A message to all new moms

This is for all new moms. The real moms. The imperfect moms. The first time moms. The moms that have no idea what to expect. The moms that have been reading up, watching videos, listening to podcasts on what to expect and how to be the perfect mom. Let me be the first to tell you that’s all bullshit. Nothing is going to be like you expect, you’re not going to be perfect and that’s okay. Let me go through some things I’ve experienced that are realistic, that are normal, and far from perfect. First things first, being pregnant is gross. You’re sweaty, you’re chubby, you’re uncomfortable, you’re emotional, you’re exhausted. Giving birth is horrific no matter how you choose to do it. I highly recommend an epidural as someone who tried to go without one and failed and someone who had one work on only the right side of their body. But you do you boo boo, try it for yourself if you want but there’s no medals or gold stars for enduring the pain. I suggest letting them make you as comfortable as possible. After giving birth tons and tons of people talk about this big flood of love washing over you. As someone who’s given birth twice, that isn’t always true and you shouldn’t feel bad if it doesn’t happen because in no way does that mean you love your baby less. When you get home EVERYTHING is going to be overwhelming! You’re going to be dead tired, the house is going to be a mess and so are you and that’s okay. You’re hormones are going to be crazy. Everything is going to make you want to cry or punch someone. You’re going to want murder your husband over almost nothing. Sometimes you’re just gonna want your baby to shut the fuck up and that’s normal. Being a mom is going to make you feel like a lunatic and that’s totally normal and it will pass! Don’t think because you don’t look or feel like the “perfect” moms portrayed online that you’re doing something wrong. There’s no such thing as a perfect mom. You’re doing great. Just be kind to yourself and know it gets better and it gets easier.