Your First Night At Home With Baby

The first night home with your baby can be scary, so be prepared for a bit of a rollercoaster - one of the most special moments in your new life as a mother's life will also one of the hardest and most emotional.  You are not alone - many if not all moms have a rough first night home with a newborn. So take a deep breath and get ready! You got this and are not alone.

10 Things to Anticipate (but not worry about) Your First Night Home:

1.  You might freak out a little. Between your hormones all over the place, sleep deprivation and the realization that you're responsible for another human's life, it’s normal to feel a little anxious.

2.  You will still feel pain from childbirth. You’ll get back to your old self. It may take some time, but we promise you’re body will heal. If you have any concerns, reach out to your doctor.

3.  You might get night sweats. One result of the post-birth hormonal cocktail might be waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat.

4.  You might cry a lot. Again: hormones, hormones, hormones.

5.  Your baby will wake up every 2 to 3 hours. This will continue for a little while.

6. Your baby will constantly cry. But you’ll get used to it, because babies cry a lot. Luckily, at first, the options are almost certainly either hungry, uncomfortable, or needs a diaper change.

7.  Expect diaper changes throughout the night. In no time, this will get easier to and become an easy task!

8.  Breastfeeding may come easy to you or you may need some help. Ask questions. You should not have pain. The Breastfeeding Resource Center can help.

9. You might feel paranoid and doubt yourself. Lean on the support around you.

10.  You might not be able to sleep — even if your baby is sleeping. If you can’t sleep, try to rest your body and mind. Distract yourself, with a show or a good book. Be kind to yourself.

Now that you're officially a mom, you never stop worrying, but with every day you’ll learn more and more about your baby. The long nights may not end soon but these early transitions will eventually fade away. Each day you will learn more and your baby will get bigger and bigger.

Give yourself credit for doing your best even though it may sometimes feel like you’re not. Ask for help and support from those around you. Remember, you got this!