I am a Mother
Pregnant mothers often feel nervous about becoming a parent for the first time. 40 weeks is a long time to wait and sometimes we begin to overthink things and worry that we might not be up to the
task. This is perfectly normal, but you needn't worry. Read on to find out why...
Once your baby is born, the reality will inevitably set in...
"I am a mother."
"We/I have a family."
"This baby is completely reliant on us/me."
I warn you, at first, it is a bit of a shock, but as time goes on you will settle into your new role. Your love for baby will grow, your confidence will start to build and your motherly instincts will kick in.
That initial shocked feeling will slowly dissipate and be replaced with a fierce need to protect your baby. You will evolve into the strong matriarch of your family and no longer will you be saying internally "I am a mother," you will be almost roaring "I AM A MOTHER!"
Suddenly your needs become secondary and baby comes first. Your hair might be a mess and your nipples, cracked and bleeding, your body might feel like a plate of wobbly, weak jelly but none of that will matter... only baby will.
As you grow into your new role as mother you will become finely tuned to your baby's needs. You will notice the different types of cries and will begin to understand what each one means. You will observe your baby so carefully that some of the time you will just know when he/she is hungry or tired or maybe just needs some snuggle time with Mum.
The nerves that you experienced during pregnancy will be long gone as you come to realise that YOU'VE GOT THIS.
You will have low moments of course, when you're sleep deprived and you've had a particularly rough day... but despite these moments, one thing will always be true. You are not just a mother, you are your baby's mother.
It doesn't get more precious than that!
Kirsty Foster is the founder of Parenting Little Learners. She is an Early Childhood Adviser, proud mum
of 3 boys and an experienced teacher. Her mission is to make parenting significantly easier for New Zealand parents. Kirsty has just launched an exciting online resource for new parents. 20+ videos that will make the newborn stage significantly easier. There are videos on sleep, feeding, mindful parenting, development, how to bath your baby, nappy changing and more! Plus there are discounts and resources for you to print. Visit www.parentinglittlelearners.com to learn more. Or follow me on FB and Instagram @parentinglittlelearners
