My baby doll is going to be 7 months old soon...
and in the last 7 months (even before that while I was pregnant) I have learned so much.
7 things I learned while pregnant:
1. You can't plan when you'll get pregnant. Only God can.
2. The constant worrying about baby has just begun.
3. Pregnancy is just a beautiful thing. It really is.. minus the rapid hair growth, body aches, bodily fluids, poop issues, constant peeing, swelling, stretch marks and break outs. :)
4. Random people are nicer to you. They hold the door open for you, offer you their seat and pick things up for you. It's like people see your belly and just can't help but smile. I'm not sure if they're smiling because they know you're carrying a sweet baby or because they know what you are in for.
5. One of the most amazing feelings in the world is feeling baby move or kick inside of you. As long as they're not kicking you in the ribs.
6. Your vagina is no longer a private part anymore. Doctors and nurses are looking and poking so often down there it is now just a regular ole vagina.
7. While being pregnant you don't have to hold in your tummy. You can just let it it all hang out. I've never loved being in a bikini so much until I was pregnant.
7 things I learned from labor:
1. When your body fully goes into labor and it is time, you'll know.
2. You can't plan how it will go. I still believe not having a "birth plan" is best. You just have to go with the flow and see how labor goes. You might want meds, you might not. You might end up needing a c-section, you might not. Whatever it takes to get baby out as safely and quickly as possible!
3. I remember kinda stressing about what I will look like when I go into labor. I wanted to be showered, make up on and hair done. Once you're in labor the last thing on your mind is if you feel clean or what you look like.
4. Another thing I stressed about was pooping during labor. Gosh I DO NOT want to poop on the table during labor! You know what.. I could fricken care less if I ended up pooping during labor!
5. There is no honest way to describe what the pain feels like, BUT I got through it, I felt proud of myself and it was totally worth it.
6. My husband is amazing. I honestly had the best support from him during labor. I knew I married a wonderful man and that we have always supported each other, but this experience showed me a whole new level of support from him.
7. It truly is a miracle.
7 things I learned as a new mom so far:
1. Sleep, eat & poop. These are the 3 main things about a newborn. They sleep, but not at night. They eat all the time, but you'll worry if they're eating enough. They poop a lot and apparently gas is a big issue with babies. Who knew.
2. You learn to function in "zombi mode". It is a whole new category of tiredness. It does get better though and you will be a functioning human again soon.
3. Breastfeeding is a full time job. I just didn't know how time consuming it was and how much work it is, but I love it. I fell in love with it from the first time I nursed Harbor in the hospital. I know there are a lot of women who are not able to breastfeed and I feel very fortunate to be able to. That being said though, I do believe "fed is best" not necassarily "breast is best."
4. It's all about balance. I admit I had a difficult time with this the first few months. I felt like I spent so much time sitting nursing that I couldn't get anything else done! I started to stress about the laundry, the dishes in the sink, need to write thank you cards, getting the house cleaned... but all of that didn't matter. It could wait. I needed to just let myself relax and enjoy the time of sitting to breastfeed and enjoy all the snuggles.
5. Your relationship with your spouse will be different. It's not a bad thing, but it will be different. It's always been just the two of you, but now it's the 3 of you. As new parents we now needed to find the balance and new routine to make it day by day. I think it takes time for every couple to get into the swing of things of how to take care of the baby, give each other some "me" time and also to have some time as a couple. Your relationship is now learning how to adapt to this huge new chapter in life. Oh yes, there will be times where you don't see eye to eye and want to strangle each other, but you have to work as a team.
6. Being a mom is a very selfless job. Yes, I knew this before I became a mom (my mom was a huge example of being selfless for me and my sister our whole lives), but until I became pregnant that is when I truly realized it. You'd do and give up anything for your baby. It starts with your body, sleep, showers and a social life haha.
7. I love being a mom. I feel so blessed to be a mom. It is the hardest job in the world, but the best job. I saw this quote and truly connected with it;
"I didn't lose myself when I became a mother. I found myself."
xoxo Ashley
