I’m 30 weeks pregnant with my fourth baby. The postpartum period is right around the corner and I have to remind myself what it looks like to embrace that short window.
Since this will likely be the last time I have a newborn, there are a few things I want to remind myself of, so that I spend the first few months soaking in his sweet coos and soft cries instead of waiting for the day he sleeps through the night.
These 12 reminders are all things experienced moms probably tried to tell me in the past and most of them went in one ear and out the other. But now that I’m the experienced mom, I need to take every precaution and remind my tired, hormone-filled, postpartum self.
12 reminders for your postpartum self:
1. The postpartum period is a constant state of exhaustion. You don’t sleep for more than a two hour stretch and you can’t think straight. You feel like a walking zombie living in a haze. THIS IS TEMPORARY. You will sleep again. Embrace the exhaustion and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
2. Your postpartum self will be emotional. There will be a point everyday when you cry for no reason. Your husband won’t get it and he’ll want to fix it. There’s no fixing. You just need to cry. Embrace the tears and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
3. Whether it’s your first or your fourth, you will feel like you don’t know how to juggle everyone’s immediate needs. Reminder, you are doing a great job! Soon, a day will come when they’re all running around at the park together and won’t need you. Embrace the chaos and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
4. The postpartum period means you haven’t showered very often and you feel gross. When you finally get the chance to, you step out only to let down your breast milk at the worst possible moment, leaking all over your just clean body. Embrace your constant state of dirty and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
5. Somedays, the kids’ bedtime feels like it won’t ever get there. It will. The bright side? You CAN have a glass of wine now! Embrace the long days, pour yourself a drink, and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
6. Postpartum hormones are real and active. You are constantly hungry. Friends and family keep bringing over desserts and you keep eating them. You feel like you’re never going to lose the baby weight, but I promise there is plenty of time for that later on. Embrace the calories, eat another brownie, and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
7. Postpartum means late night feedings. You’ll fight to keep your eyes open wishing you were sleeping. You can’t do it anymore! But you can. Embrace the 3AM Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram scrolling and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
8. Postpartum is a never ending cycle of diaper duty. You’ve changed 15 diapers today. And that was just the baby’s. You totally forgot how often they need to be changed as a newborn. Then you look at how tiny his diapers are compared to the other kids’ and you cry. It all goes so fast. Embrace those diaper points and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
9. Postpartum means meal-planning gets put on the back burner. You haven’t had an ounce of time to make a decent meal for the family and you feel guilty. It’s okay, they love eating pizza and macaroni and cheese. A few weeks on that diet isn’t going to kill them. Embrace the processed foods and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
10. Your husband is getting ready for work and just asked where he can find clean underwear. Uh-oh. Sorry babe, you don’t have any. Embrace the endless laundry and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
11. You’ll find yourself searching a dark nursery for a missing pacifier, just so you crawl back into bed. It’s a constant wonder how pacifiers always disappear in the same mysterious way that bobby pins do. Why can’t you ever find just one when you need it? Embrace the financial stability you’re giving NUK and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
12. Postpartum means your house will be a mess. You haven’t seen your floor in days. Toys are scattered and the baby gear has overtaken the house. Your kids have sweetly “picked up” when you asked them to, but you know how toddlers like to leave lots of little treasures for mom to find later on. Embrace the stubbed toes and give that baby a kiss. He won’t stay this small forever.
Momma, life is crazy right now, but you WILL reach the other side. Take a deep breath, live in the present, and try really hard to enjoy all the special newborn moments. Before too long, they will only be a faint memory. You are amazing, and YOU can do it!
Embrace it ALL and give that baby a kiss! He won’t stay this small forever!
Original post published July 2014
11 comments
Great advice! I’ve been there and done that 5x! Cherish every minute with your little one, and it does get easier with time! Blessing to you and your family!
Hi Jodi! Thank you for your great perspective! I always love hearing from moms who have been through it! Amazing that you’ve done it five times! Awesome! 🙂
Sat here reading this, holding my 4 week old son, whilst my 3 year old daughter sleeps… I cried! These are all so true and I’m feeling all of these, especially the eating chocolate, the tiredness and the … You get the gist. Wish I had found these 4weeks ago! I’ll be thinking of you at 3am trying to keep my eyes open and of course I’ll be giving my baby a kiss, he won’t stay this small forever xx
Hi Amy! Congratulations on your newest addition! You are doing a great job – thinking of you as you journey down the newborn stage! You CAN do it! 🙂
Thanks for writing this! As my 6 month old nurses to sleep and tries my patience when she’s awake because she’s going through a growth leap, this article makes me realize that these past months of exhaustion are all worth it. It will be over before you know it, so I’ll cherish these sweet moments while they last!
So well written. I cried as I bathe my 23 month old and my 5 week old is in my arms. Thank you for perspective.
I loved and needed this. I have a 2 week old, a 13 month old, & a 3 year old. It is so overwhelming at times but I’m trying very hard to just love on all my babies as much as possible and do what I can without completely freaking about how much really needs to be done. Thanks for the encouragement!
i whole heartedly agree! I had 6 children in 8 years and can relate , we are now almost empty nesters and I long for those baby years… Though we do have a 2 month old grandson which is the most incredible thing ever
i had my fourth almost three years ago. Oh how I would have looooooooved to have read every last syllable of this endearing post. You nailed it. Wrap your loving mother arms around your words.
Thank you for this post! From a mom of 5 expecting #6…I really needed to read this! Thanks for the blessing of your positive thinking!
Oh my goodness, thank you for this post. I needed it so so much. First time Mum struggling with a 4 week old. I think I’ll be re-reading this regularly over the next few weeks and months.