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To all the first-time moms who may be struggling with their duties and are in need of extra comfort and affirmation, here are five valuable pieces of advice from mothers who have been there before. Some helpful life lessons for first-time moms. Draw from these words of wisdom as you venture into the scary, exciting, and wonderful world of motherhood for the very first time.
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5 Helpful Life Lessons for First-Time Moms
Few things are as overwhelming for women as the transition into new motherhood. At this juncture in their lives, first-time mothers suddenly have a new mouth to feed, new responsibilities to take over, and a new identity to inhabit.
If you’ve recently given birth and are warming up to your life as a first-time mom, you may feel the impulse to be strong, levelheaded, and in control of everything—not only for yourself, but also for your child and your growing family. But as many seasoned moms will tell you from their own experience, this is the best time for you to acknowledge your vulnerability, to lean on others, and to ask for support.
Avoid Overburdening Yourself
When you become a mom, the pace of your life will change almost overnight. Your multitasking skills will level up even more than they already have. You’ll quickly get good at things you may never have imagined doing, like carrying a delicate baby in your arms and changing a dirty diaper.
Around this time, you may feel like you have to push yourself to your limit and get good at mothering as soon as possible. However, you must remember that you don’t need to be a superhero to your child—you just need to be their mom, nothing more and nothing less.
Instead of straining yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally just to be able to master the basic “mom” skills, teach yourself to be sensitive and fully present in the moment. This perspective will serve you well as a mom and set the precedent for a healthy relationship with your baby.
Make Your Everyday Home Life Easier and More Comfortable for Yourself
New motherhood means that you’ll have to take a lot of shortcuts in your everyday life, and to be honest, that’s okay. If adjustments to your daily routine will make it easier for you to tend to both your baby’s needs and your own needs, implement them without feeling any shame.
For instance, you can update your wardrobe to be more “mom-friendly” by including basics that are easy to put on and a breeze to style. Stock your closet with loose scoop-neck or V-neck shirts for breastfeeding and dark opaque tights for catching food and milk spills. You can also prep your meals in advance and simply heat and eat them for dinner. Ask your partner to help you lay out your furniture and other belongings so that there are multiple spots in your home that can serve as nursing stations.
Another way to make things simpler is to get healthcare at home. Consider at-home IV treatment options in Seattle to help restore nutrients and boost energy. Vitamin blends can replenish fluids and nutrients lost through breastfeeding, and help you feel revitalized
To put it simply, don’t be afraid to baby-proof your daily routine and lessen the strain you’re already experiencing as a new mom.
Honor and Take Care of Your Postpartum Body
One realization that you need to make as a new mom is that your postpartum body will not be the same as the one you had before giving birth. But instead of being ashamed of how much weight you might have gained or how different you look compared to a famous momfluencer, celebrate the newfound strength and hardiness that motherhood has brought upon your body.
Since you’re passing on nutrients to your new baby through your breastmilk, it’s important to eat healthy food. But don’t deprive yourself of the tastes and textures that you enjoy. It would also be a good idea to exercise so that you can be at your strongest and healthiest for your baby. That said, don’t force yourself to match your pre-birth workout routines. Lastly, try to get enough sleep. When it’s time for both you and your baby to get some shut-eye, make your surroundings quiet and fully conducive to rest. Habits like these will nurture your postpartum body and make it a true asset to motherhood.
Make Time for Yourself and for Other Things That Give You Happiness
Although it’s hard to admit, many first-time moms are scared of becoming mothers because they feel like it will be their only identity after the baby is born. But it won’t be healthy for you, your partner, or your baby if you lose yourself completely in your motherhood and give up everything else you were interested in before you became a mom.
Motherhood is something that should add to your existing identity and inclinations, not something that should subtract from them. That’s why it’s good for you to ease yourself back into your hobbies and pastimes as soon as you’re able to. Dedicate time for rest and self-care within the week so that you can come back to your baby feeling refreshed and fully like yourself.
Acknowledge Both the Joys and Sorrows of New Motherhood
Finally, remember that motherhood consists of both trials and tribulations. No experience of being a first-time mom is without its share of difficulties. As such, don’t worry if it doesn’t seem like you’ve made an instant connection with your baby, and don’t take it against yourself if you don’t always feel blessed and happy about being a mom.
Be honest with yourself about the frustrating moments as well as the happy ones, and forgive yourself for not being a perfect parent to your baby all the time. What matters is that you’re trying your best and that you’re always learning. The fact that you’re doing these already makes you a remarkable first-time mother.
Being a new mom isn’t easy, and the challenges of motherhood won’t stop even when your new baby grows up. But life will be different in a good way when you become a mother—it will be richer, happier, and more human. I hope that these helpful life lessons for first-time moms have helped.
Look forward to this new stage in your life as one in which you’re at your ripest and readiest to learn things. Celebrate being a mom and look upon the world with new eyes—just like your baby is doing!