https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:29:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365177 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:25:06 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 365177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>it is more exhausting than I thought it would be, but still better than I ever imagined! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365170 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:18:11 +0000 MrsBeachyBaby 365170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is pretty much what I expected it to be. The lack of sleep is the one thing I just couldn't expect or that feeling. My LO is 2 weeks old. He had to stay in the hospital a couple of extra days and the connection I felt during that time made me eleven this is everything I wanted and dreamed of. When he is crying and I don't know how to help him, that is the most frustrating right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365128 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:38:44 +0000 Dapple Grey 365128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: Hard but good! So wonderful :)</p> <p>@hilsy85: Definitely surreal! It's funny how no sleep and being a total mess seems minimal ;) Glad you are adjusting and taking it all in-the easy and the hard!</p> <p>@Kemma: Honestly, I can't imagine how crazy it must be to all of a sudden have this life you created be out of you and into your arms...as they don't come with instruction manuals but do come with some expectations! It blows my mind.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365119 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:27:47 +0000 Kemma 365119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey: That's a great way to describe it!</p> <p>I also have to keep reminding myself that like my midwife said, Baby is only two weeks old and it's such a huge learning experience for both of us! It's definitely hard to just go with it and not have unreasonable expectations... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365116 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:24:33 +0000 hilsy85 365116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It has definitely been both harder and easier. Harder, because breastfeeding is really tough, and so is adjusting to this new role as a mom (it still feels somewhat surreal for me). And easier because I honestly don't mind getting little to no sleep, having breastmilk constantly leaking all over my clothes, and living in two hour spans between meal time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365111 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:21:40 +0000 sarac 365111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, it's just as wonderful as they say in my experience. It's much harder, certainly, but the good is even better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365105 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:18:13 +0000 Dapple Grey 365105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: Seems like your in the trenches at the moment, but its worth is and it will get better ;) Thank you for your honesty and sharing your evolving philosophy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365103 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:13:42 +0000 Kemma 365103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is two weeks old tomorrow and the first fortnight has definitely been a bag of mixed emotions.</p> <p>On one hand I love this little creature more than I could imagine possible but on the otherhand, I think it's the hardest thing I've ever done! I'm really trying to not wish away these early days but it is really hard not to think forwards to when LO is a wee bit older and interacting.</p> <p>I'm working on the philosophy of one day at a time... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365088 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:00:04 +0000 Andrea 365088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey: I am pretty sure I remember but it is worth doing again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365080 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:45:08 +0000 Dapple Grey 365080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TurtleDoves: aww thank you so much! I'm am so happy to hear that despite the not so glamorous aspect, you are so incredibly in love and feel like your living a dream :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365075 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:41:57 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 365075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is a newborn and I have ZERO time for myself...my nipples are throbbing in pain and I don't sleep at night..*but* it is so so worth it and amazing and better than I could have ever imagined! I loooooove it! My husband and I feel like we are living a dream:) I am in so much love and I don't remember life without him, honestly.<br /> Good luck on TTC... Nothin is better than getting that BFP and dancing around the house like you just won the lottery:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365070 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:34:46 +0000 Dapple Grey 365070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: LOL! I have a feeling that women may be wired to somewhat forget or minimize some of the hardships, cause we seem to want to do it again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365069 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:33:46 +0000 googly-eyes 365069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@andrea I've already gone through a period of mourning the second child I don't think I can have/handle. Lol. I don't know what the future holds but I don't want to be in this stage very long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365066 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:29:29 +0000 Andrea 365066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey: @googly-eyes: for sure! I definitely remember the new mom hardships and I was swearing up and down that I would never have another child. Well, guess I changed my mind. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365064 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:26:08 +0000 googly-eyes 365064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey Thank you! Sorry, not trying to scare anyone. Every mother, every baby is different. Some people love this stage. Whichever way you feel about any given stage..it's temporary. :)</p> <p>@Andrea Thanks for that comment! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365063 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:25:53 +0000 Dapple Grey 365063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Love! I appreciate the older child perspective. Honestly, I'm scared of the baby becoming older-thanks for showing how wonderful it can be and the relationship you can build!</p> <p>@Coco Bee: I'm happy to hear that through all your struggles and maybe less than perfect timing , you can't imagine your life without him and he is a joy! I think its a very real life change and It can be almost traumatizing to loose parts of yourself and be someones everything 24/7 and you can't back down! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365060 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:19:33 +0000 Mrs. Pen 365060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's been a journey of mixed feelings... I had some ppd and that affected how I felt toward my lo. It's been hard yes, but I feel like six months was that magical mark that things finally started looking up and I actually began to enjoy being with my baby. Part of my ppd was because even though getting pg was purposeful; it was initiated by DH even tho I'd wanted to wait longer: so part of it was not really ready. </p> <p>There are great days and bad days. Days he doesn't sleep or I just want to sleep and only worry about being responsible for myself. There are days I want to take a day off because even when I get a break from him, I think or worry about him the whole time. My life is now consumed with his life- I do everything for him, I make all decisions based on him. But you know... You get used to it and then it becomes a joy. I cannot imagine life without him. He totally completes our family and no matter how hard it is I wouldn't trade it for anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365057 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:17:32 +0000 Andrea 365057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 2.5 year old so I'm out of the baby stage, although I am pregnant again. Having an older child is just wonderful and it is a lot more awesome than I could have ever imagined. Being sleep deprived and not getting very much feedback from an infant, very different! But just wanted to chime in from the perspective of someone who doesn't have a baby at the moment to say that it really is wonderful when you start to have a real relationship with your child. I just love my daughter more and more every day, even though you feel like it is not possible, but somehow it still happens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365050 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:07:56 +0000 Dapple Grey 365050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: thank you for your honesty! It's exactly what I needed to hear. Hoping those good times are right around the corner for you!</p> <p>@MrsHotDog: So it's not all that it's cracked up to be, eh? LOL It seems like it takes time and its a process! There is good and bad in every transition and stage! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365049 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:04:11 +0000 Dapple Grey 365049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chrispygal: awww yay!</p> <p>@mewtill: I think for me too, it will be a tough transition! and your right the hard things will pass!</p> <p>@MamaBehr: Thank you for this! It really does seem like an existential life crisis can occur and also that you may feel like a cow..and not always feel human and beautiful!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365048 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:03:50 +0000 MrsHotDog 365048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: I am with you! I had NO clue how difficult it could be. Especially kissing your old life good bye but you said it better than I could have. I don't think I really bonded with my daughter until she was 4-ish months. I always loved her but motherhood was not all it was cracked up to be (to me) until she was older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365046 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:01:57 +0000 googly-eyes 365046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, the things I'm doing are about what I expected, but still, it's much harder. </p> <p>I feel like a slave to LO's naps since about four and a half weeks she doesn't just instantly fall asleep in my arms or in the carseat anymore.. she falls asleep in the swing or being rocked, and the past couple of nights even if she wakes up a little when I put her down, she stays down (SO happy about that!) But during the day, taking her out often results in overtiredness. I am also struggling with anxiety, possibly PPD, so there's that. It just literally is a 24/7 job...If you aren't feeding, burping, changing, of soothing LO, you're probably cleaning up after LO, doing laundry, and somewhere in there you have to sleep. And at the age my LO is, six weeks, there's not really much reward. It will be nice when she can move around a little more, smile socially (for real!) giggle, and be more interactive. I just keep reminding myself, this is temporary... Three (to four) months seems to be the magic number for when they start to have a personality. I can't wait for that, she makes three months just before Christmas.</p> <p>In the end, I know we will be happy with LO. We have so many plans and places we want to take her when she is walking and talking. We're glad she's here and we are a family. But it is by no means easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365043 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:55:26 +0000 MamaBehr 365043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I struggled a lot in the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I love my two kids, but that newborn phase is a BEAST! It is so much work with not much reward back (they can't smile yet, they can't hug or anything..... newborns are blobs). I didn't expect it too be so much work because of TV and movies, and so I was underprepared. When I speak candidly with other new moms they feel the same way. I didn't really like being a mom until DD laughed for the first time. That was just a glimmer of what lay ahead and it helped me get through the sleepless nights, feeling like a cow (literally because of the nursing), the unending loneliness of watching DH continue with his normal life, and frankly the existential crisis of my new life status. </p> <p>Perhaps that's just my experience, but many new moms I speak with have gone through the same thing. I think that this is such a valid question and something that not many people speak about. As if admitting that it is hard in the beginning is saying you don't like your baby or being a mom, which isn't the case. I couldn't imagine my life without DD or DS (I want another one!), but the initial shock of it all was not what I thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365040 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:51:33 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 365040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 1 month &amp; I definitely feel mixed! I love my child like crazy, but I don't always like the experience of being "mom". For me the transition has been harder than I thought and sometimes I feel guilty for not enjoying the newborn stage more. I try to soak up all the good parts (sweet baby cuddles, bath time, when he's alert &amp; cooing, breastfeeding when it's going well) and let myself off the hook when I'm frustrated (the Groundhog Day loop of spit-up/leaky diapers/fussiness, breastfeeding when it's not going well).<br /> I know I'm having a hard time adjusting, but I also know the hard things will pass and I'll enjoying being a parent more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365036 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:43:41 +0000 chrispygal 365036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's better than I ever imagined, and I thought it would be pretty awesome to begin with. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365031 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:39:30 +0000 Dapple Grey 365031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sammyfab: Interesting! I've gathered in the moment some people are like what was I thinking? but it ends up being a somewhat "forgettable" experience, and they are able to block out those hard times.</p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365023 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:32:46 +0000 Sammyfab 365023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is as wonderful and beautiful as depicted in blogs and photos in terms of the overwhelming amount of love and utter adoration you feel for this tiny little being. </p> <p>But frankly, I was not a fan of the newborn stage and seriously contemplate being one and done. I'm at the point now where I have forgotten some of the hardest moments and where I can tell others who have just given birth that it does get better even though it feels like an eternity while you're in it. It definitely was not all puppies and rainbows and I didn't expect to dislike that stage as much as I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365015 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:14:50 +0000 Dapple Grey 365015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.M57: sounds about right :) thank you!</p> <p>@HeatherlovesKenny: Thanks for your honesty, I'm glad to hear that it really didn't feel impossible and that is was more wonderful than anything attempting to describe it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365012 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:07:43 +0000 HLK208 365012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think parts of it are more wonderful than any picture or story on Facebook and blogs. Other parts are frustrating and hard just like anything else in life (work, finances, relationships). Parenting is rewarding but sometime you don't feel it right away. For me, people described being a new parent as though it was so difficult, nearly impossible but I never experienced that. The hardships pass and then you will you baby was still tiny! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-moms-was-motherhood-what-you-thought-it-would-be#post-365008 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 13:56:44 +0000 Mrs.M57 365008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's just as wonderful as everyone said, but I think some things are harder than I expected as well! </p>