.. You’re so exhausted that it can be very challenging to take well! So I’ve committed to myself to no longer saying “It gets better!” and “Enjoy this time!” to other newly minted parents. Instead, I’ll put in a word of encouragement or offer my support in some way.

21. You’re going to have to come to terms with yourself and make peace. 

I don’t doubt that I need to make peace with myself. I’m still in the process of making peace with lots of things. I’m making peace with the fact that my life is different than it was a short time ago. The days of taking off and doing whatever I want, whenever I want, are no more. I’m making peace with being a mom. It is what it is, and it’s something that I have to do for my family. I’m making peace with the fact that my body may never look the same again. Enough said about that one…!!  It’s a process, but I’m making peace with it. You just have to do it or it will keep eating at you!

Part 3 is coming soon..stay tuned and thanks for reading 😘