As more people around me have become new parents, then I thought I'd share my views and experiences on the subject. I am the proud mother to two beautiful daughters who I totally love to bits. I can honestly say that becoming a mum has changed my life so much and I am thankful for every moment that I spend with my children. I'm not saying that it's easy though, in fact; it's bloody hard work being a mum!
Becoming a new parent
No matter how many books you read and research you do, nothing will ever prepare you enough, especially for childbirth. I wanted to do the whole thing naturally and even opted for a water birth as studies suggested that it was a more natural way for a baby to enter the world. Sure, sitting in a nice warm bath is quite soothing at first but once that baby started coming then every bit of comfort disappeared and all I knew was that I was in the most pain that I've ever felt. It all seemed to melt away and seem worth it though once I held that wrinkly little baby in my arms for the first time. I was so amazed that I held in arms this tiny human that I had been nurturing in my belly for nine months. Bare in mind that I was still quite young and this was the first newborn that I'd held, which explains my state of awe.
So there I was with my new little bundle of joy and suddenly every bit of preparation went out of the window and the nerves set in. No matter how much you think you know, there will always be something small that you haven't thought of, and for us it happened to be something as simple as the fastenings on a nappy. We figured it out after a bit of nervous fumbling about but it was quite embarrassing.
The strongest bond
I fell in love with this little girl from the moment I saw her and held her in my arms and from that very moment I felt overwhelmed with a sense of protecting her. When I discovered that I was pregnant, I became responsible for another life other than my own and I think that going through those nine months of sickness, weight gain, swelling ankles and everything else gives a mother an intense bond with their child. My husband also has a strong bond with our children but that was built over time spent with them so I think it's different to the instant bond that I experienced.
The learning experience
There truly is no handbook to parenting, it is simply trial and error. Like if the baby is crying and after feeding, changing and cuddling them for what seems like hours, they still keep on crying. I think this is the most stressful part of being a new parent. Sure, there are the sleepless nights etc. but that's nothing compared to a crying baby that you just want to make happy but nothing you do seems to work. What it boils down to is trying everything you can think of until you resign to the unfortunate truth that your baby is crying simply because they want to have a cry or perhaps they're just having a bad day.
You will be given loads of advice from family and friends but I think that you have to go with your gut and do what feels right for you. After all, that little baby is a part of you so if anyone's going to figure it out, then you will.
The fun side
So you've gone through the labour pains and crying fits. Those are the scary parts, so now let's talk about the fun parts. I have experienced the happiest moments of my life since becoming a mum. The first time your child smiles and laughs, learning to crawl and walk, and the favourite of many parents... the first word. Will it be mama or dada? The first year is especially filled with so many of these moments and milestones, it really is amazing. But the fun doesn't stop there! My children are not babies anymore (almost 5 and 9 years old) and although I can look back fondly at their time as babies, I can't say that I miss it. They are in different stages of their lives now, learning and doing new things all the time. There is truly never a dull moment when you have kids around.
Thanks for reading!
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