Nervous about parenthood? Not to worry, you’re not the only one. In fact, we asked moms to think back about their own apprehensions and fears of becoming a parent, and here’s what they had to say.
Deanna, who’s little one is 6 months old, said, “I was afraid of bonking my baby’s head when I carried him around the house.” She added, “I was also a little nervous about breastfeeding.”
Kaitlin, a mom of two ages 2 and 9, admitted she was most nervous about labor and delivery. “It turned out to be totally fine though. I think what helped me was just having a plan, and part of that was that whatever happened was ok.”
Kate, a mom of 4, echoed these sentiments about her nervousness toward labor and delivery. “It was on my mind morning, noon, and night, and as a mom-to-be, you spend so much time reading about the topic, talking with others about it, enrolling in classes and coming up with a game plan, that it only fed into my growing nervousness about the whole process.”
Kristy, a mother two two boys, said, “Before becoming a first time mom I was also afraid of many things! The unknown is scary! I think most of all the thought of breastfeeding is what worried me. I knew that it was something that I wanted to do, but the whole idea was so foreign to me; like milk comes out of where?! I ended up finding a prenatal breastfeeding class and had one on one time with a lactation consultant, and I am SO glad I did! She was an amazing resource both before and after I delivered my son. I successfully breastfed him for 2.5 years and credit it all to the lactation consultant I met while pregnant. She was amazing!”
“Before becoming a first time mom I was also afraid of many things! The unknown is scary!" - Kristy
According to Francesca, mom to a 2-year-old toddler, she was most nervous about the idea of becoming a safe haven for her daughter. “After years of babysitting and caring for younger relatives, I always knew the things babies want the most when they’re upset is their mom! I could never calm a baby down from a crying fit or soothe their tears away quite like their mom. So naturally, I feared if my daughter would find comfort in me.” She continued, “All those nerves went out the window the moment she was delivered and placed on my chest. Her crying immediately ceased, as she snuggled her little face into my chest. It was the most beautiful, rewarding, and peaceful moment of my life.”
Aubrey, who’s toddler is now 3, explained, “I babysit a lot when I was younger, but it was mostly for older kids. I had very little experience with babies before becoming a mom, and I was nervous about general newborn care. Swaddling, bathing, trimming nails, alleviating diaper rash, and addressing random ailments like cradle cap, were all things that made me nervous, because I had never encountered them before.”
So, hang in there parents - fear is a natural reaction to parenthood. But so are a plethora of other emotions that'll help you get through it.
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Photo credit: iStock.com_Marco_Piunti.jpg
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