Becoming a first-time mother is a life-changing event that comes with both delights and hardships. Your day now revolves around taking care of a little human being who is totally reliant on you rather than thinking about yourself. In this blog post, let us find out what a day typically looks like for a first-time mom.
Ms. Judith Carganilla, my dear friend who lives and works in the United Arab Emirates is a first-time mom to baby Bea. The arrival of their baby last November 2022 was such an unexplainable joy for her and her husband after a long wait of over 10 years. As a new mom, she has had remarkable experiences that have enabled her to navigate the difficulties and struggles of motherhood.
Here are the takeaways that she would like to share with fellow new moms like her:
Don’t be afraid to ask.
Seek advice from experienced friends and family members aside from watching instructional videos on YouTube on how to bathe, feed, and dress your baby. Judith gets a lot of helpful tips from her friends and family that are not available on YouTube. Aside from asking for tips, constant communication with family members and friends helps her to adjust to her new life as well.
Support is necessary.
As your mental health is important (Vaughn, 2018), having a support system is crucial. There is a higher chance of developing postpartum difficulties if you handle all the domestic duties while still being totally focused on your baby. In Judith’s case, her husband and sister-in-law are her strong support system at this stage.
Every day is unique.
Not all days are the same. Being adaptable to your child's ever-changing demands is always important. Judith learns that baby Bea’s wants are not always the same every day hence she is adjusting herself according to her baby’s requests.
Self-care is essential.
Even though caring for a baby might take up all your time, it's vital to schedule self-care. You might feel more revived and energized by taking even brief minutes for yourself, such as showering or having a cup of tea or coffee. Judith gets relaxed when she listens to her favorite worship songs or when she reads her Bible.
Patience is always the key.
There may be instances when a baby cries without any apparent reason or when feeling sleepy. Whenever Judith feels irritated or upset, she tries to be more patient and avoid shaking her baby. At first, she admits feeling frantic and uncertain about how to handle the situation. However, she eventually learned to place her baby on the bed for a moment, take a deep breath, and compose herself before attending to her baby's needs.
What has been the most challenging part of motherhood for you so far? Aside from the above, do you have any advice for new moms who are just starting their motherhood journey? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.
Reference:
Vaughn, M. (2018, January 26). Motherhood and Your Mental Health. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/January-2018/Motherhood-and-Your-Mental-Health
Hi Ivee,
I've loved your blog, as a mom it has touched my heart, and I can realize how moms have superpowers, they can do many things at the same time and they do it well, being a new mom is a new world for every woman, and I like it Watching the video of Ms. Judith Carganilla a lot and her day-to-day life as a mother, dedicating a "Me time" is very important for her, for her baby and for the whole family.
Baby Bea is so cute 😍
I really liked the posts, especially this last video. Excellent Job!
Melida Carreno