The Bartlett Family Blog
  • About Us
  • Blog

Having a newborn...

5/22/2010

0 Comments

 
As I've said before, I read a lot of stuff online related to pregnancy and babies... the things I find most interesting (and sometimes informative) are some of the discussion boards that exist.  For example, I like reading the discussion boards for moms of newborns, where they talk about issues they are having or ask other moms some questions.  Well, it always amazes me some of the unrealistic expectations some moms-to-be have.  Now let me start by saying, obviously I'm not expert.  I've never had a baby.  I do not know what it is like to have a newborn 24/7.  I have lots of experience with newborns, but I've never had one of my own, clearly.  That said, I like to think my expectations are realistic, if not even a little more negative than most.

For example, things that I've found new moms complain the most about, or were clueless as to what to expect.

(1) Sleep.  Sure newborn babies are sleepy, and may sleep a lot.  BUT, funny how that works, they don't exactly sleep a lot IN A ROW, which is the key thing.  They may sleep an hour or two here and there (or maybe only 30 minutes here and there), but in between those sleeps, they need to be fed, changed, held, etc...  Which means, for quite a while, I am going to be exhausted.  And not just like "oh I didn't get a good night's sleep" exhausted, but really truly overwhelmingly exhausted.  I get that.  I am expecting that.  I am not PREPARED for that, I don't think you really can be.  But I do at least know it's coming.  And, if somehow my baby is a little sleeping angel, then it's an added bonus!!

(2) Breast feeding (if you choose to do so, which I do).  I have been around enough people with babies to know that breast feeding is no easy task.  Sure it can be, if you are extremely lucky, or with a bit of practice, but initially I expect it to be challenging.  I think it will be painful.  I think I will want to give up.  It will be tiring and frustrating being the only one who can feed the baby.  It will be time consuming.  But, from what I've heard, if you can get through the first little while (which may be a couple weeks, or may be more than a month), then it does get easier, and less painful.  So I expect to be frustrated and exhausted, that way it won't come as a shock to me when it doesn't happen just like in the movies, easy peazy.  And, again, if I have a baby that eats like a champ, added bonus!

(3) Housework/cooking.  Ha.  I have no expectations here.  Aside from putting on my charming face and trying to convince Mark or any other helpful guests that they really actually want to vacuum and do the dishes rather than hold the baby.  :)

(4) Birth recovery.  Obviously this depends a lot on how exactly my labor and birth goes, but I don't expect to be back on my feet feeling 100% right away.  I've read about all kinds of things to expect over the weeks following birth, but I'll spare you the details.  Let's just say I'm well aware of what I could be feeling like.  Hoping to feel great, but well-informed of the possibilities.

(5) Hormones.  This goes a little bit with birth recovery, but let me just warn you if you plan on coming to visit us after baby gets here, I could seem a little crazy to you.  I haven't really been emotional so far this pregnancy, but who knows after baby gets here.  So, consider yourself warned, and I will try not to be an emotional mess!

Those are all the things I have heard people complain about once the baby comes, saying they never expected XYZ to happen, or they weren't prepared for how hard such and such is.  But I have heard enough real life accounts to be somewhat prepared at least.  Can't wait to meet our baby!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Check out
    Melissa Bartlett Photography

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2018
    April 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009

    Categories

    All
    10 Months
    11 Months
    12 Months
    14 Months
    15 Months
    16 Months
    17 Months
    18 Months
    1st Trimester
    2nd Trimester
    2 Under 2
    2 Year Old
    3 Months
    3rd Trimester
    3 Year Old
    4 Months
    5 Months
    6 Months
    7 Months
    8 Months
    9 Months
    Allergies
    Babies
    Baby Riley
    Baby Sign
    Birthday
    Birth Story
    Breastfeeding
    Chemistry
    Cole
    Discipline
    Exercise
    Family
    First Birthday
    First Trimester
    Health
    Holidays
    Homeschool
    Iphoneography
    Jackson
    Job
    Landscaping
    Mark
    Milestones
    Monthdays
    Moving
    Newborn
    New House
    New Toy Tuesday
    November School
    Nursery
    October School
    One Year
    Our House
    P365
    Photobooth
    Photo Booth
    Photo Challenges
    Photography
    Photograpy
    Potty Training
    Pregnancy
    Pregnancy #2
    Preschool
    Project 365
    Riley
    Riley's First Birthday
    Scrapbooks
    Siblings
    Sleep
    Sleeping
    Soccer
    Solids
    Speech Therapy
    Swimming
    Tantrums
    Tot School
    Vacation
    Vacations
    Videos
    Vlogs
    Wedding

Proudly powered by Weebly