The first two weeks you are home with your newborn will be some of the hardest in your life. Everything is new and your hormones will be the craziest they’ve ever been! Hold on for the ride!

No Sleep

You may be able to get some sleep if this is your first child, if not, GOOD LUCK!  Most of the time the baby has their days and nights messed up.  They sleep more during the day and less at night!  My first child slept all the time.  He slept for about 22 hours a day the first week or so.  I was able to get some sleep, but I would wake up many times worried that he might stop breathing, or making sure he wasn’t butted right next to the side of the bed and unable to breathe.  Plus, I just wanted to marvel at him.  His tiny hands and fingers, his little nose, his tiny feet and toes.  I loved to just stare at him, not believing he was mine, remembering everything it took to get him here, and thanking God for him!

My second son hardly slept.  The first few weeks he maybe slept eight hours a day and hardly ever slept for long periods of time, just lots of little naps.  Having another child, I didn’t get hardly any sleep.  I was still concerned about him not breathing and when he was asleep, I was taking care of my oldest, or me (is that allowed?)

Emotions

Your emotions will run the gamut.  You fill feel the happiest you’ve ever been and quite possibly the worst, sometimes these extremes occur within the same minute !  Your body will be more than exhausted and you will often wonder if your body is just going to shut down on you.  You will wonder how you are going to be able to take care of your baby, but trust me, you’ll be able to!  It is not uncommon to cry for no reason at all or for every reason!  I remember being very confused about how I felt and many times guilty about not being happy 100% of the time!  I thought I should be happy, I was a mommy, something I’d always wanted and dreamed about, why would I be sad?  Just be prepared for this roller coaster ride!  It is all worth it and you will forget a lot of it in a few years!

Tips

• ask for help if no one offers (even just having someone come and hold the baby while you sit in a warm bath, who wouldn’t want to come and hold a baby)?
• take any help that’s offered, it’s not a reflection on your parenting skills, it’s an act of survival!  (I remember being a first time mommy and thinking that I didn’t want help because this baby was my responsibility, let me just say, you will be a much better parent if your needs are met, and it takes a village to raise a child!)
• plan to eat a lot of convenience foods: fast food, take out, etc.  This is when freezer cooking ahead of time is a life saver!
• drink water
• sleep when you can
• have lots of healthy snacks on hand (fruit, crackers, pretzels, etc)
• continue to take your prenatal vitamin (especially if you are nursing)
• and remember that your baby is going to cry and that’s alright!  (if they are not sick, in a safe place, clean, and been fed, it’s ok to let them cry for a little bit, IT’S OK!)

I love this post from Gypsy Mama on how not to help a new parent!

Love this poem!

10 Things You Should Know About Having a Baby

Warning About Blessings

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Read my review here.

What other advise would you give on how to get through this season of life?