Life After Baby: What No One Really Tells You

Having a baby often feels exciting at first.

tiny clothes,

little toys 🧸

soft blankets 🛏️

It’s easy to get swept up in preparing for your new arrival.

Every ultrasound feels magical, giving you a first glimpse of who your baby might be.✨

There’s so much to learn, but there is also so much joy in anticipating their arrival and wondering who they’ll become.

By the end of this post, I hope you feel...

• a little less alone in the overwhelm 🤝

• a little more supported with practical tips💡

• more confident in your ability to care for your baby, and yourself 🚀

This season is full of challenges, but it’s also full of learning, growth, and connection. You don’t have to have it all figured out at once.

Then your baby arrives, and suddenly reality sets in.

On top of recovering from one of the hardest things your body has ever done, you now have someone completely dependent on you. Recovery may feel like an illness where you’re supposed to rest and heal, but this time, rest looks different.

Because along with healing, you’re also caring for and getting to know your baby.

In the span of a single day, you go from imagining who they’ll be to needing to understand

every cry 😢

every movement

every need. 💖

And when you turn online for answers, it can quickly become an overwhelming wormhole of questions you didn’t even think to ask.

During pregnancy, people often say things like:

“it will come naturally” 🌿

“you’ll know what to do” 🫶

“you’ll figure it out” 🤔

While these phrases come from a kind place 💕 and are meant to reassure us, they often do the opposite by providing us with more ambiguity and can add to the growing mountain of questions and uncertainty.

Caring for a newborn is a lot. Their needs are constant:

• feeding 🍼

• changing 👕

• soothing 🤱

• sleeping 💤

And it can feel overwhelming to realize you are their entire world🌎...well you and your partner. At the same time, you’re:

1. Recovering from pregnancy and birth

2. Adjusting to your body’s changes

3. Trying to find yourself again

   
   

If you’re breastfeeding, it can even feel like your body still isn’t your own. Naturally, you might look for advice from

friends 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

family 🏡

or social media 📱

but that advice often conflicts:

Start sleep training early or you’ll regret it 🛌

Never let your baby cry it out 😭

Use this bottle to prevent gas 🍼

Don’t let them nap too much during the day ☀️

Don’t keep them awake too long, or they’ll be overtired 😵

Instead of reassurance, the contradictions often add stress.

Feeling uncertain doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It simply means you’re adjusting to something brand new. Everything about your world, and your baby’s, has shifted, and both of you are learning together.

I know the pressure to “bounce back” well. After each of my babies, I felt the need to act like:

I wasn’t tired

Like I had it all together

Like I was some kind of “super mom”

With each child, that pressure only grew, especially knowing I had older kids at home that needed me. But I’ve learned the hard way: pushing yourself only leads to burnout. More than once, I’ve overdone it by trying to keep up with everything the way I used to and without asking for help.

It doesn’t work.

Accepting help, whether from friends, family, or neighbors, makes a real difference in both recovery and adjusting to life with a newborn. Even if your support system isn’t close by,

• regular texts 💬

• calls 📞

• or video chats 🎥

can ease the loneliness of postpartum life. And support groups, whether local or online, can be a lifeline of encouragement and connection with other parents.🤗

While the internet and social media offer endless tips, not every answer is your answer.

Trust your gut 💖 and take advice as something to consider, not a prescription. What works well for one family may not work for yours and that’s perfectly okay.✅

Here are my top 3 tips to ease into newborn life:

from experience 🌟

1. Feeding 🍼

Choosing between breastfeeding and formula can feel overwhelming and sometimes the decision isn’t fully yours.

• Milk supply

• Latch issues,

• Medical needs

• Emotional needs

can all play a role in how your baby gets fed. Try your best to stay flexible and focus on what works best for you and your baby.👩‍👦

2. Sleep 😴

The hospital usually covers the basics:

✅on their back

✅no pillows

✅no blankets

✅no adorable stuffed animals

But figuring out the “when” and “how” of sleep is left up to you. I’ve found a simple rhythm of:

eat 🍽️, play 🎶, sleep 💤, repeat 🔁 

to be a helpful guide.

3. Caring for Yourself 🌸

Your needs matter too. Beyond essentials like pads and postpartum supplies,

little comforts like

• comfy pajamas 👕

• a cozy robe 🧥

• a nice soap or lotion 🧴

can make you feel more like yourself again. Small things really do help. 💕

That said, try not to go overboard.

It’s easy to feel like you need everything after watching those “what’s in my hospital bag 🎒” or “help me stock my postpartum cart 🛒” videos. But the truth is, you can always get what you need later—especially in the days of drive up pickup 🚗 and same-day delivery 📦.

While those tips can be a helpful starting point, the most important mindset to keep is this: you don’t need to know it all today.

Parenting isn’t like studying for a test—where you read the textbook, listen to the teacher, and expect an A at the end.

Try to let go of that pressure.

You could read every book and listen to all the advice from seasoned parents, yet still find yourself wondering if you’re doing it “right.”

Focus instead on the small wins 🎉.

Some days will feel messy and uncertain, but other days you’ll surprise yourself and feel:

🌟proud

🌟capable

🌟confident in your role

And those moments are just as real and just as important.❤️

Let's Wrap This Up!

✔️It’s normal to feel uncertain and overwhelmed by parenting

✔️Trust your gut and take advice with a grain of salt

✔️Stay flexible with feeding your baby

✔️Find a daily routine that works for you and baby

✔️Your needs matter too

Remember: Parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress!

 ✨The first year can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it on your own.

👇 Click the button below to join my course Surviving the First Year—a safe space filled with guidance, reassurance, and strategies to make life with your baby a little lighter!

I want to feel confident!