Embracing the role of motherhood

Being a mother is a truly wonderful experience. Just how magical is it? The bond that is formed is like no other. That baby depends on you, and you somewhat depend on it. That’s a big joy in the role of motherhood.

But, at the same time, a lot of you reading this will also understand how scary it can be. The fact that another human relies solely on you to survive until they are old enough to do it themselves is a tad scary. But naturally things like this won’t even cross your mind when your beautiful child arrives.

It is common for either expecting moms, or moms to be so exhausted that they forget to just embrace motherhood. Yes they’ll be a few too many sleepless nights, and there may be a few too many arguments between you and your partner about who’s turn it is to change the diaper.

But when your child is finally old enough to fly the nest and you can look back at all the wonderful memories you’ve made, you’ll realize that every part of motherhood is incredible. So, whether you’re an expecting mother, or you’ve just become a mom and feel like you’re losing the will to live, then let’s find you a way to embrace motherhood.

Expecting: Your role of motherhood awaits

When you first find out the news that you’re going to be having a baby, it can seem like you’re on top of the world. Even if it isn’t planned, once the feeling of shock has subsided, you’re going to be feeling like the happiest person alive.

Once this happiness has subsided, you might feel a little bit of panic, especially if it wasn’t planned. Multiple things will be running through your head such as:

• Is the house big enough?
• What do we need to buy?
• Who do we need to see?
• Do we need a new car?
• Are we ready for a baby?

But, don’t worry, all the feelings you’re having are completely natural. You just must methodically work through them and you’ll feel at ease before you know it.

Start with the house situation first. If you’ve got a two-bedroom house, then, yes, you’re going to be fine.

The next thing you can do to embrace motherhood a little is start to decide how you’d like the nursery to look. People usually start decorating, or at least gathering ideas after the three month mark.

Without making the post sound morbid, the first three months is the time where you’re most likely to come across issues. Plus, unless you’re going for neutral colors, you need to know what sex you’re having in order to know what colors to buy.

Start with little things first, like a newborn cot, blankets, a changing table and mat. Paint the room however you like, but there are some really cool designs that you can see on Pinterest that have animals or Disney characters on the wall.

If this is a little too technical for you, get the help of a professional in. Once you start to see the room coming together it’ll make you more excited than you realized.

Then you can focus on buying essentials such as diapers (lots of them), and clothes. If you’re wondering what the best diapers are, check out the Mothers and More website. Family and friends will most likely help out with this bit by buying a fair few things for your newborn.

Now, once you’ve focused on the baby a little and what they’re going to need, you’re most likely going to be in the “help me I’m an aching, tired, huge ball of hormones” stage. At this point, try and embrace motherhood as much as you can.

You can’t get through your pregnancy without going through this, so you’re just going to have to deal with it the best you can. But fear not, here are some pointers for you.

Fitness, back pain, and more

It is important to remember to look after your health as best as you can. By looking after yourself, you’re looking after your baby. As much as you may not want to get your belly out, prenatal swimming classes are excellent for helping to relieve stress and keep you relatively fit in the meantime.

You could also try prenatal yoga to help relax your muscles as well as your mind. Note all classes you attend will have to be prenatal. Just imagine doing a normal yoga class at 6 months pregnant, it doesn’t look that comfortable does it?

If you’re feeling a bit tired, then ask your partner to assist in things around the house to allow you to get some much needed rest. The back and rib pain you’re going to feel can’t be helped.

Sometimes the baby just gets into so many awkward positions that it’ll push on your bones causing a pain like no other. If it gets really bad then consult your doctors and ask if there’s anything you can do to alleviate the issues.

Find out how sleeping on the floor can benefit some expectant moms.

After birth

We don’t need to talk about the actual birthing process to know what an absolute whirlwind of emotions that can be. But nothing will compare to the joy you’ll feel when you go through all that pain, and the most beautiful little human you’ve ever seen is in your arms.

Now comes the stressful part, though. Whilst your baby is adjusting to life outside of the womb, they’ll most likely have you up multiple times a night for a feed, change, or just because they need some company.

This is where you’ll realize the true meaning of feeling tired. A baby does demand so much, but the reward of having your own child to hold is amazing.

The best way to deal with the stresses of the first month is to share responsibilities between you and your partner. They’ll likely have time off in the beginning, so make the most of them being around.

You’ll be exhausted after the whole 9 month pregnancy ordeal, so see if they’ll do the nighttime getups so you can get a good night’s rest. Then you’ll be ready to tackle the day as well.

You’ll also have midwife visits during your first few weeks, but use this time to express any concerns you have. They have all the knowledge you need, so don’t be afraid to ask them any questions, no matter how silly you think they may be.

Your first month in the role of motherhood

So, it’s pretty hard to embrace the first month of being a mom. You’ll still be full of emotions and will have the added extra of tiredness to deal with, but try to take in as much as you can, and enjoy it as much as you can as it’s all memories to look back on.

Once you’ve settled into a routine is when you’ll truly be able to embrace motherhood. You’ll pick up skills quicker than you ever had before, and you’ll feel like a natural mother before your know it. Try and get out the house as much as you can once you feel comfortable enough to.

The last thing you want to do is stay cooped up for the first few months. Go and see your friends and have a good time. Yes, being a mother is a full-time job, but after a month or so you’ve earned the right to have a good time.

Arrange for your partner or even parents to look after your child for a few hours too; that way you can go out and unwind. Even if it’s just a meal out, it’ll make all the difference to your sanity.

Embrace motherhood at every possible point. It’s an extraordinary experience!