Being a new mom, especially a first-time mom is just HARD. I thought I was prepared, but nothing can prepare you as every situation is different. Our Guest Contributor today shares some of the things they feel a new mom might need to know.

As for me, I started a whole blog about it! I think I have a blog post about every one of these topics. Read on to see what they share about being a new mom.

Things to Expect as a New Mom

When you’re expecting your first baby, you’ll probably get a lot of advice about motherhood (and most of it unsolicited, too). You’ll hear countless stories from friends and family about what to expect, what do and what not to do, yet somehow, when your bundle of joy arrives, you’ll still be shocked at some of the changes you’ll experience.

Why did nobody mention this part?

It’s normal, and we’ll all go through a bit of shock, confusion, frustration, and other emotions as we learn to cope with motherhood. But just in case, our Guest Geek contributor today rounds up some of the many things you can expect as a new mom.

Keeping Things Clean

First of all, chores and cleanliness around the house are going to get a lot harder and shift down on your priority list – and you need to be okay with that!

With an abundance of baby sleepers, baby grows, burp cloths, socks, and other baby essentials constantly on rotation, the laundry pile-up will truly never end, and finding the time to get it all done might feel like mission impossible.

If you can, hiring some help around the help or making sure your partner is pulling some extra weight in that department can be helpful, but you also need to be okay with a little clutter.

Keeping Yourself Clean

Finding time for personal hygiene might be even more difficult than keeping your home in order. Surely, you’ll be able to find time for a daily shower, right? Unfortunately, there might be days when you don’t. But rest in the fact that nobody is expecting you to smell like fresh roses or look like a magazine cover model in the first few weeks after giving birth.

Make sure that you ask for help so that you can schedule some postpartum “me-time” to wash that hair, shave those legs, and feel like yourself again, but be okay with the fact that it might not be a regular occurrence.

Feeding Glitches

The beautiful bond you create when breastfeeding (or bottle feeding!) your new born bub is something that every new mother dreams of and every experienced mother swoons about.

However, try not to be surprised or disappointed if your first experience isn’t the magical fairytale moment you imagined in your head. Breastfeeding in particular can be painful and challenging for both mom and baby. You might have issues with latching, expressing, pain or dryness, or any other number of challenges.

Sometimes, switching to organic baby formulas can help. Be patient with yourself and your baby, and chat with professionals who can help you through the process.

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Pregnancy is a wild ride, and giving birth is no easy feat either. Bringing new life into the world is an emotional experience, and it’s one that some new moms find more challenging than others.

If you’re feeling emotionally fragile after your pregnancy, keep in mind that postpartum depression is a common response, and there is nothing wrong with you. Feelings of loss, sadness, resentment, and frustration are normal and okay, but it’s also important for you to address these feelings and find a way to process them and cope. Seeking professional help is a sign of strength that no new mom should shy away from.

Bodily Changes

Everybody is different, and every body is different. Each woman’s body will respond in different ways to the stress and changes of pregnancy and birth, and it’s important to accept any changes that come your way and appreciate the amazing things your body has done in the process of creating life.

Whether you gain or lose significant weight, develop stretch marks, have loose skin, or even leave the experience with scars from a procedure, these are all normal parts of the process and should be appreciated for what they are. There is no need for you to “bounce back” or lose the pregnancy weight immediately. Take time to rest and appreciate the power of your body.

Lack of Personal Time

We’ve already discussed that personal hygiene might become hard, and you’ll have to be really intentional about making time for things like skincare. But this applies to other areas of life, too.

As a new mom, you’ll be extremely busy caring for your baby, and it’s normal for all your attention to be on them from the moment they’re born. However, it’s also important that you don’t lose yourself in this process. Making time for yourself, your hobbies, and rest in general might be tough, but shouldn’t be neglected. After a few weeks have passed and you feel comfortable, find some time to do something not baby-related and enjoy yourself!

Unpredictability and Lack of Routine

Loads of parents go on and on about the importance of routine but often fail to mention just how tough that routine is to figure out and implement. Babies do things on their own time, and no matter how hard you try to build a sleep routine or a feeding schedule, there’s not much you can do if they simply won’t play along.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t try building a routine for yourself and your baby, but rather a warning that things may not always go according to plan and that you should have room for flexibility in every aspect of your day.

Changes in Your Relationships

Becoming new parents can be emotionally taxing on both partners, and there’s a lot of stress that you’ll both be dealing with in the first few months. While the birth of a new baby can bring some couples closer together than ever, it can also be a strain for some people, which is normal, too. If this is the case, you might need to put in some extra effort to keep your relationship strong.

This can look like simply being intentional about communicating with one another, making time to connect, even if it’s only for ten minutes over a cup of tea, and offering one another support. Remember that you’re supposed to be teammates in this journey and loving one another well is a crucial aspect of being good parents.