When a mom-to-be has celebrated her family, friends, and work baby showers, arranged her nursery (like, seven times), attended birthing classes, had her car seat installed by firefighters, and meticulously packed her hospital bag with essentials like essential oils, candles, a Celine Dion CD, and a baby name book in case she gets struck by indecision, it might be the perfect time to give her a little shock with some of the less-discussed realities of new motherhood.
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Share Your Painful Postpartum Experience
We all know childbirth can be excruciating. Just look at any movie, and you’ll see the screaming and sweat that comes with it. But what they don’t show is the new mom who’s struggling to sit or stand. That area that just pushed a watermelon through a tiny opening? Yeah, it’s going to hurt like you just ran a marathon. And let’s talk about the thought of intimacy—good luck with that!
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Discuss Your Body’s Transformation
Why not casually point out where your pre-baby body used to be? Maybe mention how your abs once looked like a Greek sculpture, and now you’re sporting a belly that resembles a well-loved doughnut. Empire waist dresses? Your new best friend.
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Talk About Your Child’s Sleepless Nights
You might want to mention that your child is six years old and still waking up at night. Once the sweet scent of a newborn fades into the reality of sleepless nights, she may start to wonder when her baby will finally sleep through the night. Let her know about teething, growth spurts, and night terrors, while giving her a reassuring smile and saying, “I’m sure your little one will be the perfect sleeper, though.”
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Mention Marriage Struggles
If she’s married, remind her that all those little quirks her partner had will suddenly feel like a killer whale-sized problem. Sleep deprivation, learning to cope with a cranky baby, and figuring out each person’s role in this new dynamic can really test a relationship. Communication? Forget it!
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Bring Up Early Development
Tell her about your niece who was speaking in full sentences at seven months. This will surely ignite her concerns about her own child’s future intelligence or social skills. After all, her little one isn’t even here yet, so why not add some worry to her overflowing plate?
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Remind Her About Hospital Bills
Let her know that the bills from her hospital stay will keep rolling in long after the baby arrives. I’m still getting bills from my son’s birth, and he’s 16 months old! If the bills are showing up now, I can only imagine the expenses I’ll have when he turns 40.
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Offer Some Encouragement
Okay, this one isn’t meant to freak her out, but after all the stress you just tossed her way, a little encouragement wouldn’t hurt. Remind her that she’s going to be an amazing mom, because she absolutely will be!
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In summary, while preparing for motherhood can be overwhelming and filled with joy, it’s also accompanied by a plethora of unexpected challenges. From the physical aftermath of childbirth to the emotional rollercoaster of parenting, there’s a lot to navigate. So, a little humor and camaraderie can help ease the journey, even if it means sharing some shocking truths along the way.