5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Baby

Today while I was getting ready it hit me. I’m preparing to have my third baby. Woah. Like that’s so crazy. It’s still hard to believe I’m a mom sometimes, much less a mom of three. My first two kids have definite shaped the mom I’m going to be for the third. I’ve learned an insane amount from them. And Maddie Grace and Tripp are different in many ways too so my experiences with each of them taught me new things. So, for any new mama’s or mama’s to be out there, here are those things that I know now and wish I had known before having my first baby.

Breastfeeding is complicated. And not just in the ouch it hurts type of way. Or the sometimes it’s not easy type of way. Or even the figuring out how to nurse your baby every 30 minutes type of way. Breastfeeding is complicated in the making sure you’re giving your kid everything they need type of way. Like sure, we all hear breast is best and breastfeeding really is a wonderful thing. But for some reason American babies are missing the good gut bacteria called B. Infantitis, which reduces the harmful bacteria linked to eczema, allergies, diabetes and obesity.  If good gut bacteria are thriving during the first 6 months of life a person is more likely to develop a healthy metabolism and immune system later in life. And Evivo is the only probiotic clinically proven to restore a baby’s gut the way nature intended it to be.

Make sure you learn more about Evivo here!

Not everyone knows what they are talking about. As a new mom you hear so many people tell you how you should do things. ‘Oh this worked for me and my kids turned out perfect so you need to do it that way’ felt like a common theme when I had my firstborn. Here’s the thing though, nobody’s kids are perfect. And also, different things work for different parents and different things work for different babies. There is no one right way to do things in parenthood. So figure our what works best for you and your baby, and stick with it.

You might not love the baby stage. Not everyone does. Some women want to go back to work before their maternity leave is even over. Other women find themselves wishing time away. Yes babies are cute and little and all that stuff. But sometimes they cry a lot. And nurse a lot. And need diaper changes a lot. And then sometimes you kind of wish you had an older kid for fun stuff. I remember a friend of mine with a newborn saying “I didn’t realize having a baby was like having a sack of potatoes.” By that she meant they just don’t really do that much. Most baby classes don’t start until 6 months and even then they aren’t that exciting. The really fun activities start somewhere after a year old. I did actually love the baby stage, but also would be lying if I said there weren’t times I wished for baby Maddie Grace to be a little older for more fun play dates.

Baby blues are real and normal. There’s nothing shameful or wrong for having feelings of depression following childbirth. It’s normal to cry for no reason in a time people tell you should be the happiest time of your life. I know that a lot of women are ashamed or think that there’s something wrong with them when they feel this way and I just want you to know that there isn’t. For me it went away after a couple weeks. For some it lasts longer or even turns into more serious postpartum depression. I always recommend chatting with your OB about how you are feeling, especially if it lasts longer than a couple of weeks or gets unbearable.

There is something amazing about growing up. I remember sitting there holding Maddie Grace thinking how sad it was that she had to grow up. Now I look at things a little different. I honestly have loved every stage Maddie Grace has gone through. Each stage I’ve wanted to freeze time in. But that’s the thing – if each one I’ve loved, won’t the next one be just as awesome? When I realized this it took away the fear of them growing up and brought on an excitement to see what’s next.

I talked some about Evivo in this post and I really want to encourage any expecting moms to check it out here. I didn’t know about it at all with Maddie Grace or Tripp, who both seemed to have digestive issues from the start, and I really wish I would have. I’m excited to have it on hand already well in advance of baby #3!

If you are a mom I’d love to hear what you wish you knew before you had your first baby!