11 Things I Wish I Knew Before Having a Baby

Two months ago we welcomed our beautiful baby boy into the world. He is the most incredible thing that has happened to us. We love him more than words can describe. 

But becoming a mum for the first time isn’t exactly what I expected. It’s amazing and exhausting, overwhelming and testing. There is so much love, but also many unknowns and challenges which I wanted to share with you so you know that you aren’t alone in the sleep-deprived love bubble of welcoming your newborn into the world. Here are 11 things I wish I knew before having a baby.

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11 Things I Wish I Knew Before Having A Baby 

1. Breastfeeding Is a Learned Skill - before having bubba boy, I had no idea that breastfeeding was a learned skill. What seemed “natural” and easy, wasn’t. Latching, positioning, keeping bubba awake and not distracted all took a lot of practice. I really struggled with breastfeeding in the first few weeks and there were a lot of tears (and not just from bubba). But I promise you, with practice and reaching out for help when needed, it does get better. And once you and bub get the hang of breastfeeding as a team, it’s a beautiful bonding experience. 
   
2. Newborns Make Lots Noises - before having a baby, I thought crying was the only noise that newborns made. Oh boy was I wrong! Newborns make a lot of noises and they are very loud and funny too! Grunting, gurgling, snorting, squeaking, burping and farting; for such tiny humans, newborns make a lot of noise!
   
   
3. Life Gets Messy - leaking breast milk, projectile baby voms, runny baby poop and wees; life with a newborn is messy! Before having a baby, I didn’t realise the endless loads of washing that we would go through and the multiple times I’d need to change my clothes just to get out of the house in the morning!  
   
4. You Need a Nappy Bin - before having a baby, the only nappy I had changed was on a toy as part of a game at my baby shower. But now I’ve changed hundreds of nappies and I can do it one handed, in the dark, half asleep, all while keeping bubba calm and happy. But with all the nappy changing, I realised I needed a nappy bin! This wasn’t something I had even considered before having bub, but I now deem it an essential! We have a Tommee Tippee nappy bin, which makes disposing of bubba’s smelly nappies quick, hygienic and easy. The best part is that it keeps our room odour free by individually wrapping each nappy in a multi-layer anti-bacterial film to stop germs and smells escaping. The anti-bacterial film also kills 99% of dangerous germs like e-coli and Staphylococcus Aureus. Plus the Tommee Tippee holds up to 30 nappies at a time, which means fewer trips to the outside bin and saving us valuable time.
5. Easy-to-eat Snacks Are Essential - when you have a little one attached to you 24/7, you need to have easy-to-eat snacks on hand. Fresh fruit, nuts and homemade smoothies and banana bread have become my standard snacks, especially because I can eat them one handed. 
   
6. You Become Very Time Efficient - before having bub, I thought my life was busy. Oh cute me lol. I didn’t even know what the word busy meant until we welcomed bubba into the world. Life with a newborn is busy. From feeding bubba (which still takes over an hour), to changing his nappy, having play time and putting him to sleep for his naps, life is hectic and there is only a very short amount of time until that all needs to be repeated again...and again...and again. But thankfully this has made me become the most efficient worker ever! I get the house work done in a fraction of the time it used to take me, I prep dinner at 9am in the morning and I don’t even have time to think about the word procrastination. 
   
7. It’s Ok to Say No - within the first month of having bubba, everyone wants to visit. And while this is lovely, remember you don’t have to say yes to everyone. Having people constantly drop in to meet bub can become overwhelming and tiring, particularly when you are trying to get the hang of feeding and putting bubba to sleep. So remember it’s ok to say no.
   
8. Fresh Air and Sunshine is Essential - I’ve always loved being outside in the fresh air and sunshine, but now I appreciate getting out of the house even more. Looking after a little one is beautiful but it can also be isolating spending so much time inside. Each day with bub, I make a conscious effort to get out of the house in the fresh air and sunshine, and it really makes the world of difference.

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1. Help: Ask For It When You Need It & Take It When It’s Offered - I’ve never really been one to ask for help. I like to take care of things myself and don’t want to burden others. But having a baby has made me realise that you need to ask for help and take it when it’s offered. If someone offers to cook you a meal or mind bubba, accept their generosity and say yes. Do it for yourself and for your baby.

1. It Gets Easier – motherhood is amazing, but it can also be exhausting, overwhelming and at times lonely. Just know that you are going through gets easier. There will be good days and not-so-good days in motherhood, particularly when bub goes through leaps and sleep regressions, but as you find your feet and get to know your baby, you’ll get the hang of it and before you know it you, you will feel human again

1. You’ll Discover a Love You Didn’t Know Was Possible - before having a baby, I never understood it when people told me you’ll find a love you never knew was in you. Now I get it! It’s incredible. I spend hours just watching bubba. I don’t want to do anything else but cuddle and kiss and tickle and play with him. I can’t explain the love I have for him; it’s like nothing else! And despite all of the challenges above, I wouldn’t it any other way! I love him!

Editor’s Note: This blog post is proudly sponsored by Tommee Tippee. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.