Most first-time moms go into motherhood with expectations. What they'll be like as a mom, how they'll feel and even what baby will be like. But your idea of parenthood and the reality being a parent will likely be two very different things. Baby cries won't bother you. Poop won't make you sick. The truth is in the first weeks you'll learn a lot about yourself and being a parent.
Take it from the moms in the WTE community; they got to talking about the things they learned about their babies, themselves and the ways your idea of motherhood and even yourself can change once baby arrives.
1. You won't be as easily embarrassed
"I have severe social anxiety, but when my boy is hungry that all goes away. I’ll whip my boob out and feed him in a store, restaurant, church. I don’t care." — emmariee
2. You won't mind diapers
"I didn't realize that I wouldn't mind changing his poopy diapers or how often babies ate." — faerielan
3. You won't actually be trapped in the house
"How I manage to get out of the house and do things with him. While the first few times were hard, I’m getting the hang of it and noticing he really likes to get out and explore with me." — mags724
4. You will become a "baby person"
"I didn’t expect my mom instincts to kick in. I’ve never been a baby person, and honestly, I’m still not. But with my boy, it’s so different. I love everything about him, and I feel like it’s coming naturally." — emmariee
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5. That baby snuggles are even better than you imagined
"I didn’t know how much I would love baby cuddles. They’re the best. I can just hold him on my chest all day and be happy." — emmariee
6. That you'll still be the same person
"I thought that I was magically going to turn into somebody else, and it was terrifying me. Nope. I'm still the same, just with an adorable little human that I love more than I thought possible." — MollyJackx
7. That they're noisy sleepers
"I couldn’t believe how much noise a newborn makes when he or she is sleeping. My baby girl snored worse than my grandpa." — Cristina74
8. That you'll feel protective
"I didn’t know how protective I would be. I hate when anyone besides me and my husband hold him. I just watch them like a hawk." — emmariee
9. That babies poop — a lot
"I didn’t expect him to poop so much. He’s breastfed and poops all day, every day." — emmariee
10. That life will change, but for the better
"I was SO AFRAID of what my life would be like once my son was here, and I was actually a tad depressed thinking about the changes. Now that he’s here, my life is immeasurably better." — hillarya92
11. That it can take time to fall in love
"I was surprised that I didn't have this magical, lovey-dovey feeling for my daughter at birth. It's taken three weeks, but today, for the first time, I caught myself staring at her in wonder and with love." — Jlamillar
12. That the late night crying won't matter that much
"I’m surprised at the fact that he can be keeping us up all night but each time I look at him, I’m so happy to see him. I’m also surprised by how little the sound of his cries/screams bother me ... I never think about how unpleasant the actual sound is. I only just think about how good and strong his lungs are and how much I love his little voice." — bashleyb
13. That showers will get a new meaning
"How sometimes just getting 30 minutes to shower can feel like a spa treatment." — Edkin75
14. That maternal instincts aren't what you think
"I misunderstood what ‘mom instincts’ were. I assumed everything came naturally. But what I’ve actually discovered is that it doesn’t come naturally necessarily. You just learn incredibly quickly what does and doesn’t work." — ihillarya92
15. That baby's gender won't matter
"I was team green and really wanted a baby girl! Now that I have my little boy, I couldn’t imagine anything different. His cuddles are my favorite and imagining the bond him and his dad will have makes me happy." — emmariee
16. That breastfeeding isn't just physical
"I was surprised by how emotionally hard and draining breastfeeding would be. Everyone says it’s hard, and I was expecting the physical side of it but not the emotional drain from the loneliness of spending all those hours doing it alone." — kaz86c
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