Just four months ago, I stepped into the world of motherhood—entering the New Mom Network. The arrival of my son marked a transformative moment in my life.
Is this an exaggeration? Perhaps.
Is it true? Without a doubt.
As a member of the New Mom Network, you won’t receive a membership card or be greeted with a lavish welcome event. Instead, you’ll embark on a journey filled with extraordinary, frustrating, joyful, and bewildering moments that create an unbreakable bond with other new mothers.
What can you expect?
New motherhood is…
- Practicing selflessness more often than not.
- Constantly questioning if you’re doing it right.
- Welcoming more visitors into your home than ever, only to realize they’re not there for you.
- Yearning for your pre-baby life.
- Gradually forgetting what that life entailed, yet knowing you don’t want to return to it.
- Shedding tears when your baby cries.
- Feeling emotional when you leave your baby for the first time.
- Celebrating milestones with tears of pride.
- Coming to terms with the fact that much of your preparation was in vain, but you’ll still manage.
- Gaining a newfound appreciation for your mother. (Seriously, give her a call to express gratitude.)
- Watching your partner interact with your child, falling in love with them in an entirely new light.
- Finally grasping the depth of your parents’ unconditional love.
- Experiencing an abundance of leaks.
- Navigating days that stretch on endlessly, while months seem to fly by.
- Sacrificing the familiar freedoms of your previous life for the unpredictable nature of motherhood.
- Relishing a dentist appointment, as it might be your only moment of “me” time this week.
- Smelling stains to identify whether they are pee, spit-up, breast milk, or something else entirely.
- Instinctively blocking or catching bodily fluids with your hands.
- Discussing poop multiple times a day.
- Adjusting your standards of hygiene (a shower every other day feels like a luxury).
- Accepting new norms for sleep (if you got a four-hour stretch, you’re feeling lucky!).
- Letting go of all the judgments you previously held about parenting.
- Wondering if that new mom you pass on the street is just waiting for you to approach her and strike up a friendship. (She probably is.)
- Returning to work and worrying about not spending enough time with your baby.
- Staying home and fretting that your baby would thrive better in a more stimulating setting.
- Working from home and feeling like neither your job nor your baby is getting the attention they deserve.
- Worrying.
New motherhood is a powerful, challenging, overwhelming, exhilarating, confusing… and beautiful experience—even when covered in various bodily fluids.
For those navigating this journey, consider exploring this at-home insemination kit to assist in your family planning. And if you’re looking to ensure safe sleep for your little one, check out this trusted guide on crib mattresses. For additional support related to pregnancy and home insemination, the Fertility Center at Johns Hopkins is an excellent resource.
In summary, joining the New Mom Network is an emotional rollercoaster filled with challenges and triumphs, as you navigate the complexities of motherhood. Expect to grow, learn, and bond with fellow moms along the way.