She’s already celebrated her family baby shower, her friends’ baby shower, and her workplace baby shower. The nursery is perfectly arranged—only for her to change it seven times. She’s attended birthing classes, had the fire department help her with the car seat installation, and her hospital bag is packed with all the essentials: essential oils, candles, a Celine Dion CD, a photo from her wedding day, and a baby name book for those last-minute decisions. Now is the perfect opportunity to throw a few curveballs her way regarding the lesser-discussed realities of new motherhood.
1. Share Your Postpartum Pain
Everyone knows childbirth is no walk in the park. Just turn on any movie, and you’ll see the screaming, sweat, and tears that accompany this life event. What’s often overlooked is the struggle of a new mom just trying to sit down or, heaven forbid, stand up. That area which moments ago pushed a watermelon is now as sore as a marathon runner after race day. And sex? That’s a whole different story.
2. Discuss Body Changes
Why not remind her where her pre-baby body parts used to be? Mention how your abs were once as tight as a drum, and now you can’t wear anything without an empire waist to camouflage the stretch-marked, Play-Doh-like belly you’ve got going on.
3. Talk About Sleep Deprivation
Once the newborn phase gives way to the reality of diaper blowouts, new moms will inevitably wonder when their child will start sleeping through the night. Spoil the magic by informing her that your child still isn’t sleeping at six years old. Share tales of teething, night terrors, and growth spurts, followed by a sweet smile and a reassuring, “I’m sure your little one will be a perfect sleeper, though.”
4. Remind Her of Couple Challenges
If she’s in a relationship, remind her that every tiny issue she and her partner ever faced will now feel like a gigantic whale. Sleep deprivation, dealing with a fussy baby, and adapting to new roles can put a strain on any marriage. Communication can go out the window, especially if it wasn’t great to begin with.
5. Share Milestones of Other Kids
Mention that your friend’s baby was speaking in full sentences by seven months. This will surely spark concerns about her own child’s potential. After all, her little one isn’t even born yet, so she should be worried about all the things that could go wrong, right?
6. Talk About Ongoing Hospital Bills
My daughter is just 16 months old, and we recently received another bill from her birth because the insurance “finally processed it.” Fantastic! I’m all set to keep receiving bills until she’s ready for her own high school graduation. If birth bills are still coming in now, I can only imagine what I’ll be paying for her well checks while celebrating her 40th birthday.
7. Encourage Her
Alright, this last one isn’t exactly freaky, but after all the panic you’ve instigated, a little encouragement goes a long way. Remind her that she’s going to be an amazing mom, despite the chaos ahead.
For more information on pregnancy, check out Healthline as an excellent resource. And if you’re curious about home insemination kits, visit Make a Mom for some insights. For a comprehensive view, explore Make a Mom’s guide on at-home kits.
In summary, while the journey to motherhood is filled with excitement, it can also come with unanticipated challenges. By sharing some of these reality checks, you might just prepare an expectant mom for the ride ahead.
Keyphrase: Ways to send an expectant mom into a panic
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]