Most parents start with very little to no knowledge of what it’s like to take care of a brand-new baby. There are so many things you can do to prepare and learn about caring for your new little bundle. But there are also so many things that no one writes down or says out loud until you realize them yourself.
As a new parent, I thought that preparing for a baby would require reading a few books and doing research online, but what really prepares you for having a baby is having a baby.
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Whether or not you have experience with taking care of babies before, everything changes when this child is your responsibility and human to take care of. Things like: The only person that can decide the right thing to do for your baby is you, and it’s OK to not be the “perfect parent.” The house is going to be a mess, and you’re just going to have to accept that fact. The toys that they’re going to love the most probably aren’t going to be toys. You don’t need all the things that you think that you’re going to at first–just buy the necessities. You may feel guilty about it, but they don’t need to wear/use every single thing they are given. Time flies, and sometimes it just doesn’t happen. But most of all, the way you love is going to change more than you’ve ever expected it to because you would do anything for this little human.
While I know the things that I wish people had told me before I had a baby, I also wanted to know what other parents would have wished that they knew before they had their child. So I went and asked our local Albuquerque community.
Here are the responses that I got.
“Breastfeeding is not for everyone, it’s hard, and no one normalizes that.”
“Your friendships will change dramatically, both for the good and bad. It can be isolating.”
“That it’s ok not to enjoy every minute.”
“Educate with basics and nothing beyond that. Every birth and every kid is different.”
“I wish I had known more about c-sections.”
“I wish I knew more about my recovery postpartum.”
“There is no sleep at all the first few weeks, but it gets better over time.”
“It’s okay to not be happy 24/7. It’s tough work being a mom those first few weeks.”
“Shower every day. It makes you feel more normal.”
“People stop checking on you after a while, but it’s okay to still reach out.”
“Breastfeeding is HARD and uncomfortable for everyone the first couple days/weeks.”
“Trust your instinct before rushing to Google or others for answers.”
“Sometimes there isn’t anything you can do but get through it.”
» » RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum in ABQ « «
As new parents, learning how to take care of your little one is never easy for anyone. No matter if you have had a baby before or not. But . . . I think the biggest takeaways we can get are: we could use a lot more education for new parents, talk to other parents for support, don’t be afraid to ask for help, things get better, everything is just a phase, and most importantly: you are not alone.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
