Reply to Veteran moms: Tell us what the first month is like...

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[quote=Anonymous]You will dig deep within yourself and find the ability to do it!

I was always someone who needed a ton of sleep and could not imagine how I would function getting up multiple times per night.  It was tough but somehow I did it.  With a first baby you will have the luxury of being able to sleep during the day to catch up -- you should take advantage of that (don't worry about cleaning, email, etc...just sleep!!).

I wish someone had told me to have the numbers of some local lactation consultants on hand...I waited too long to realize I should call for breastfeeding help and suffered needlessly as a result.  If you plan to breastfeed I'd recommend taking a breastfeeding class now, and then knowing who you can call as soon as you run into some snags.  I wished so much that I had called my lactation consultant sooner.

I also wish someone had told me that it's normal to not have any clue what you are doing, to not enjoy every moment, and to be weepy at times.  I wanted to be that perfect, natural, mother for whom it all came easily, and wanted others to see me that way, and being a new mother was clumsy, awkward, miserable, and embarrassing at times.  It also took me some time to feel really close to my baby.  I loved her and was amazed by her from the start, and even among all the hard parts, there was so much excitement and love, but it was also tough, and I know now that many/most women experience the newborn period this way.

Also do not let guests stay too long unless you want them there...someone suggested to me that I keep my pajamas on when visitors came over to implicitly send the message that I wasn't in the mood for long periods of socializing.  This was not hard as I could barely get dressed anyway some days!  Though getting dressed really did make me feel better and more human, so I'd highly recommend it.  Don't be shy about telling guests "The baby needs to sleep and I do too.  Thanks for coming over, see you soon."

Good luck -- you can do it!  I think the anticipation is in many ways harder than just doing it.  When you're in the thick of it, you figure it out, gain confidence, become attached to your baby (and therefore actually WANT to do it), and you make it through. [/quote]

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