Being Pregnant
If You Could Go Back to Before Your First Baby, What Would You Tell Yourself?
What's your advice for a woman on the cusp of motherhood?
If you could go back to the day before you gave birth to your first baby and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?
This question was posed to a group of mothers who were then filmed holding up their answers for viewers to see.
Here’s the video:
(Warning: It’s a bit of a tear-jerker.)
Here are my favorites and why:
Google doesnt have children. Yes! the Internet can be friend and FOE to the new parent.
It’s OK to be afraid. If you are afraid, you are acknowledging the challenge before you. You are saying this is a tall mountain, this is going to be hard! You are not shying away from it. You are, in fact, showing bravery.
Trust your instincts. Look, you’ll be told to do this, that and the other by everyone from your neighbor to your doctor to that nosy snit on the crosstown bus. Pay attention, always be learning, but know that you are the authority on your life and your baby.
Meet other moms. Seriously, this might be the most important piece of advice. Sure some other moms might make you nuts but mostly being around people who are going through what you’re going through will help. You’ll see how we’re not all cookie-cutter people with cookie-cutter babies. Everyone’s situation is uniquely challenging. Opening your eyes to other experiences will give you perspective. Plus, who else but a new mom will actually listen attentively when you talk about the grains in your infant’s poop for 25 minutes??
Millions of parents survive sleep deprivation. We are always told how horrible it’ll be– you’ll never sleep, you’ll never go out, your marriage will suck– and while us seasoned parents might find comfort in sharing these complaints and normalizing the hard stuff, it may not be that useful for the expectant parent. I would never want to paint too rosy or unrealistic a picture but I do think it’s important balance the crappy stuff with some stories of strength and possibility. It’s really damn hard. You’ll be amazed by what you can do.
If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?
Thank you Sweet Little Bundle Birth Services for tipping me off to this video.
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6 Comments
Alison@Mama Wants This commented on Jan 12 12 at 4:22 amI love this! And yes, it did make me tear up.
Jennifer M. commented on Jan 12 12 at 12:37 pmGive up your previous time-consuming hobbies. They aren’t as important as your new baby. Just hold her, long and often. Everything else can wait for a few months – they’re only newborns once, and nothing is as sweet as cuddling your infant while she sleeps.
Lyuba commented on Jan 12 12 at 4:58 pmLove it!!
Brigette commented on Jan 14 12 at 8:30 pmShe’ll be in NICU. It’s a horrible place, but it’s not forever.
B commented on Jan 19 12 at 3:28 amDon’t worry so much. Everyone wants you too but you don’t have to!
Ruth commented on Jan 19 12 at 10:24 amI would tell myself to ask for a pulse ox test!
As a new mother I had no idea heart defects affect 1 in 100 babies and that there is a test that detects them, called pulse ox. I had no idea that pulse ox was NOT mandatory in the US and only just recently has it been implemented in New Jersey and Indiana. I did not know that all I had to do was ask for that test!My second son had life threatening heart defects at birth. He battled his disease for three months, spending his whole life in the hospital, then passed away May 17, 2011.
I have now made it my mission to spread awareness and educate mothers about his life saving test. All in Corbin’s honor.
To learn more about pulse ox and how it could save your baby’s life, visit: pulseoxadvocacy.com
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Aela Mass 
Casi Densmore-Koon 
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CaitlinHTP (Caitlin Boyle) 
Michelle Horton 
Ceridwen Morris 
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