5 Lessons from a Newborn

My second baby is officially not a newborn anymore. Although there have been some sleepless nights, she has been so much easier than my first. That is partially due to her chill personality, but also I am more confident as a mom.

1. I am powerful.

When I held her for the first time, my hands shook. Her birth was short, only two hours, but it was also intense. I was in shock and physically weak. Yet I felt powerful. I had just brought a human into the world. 

At one point during the labor, my body knew instinctively to move my leg a certain way. I felt her head lower between my pelvis. I trusted my instincts. 

2. Take it slow

The first few nights (or was it the first few weeks?) she woke up every hour to eat. I held her close, nursed her, held her head and caressed her soft skin. Her cry was tender and helpless. I was thrown into the hazy, dream-like state of a mother of a newborn.

When people came by to bring food, I didn’t even get up to answer the door. I stayed in my mommy world and held my baby close while someone else exchanged pleasantries and gratitude.

The world slowed down. I moved slowly since I was still recovering. My mind slowed and I no longer wanted to get anything done. I usually am a checklist, productive person who wants to be doing multiple things at once. But a newborn forced me to stop all that and just rest and enjoy life.

3. Ask for help

Because of this, I had to have a support team. My husband, my mother-in-law and my mother and my sisters came to clean, cook, and play with the toddler. I am deeply grateful for them. 

4. Consistency brings results

With my first, I learned that putting her to bed at a consistent time was key. Even though adults get bored with repetitive schedules, babies and toddlers thrive on consistency. They like to know what to expect. From the beginning, I put her down to sleep by herself as often as I could. I stayed home in the evenings so she could get used to day and night. She slept so much better than my first baby.

5. Children feel pure joy

We introduced our toddler to her new baby sister and she was estatic. I love rewatching that video. She squealed with delight, ran to her, and couldn’t stop giggling. She touched her gently and wanted to hold her. When the newborn cried, she laughed more; she was so happy to have a real baby sister.

As the weeks went by, the newborn also learned to smile and then, in a moment, to laugh. Her joy is contagious.

Mothering a little one

Sometimes I find myself distracted by her beautiful smile, her floppy ears, or her intense stare. Being the mother of a newborn is life-changing and wonderful. Now that she is a little older, I have been getting a little more sleep and getting a little more done. Nothing can replace the sleepless, divine, trancelike, and enchanting time of mothering a new little one.