Now that my baby was finally here I just wanted to get out of the hospital and home to start our new life together as a family! I knew I hadn’t a clue what I was supposed to do with this little person but as soon as I had given birth high on adrenaline (and diamorphine!) I was feeling up for the challenge and told my consultant that I would be good to go home later that day! He made agreeable sounds but as it was 4 in the morning I think he was just humouring me so he could go home to his bed! Sure enough my ashen face in the cold light of day a few hours later was enough for him to confirm I would need to stay another day before they released me into the big wide world of motherhood! By that stage exhaustion had kicked in so I was happy enough not to have to drag my stitched up nether region out of bed! The next 24 hours flew by in a blur of feeds and changing nappies, my baby barely uttered a cry the whole day so by the next morning I figured I had got the hang of this mummy thing and was raring to go!
I assured the doctor I was good to go, hassled the midwife to sort out my discharge and had my husband get into hospital ASAP with the car seat. Somewhere in my new mummy haze I had forgotten how in the real world there isn’t a nurse coming round with a trolley every few hours handing out meals and cups of tea. I also hadn’t calculated into the equation that my docile baby might have been due to the diamorphine that had been injected into my bum a few hours before he was born rather than my ninja mummy skills! So it was with a false sense of confidence that I set off out of the maternity ward to start my new life! I hadn’t even got half way down the corridor when reality kicked in, my husband was striding ahead baby seat in hand and I was needed to sit down already! Other than shuffling back and forward to the bathroom I hadn’t moved too far in the past day and it turned out swollen, stitched together lady parts along with with piles as big as a bunch of grapes didn’t really lend themselves making the trek out to a hospital car park! However I somehow managed to get to the car and made the short journey home to settle our baby into his new home. I have to admit this was one of the most surreal experiences in my life. Before my son was born I didn’t read up too much on parenting or how to look after a newborn. Part of me was superstitious and didn’t want to jinx my pregnancy by getting too ahead of myself, I just hoped once my baby arrived healthy that my mothering skills would kick in and I would figure it out as I went along! So other than figuring out the essentials that I really needed to have ready for coming home from hospital I was pretty much walking into the whole baby experience blind! As a result arriving home from hospital with this tiny human I had been entrusted with I felt totally unprepared. I had left this home a mere two days earlier an entirely different person, responsibility free, I could go to the toilet when I wanted, eat when I wanted, sleep when I wanted. Even though at that moment when I arrived home I badly wanted to do all of the above I was very aware that my baby also had all these requirements and it was my job to tend to them! So I figured I would sort him out first and then I could get some time to sort myself out, how naive was I?! Little did I realise I was never going to have time to myself again and any basic requirements I needed to do would be carried out with another human attached to me!
I know for me the first few days and weeks of motherhood were a total blur of exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed but above all a feeling of love that I have never experienced in my life. I know that even if I had read every baby book there was nothing could possibility have prepared me for motherhood but it is the love that we have for our children and the little family that we have created that keeps us going and we manage to muddle through together!
New Mum Fun 
My 6th child is almost one. I’m still overwhelmed by this baby being constantly attached to me…but then my oldest is almost off to college and I realize how quickly they grow and wonderfully different life has been as a mother. Thanks for sharing your story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is crazy how quickly time flies, I know it won’t be long before I’m looking back wishing he still wanted to hug his mama all day!
LikeLike
My second child just turned 1 and I’m so overwhelmed 80% of the time! I miss the little baby stage though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Each stage just seems to fly past so fast. I’m excited for my son to reach each new milestone but also sad that he is getting so grown up already!!
LikeLike
I loved this post. Thankyou for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
With my second I knew what I had to do to be prepared, but I ended up even less prepared than the first time! I guess no matter how many children you have, bringing home a newborn can hit you like a ton of bricks. It’s a wonderful thing but totally scary too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, that makes me feel better about my mothering skills but I figure as long as they are raised in a home full of love we can’t go too far wrong!
LikeLike
My second son is just under 3 months and I remember leaving the hospital all so well.. I was so determined that I was ready. I didn’t want to be at the hospital, I wanted to be home with my family. When I did get home I thought S@#t what have I done 😂 great read hun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading! Love your blog, I am following, just starting this whole blogging thing myself so don’t have much idea what I am doing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww thank you so much hun! Your blog is great, the topics are really relatable to mums. Ecspecially the one about newborn baby rules. Can’t wait to follow your journey ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those first few days are such a confusing, wonderful, terrifying, strange and lovely blur! Thanks for the memories 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first few days that your child is home are the hardest I feel. It goes by in such a blur though. Thank you for sharing your experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really hit those first feelings of motherhood spot on. While your exhausted and realizing things are no longer just you, it is still the best feeling in the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am kind new mum, I have a 9 months old son, I am loving this phase, initially it’s little hard but gets better day by day .Thsnks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think as long as baby is loved and getting what they need, a parent muddling through just fine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems like just yesterday my little ones were just home from the hospital. These moments truly fly by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This makes me miss my 2 year old being that tiny. Although you lack in the department of sleep, showers, nutrition and other things, the love that you experience is like nothing you’ve ever felt and I totally miss that. Great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember feeling this way as a new Mama…My boys are so much older now but it seems like just yesterday we brought them home from the hospital… Time flies by so quickly… enjoy every moment… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
such a special time. I remember it well even though my son is now 6. enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My baby will be 2 soon and I just wish I can keep her like my little tiny baby.
LikeLiked by 1 person
congratulations! Being a new Mom is difficult regardless of how much you prepared. Trust me, it will get easier! I am a year in and constantly still learning, but the first three months were definitely a blur.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right, nothing can really prepare you for motherhood. You could read every parenting book in the world and you would still not have a clue what the reality of life with a baby is really like. I love this post, so honest and has reminded me of those early days with my boys when I was exhausted and clueless but still somehow had to look after this tiny human!xx
LikeLiked by 1 person