Before Lincoln turned our party of two into a family of three, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I’d been told about the 3am feedings and not showering until 2pm (or let’s be real – not at all) but no matter how many parents I talked to, nor how many books I read, I found out there were at least 10 things I never knew about having a newborn until I experienced them myself, which I will happily share with you! And don’t be scared. Wait ’til you get to number one. (Also those are Lincoln’s feet. I could just eat them up, I could.)
10. Get ready to do some laundry
Buy stock in P&G now because you will be doing a ton of laundry in the first couple of weeks. I repeat, a TON of laundry! From mattress pads and fitted crib sheets, to blankets, onsies, and changing table covers, I had no idea one little person could produce so much laundry. That being said, now that we’ve learned to ahem, aim it DOWN, our laundry has gone down significantly, but between the three of us I still do at least one load a day. (I use Dreft detergent and Purex no-dye, fragrance-free softener.)
9. You will sweat at night. So much.
I thought the AC was busted the first night I woke up completely soaked in sweat after getting home from the hospital. Then I tore the covers off and realized the bedroom was cool and crisp as a cucumber. The same thing happened the next night…and the next night…until my friend finally asked me – have you had the night sweats yet? Um, YES! Why didn’t anyone tell me about night sweats?! So bizarre. Just plan on adding your PJs into your daily load of laundry.
8. Hormones are a bitch
There I said it. Of course I read all about Postpartum Depression and the baby blues before Lincoln came, but I was not at all prepared for how unbelievably crazy the sudden drop in hormones made me feel after he was born. I cried (read: lost it) when Ben nearly had to go out of town for 3 days when Lincoln was a week and half old. I cried while watching a news segment about premature babies. I cried when Ben suggested we upgrade our Costco membership (not kidding.) While I don’t think I had PPD or the baby blues, there is absolutely no denying that my emotions were out of control for at least a week post-birth. Thankfully I started feeling like my normal self after two (long) weeks!
7. Forgetfulness (especially at night!)
Blame the wacky sleep schedule, but nobody told me how forgetful I’d become post-baby! A few weekends ago Ben and I were driving out to a nearby lake to take a walk with Lincoln, and I forgot the stroller. Ben feeds Lincoln in the early morning, yet just last night I found myself feeding him when he walked in with the bottle. What?! Just make lists and forgive yourself when you feel like you should be committed.
6. Experiencing uncertainty
I have always been a quick decision maker. I hate dawdling and just want to make a choice and move on. Now that Lincoln is here I have become the most uncertain person about everything! I am so scared that I’ll make a decision that will negatively affect him. Hopefully this is a phase, but I kind of doubt it…
5. Learn to love cold food
A hot meal? What’s that? I’m only kind of kidding, but be prepared for your meals to be interrupted by diaper changes, nap rescues, nighttime fussiness…and laundry. It could take you awhile to get back to that yummy hot meal you planned on eating hours ago.
4. Girlfriends are gold
I never knew I’d rely so much on my girlfriends who are also moms for advice during the first uncertain couple of weeks after having a baby. Make sure you get those girls on speed dial!
3. Battling back pain
Do yourself a favor and schedule a massage for 2 or 3 weeks post-baby BEFORE you give birth. Between nursing and pumping (which kills your back,) hunching over the diaper changing table, and constantly stooping to coo at your sweet baby, your back will be taking a beating. Ben’s been great at giving me rubs, but I can’t wait to get a legit massage!
2. Online shopping is a gift
During those first weeks when it’s not always easy to get out of the house, online shopping will become your best friend. From swaddle blankets and a hands-free pumping bra, I have ordered a ton of stuff online lately and seriously, with shipping these days, I feel like my items have all arrived 2 days later no matter which shipping option I picked. Go Amazon.
1. It is ALL worth it!
It’s cliche, but so true. I’d eat cold hot dogs, walk as a hunch back, and do 100 loads of laundry a day just to have Lincoln in our lives. 1-9 is nothing compared to the unconditional love I feel every second I look into his face, and the joy his smile and funny faces bring to my heart. I sometimes think it will literally explode inside of my chest. Of course people told me this all throughout my pregnancy, but I couldn’t fathom this love existed until I actually experienced it myself. Motherhood is hard, but it rules!
So what say you, fellow parents? What surprised you about having a newborn baby?
I remember reading this post last year when you first posted it. Now I’m 2 months away from delivering my first baby and I’m reading these all over again to get some good pointers! :) Thanks for sharing and I can’t wait to experience all of the love and madness that is about to begin! :)
Omg! The night sweats! I was blown away by that! Between that & leaking milk, I was soaked during the first 2 weeks after I brought our baby boy home.
He’s almost 6 weeks old now & I couldn’t agree more with this list! Such a funny, oh-so-true & wonderful post.
[…] I look back at my 10 Things Nobody Told Me About Having a Newborn post and giggle a little. Wow, I was definitely still riding the hormone roller coaster when I […]
[…] my hands free to do stuff around the house. He loves directing me through emptying the dishwasher, doing the laundry, and taking walks around the neighborhood. Selfishly, I love snuggling him close and tight to my […]
No one every told me until my son was almost 10 WEEKS OLD, that I didn’t have to pump after EVERY single nursing session once my milk came in (until attending a Mercy Mommy and Me class). Thankfully I added up a stellar supply. Although, we found out that my husband was mixing my fresh pumped milk to the cold fridge milk and we heard that is a no-no because of how it can create bacteria. He threw out A TON of milk and I lost it (hard work for all that liquid gold). :( Ahhh the joys of mommyhood.
Night sweats. Yes, they were a huge surprise and I found if I didn’t want to get back into a cold slimy bed & pillow, I needed to sleep on a beach towel. Maybe two incase it happened more than once. Then you just get up change you pjs then pull off the beach towel and back to sleep in seconds flat.
Oh and the feet. I took a photo of my 20 year olds foot while we were on vacation. Just because it was sticking out of the covers and looked just like her baby foot.
My son is now 31 but I never knew how over-the-top in love with him I’d be at first sight. I still am……he is my heart and I would do anything for him.
this made me laugh out loud. my baby is now 6 months old, and i can tell you that the laundry and uncertainty continue. i did 3 loads of laundry this past weekend just for my daughter. and i still, for the life of me, can’t figure out how she can produce so much laundry!
i think the thing that surprised me the most was how much i would WORRY about everything! from germs, to chemicals, to toxins, pollutants, her exposure to everything that wasn’t g-rated, to the products i use on my face that she would digest from giving me kisses… the list goes on. i’ve turned into a worry wart! in the end, there’s nothing i wouldn’t do for her. the love grows everyday and i’m in awe of watching her develop :)
[…] Can you tell I’m clucky? Ha. Here’s a post about 10 Things Nobody Told Kristin About Having a Newborn. […]
[…] 10 Things Nobody Told Me About Having a Newborn – Yes! This is so right on! […]
Everything you said is true!! How about trimming tiny fingernails every 1.75 days! Every time I turn around I have to trim my 4mo LO’s fingernails. :-)
My baby is now 32 and ready for babies herself (I am impatiently waiting) But your list brought back alot of memories. I forgot all the wierd dtuff that happens after the baby comes.
Awww thanks for the heads-up! Jason and I are not planning to have kids for AT LEAST 5 years but at least we know what we’ll be looking forward to :)
I seriously thought that my boobs were leaking at night cause I couldn’t believe how wet I was from sweating. It took me like two days to realize what it was. Hormones are a B!
Love the post and so happy you are doing a family channel! I was definitely surprised with the crazy emotions the first few weeks/month after we had the baby. Everything is so new and you just want to do everything right for your prefect little newborn! It is such a wonderful time but also scary too…I remember being very cautious and concerned about everything but this changed with our second little girl (now almost 4 months). It is definitely easier the second time because you have the experience and actually know what you are doing which is nice. Enjoy the hot weather! We have been having it up here in the Twin Cities too but it looks like a slight cool down is on the way.
Forgot to mention…I highly recommend trying to keep a schedule/routine for the baby. It is sometimes difficult but it really helps. It doesn’t happen right away but when you are consistent with bedtime and nap times it helps the baby adjust. At least it worked out really well with my 21 month old and now my almost 4 month old too!
Great post! We just had our 4th baby just a few weeks before you and I wanted to share something that NO ONE TOLD ME….about 3 or so months after birth you will lose TONS OF HAIR! I didn’t know this and was shocked to see the amount of hair on my shower drain- especially because I (blonde) had never seen it before! Good luck!
I hate to break it to you, but the forgetfulness is hormone related and lasts FOREVER. No really, it lasted 2 years after my first kid and about 1 year after my second. It was so noticable that people at work would remind me to “write it down” or else I would forget. It has now gotten better (my kids are 7 and 4), but due to the crazy a family brings to your life – you will never be the same. But, the good news, the crazy hormone-driven forgetfulness goes away after a year or two. Hopefully. :)
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Great post, so spot on. #10: our pediatrician taught us the tissue paper teepee system, and oh so glad he did. #6 & #5 are shared equally amongst moms and dads, and agree I don’t think I’ll ever get over #6. #2, online shopping saved our sanity, Amazon should market Prime membership at maternity wards. #1 OF COURSE!!!!
But the one thing no one ever told us about before Liam’s birth (now 18 months) is that THERE IS NO BIOLOGICAL OR MEDICAL REASON TO WARM THE BREAST MILK OR FORMULA BOTTLE before feeding. That’s right! Go straight from the refrigerator to mouth, do not stop at the stove or the kitchen tap, just take it out and pop it in. We “learned” this by accident (read exhaustion) in the first few days and have never looked back. Think about that: 5 minutes per feeding, 5-7 feedings a day, 12 months….so I’m bad at math but I know that is a boatload of [no longer] wasted time.
PS. Lincoln’s feetsies are adorable.
Next time you’re doing your Amazon shopping (and Amazon prime is WORTH it if you haven’t signed up already…diapers brought to your front door!!), get some pee-pee tee-pees :-) They can help with the mid-diaper-change “incidents.” ;-)