How To Survive The First Six Weeks!

I did it. It’s my 6th time to survive the first six weeks after a baby has been born.

There are a lot of emotions that surround the first six weeks of a baby’s life. A mom goes through a lot to get the baby here into the world, but she is suddenly at the beck and call of a little human being who needs her day and night. It doesn’t matter how exhausted she is; diapers need changed, the baby needs fed yet again, the diaper exploded so the sheets need washed, the baby spit up and needs new clothes…the list can go on.

It’s the most wonderful thing in the entire world. Seriously.

In the midst of those moments that seem so overwhelming, she experiences her baby’s first smile, she sees her baby prefer mama over anyone else, she memorizes every little detail on that tiny face.

In short, she falls in love with her baby even more over those six weeks, and it helps her through all the difficult moments.

After having six babies I thought I would pass on my most important tips that help me survive.

1. There is a reason everyone says this – it really does go so fast! Stop and enjoy the newborn days because they’re over in a blink. You never get these days back, and the memories you create are priceless. I purposely slowed down after Sophia was born. I cut back on blogging and my husband stepped in and helped ship the massive amount of orders we had with Deborah & Co. since we were bonus partners with the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle.

I’m still on slow mode, just adding in a few more things now that she is finally sleeping!

2. Accept that you will have massive mommy brain. It might just get worse the more children you have, but I have had terrible mommy brain since Sophia has been born! Sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t even talk, I can barely get my children’s names out correctly. Don’t even think about going shopping for specific items unless you have a list made out.

In all honestly, I’ve struggled feeling really dumb since Sophia was born. I’ve ended a few conversations with my husband frustrated (not at him!) because I just couldn’t express myself clearly. My husband is quick to encourage me and I know it does get better!

I love this headband and matching booties! They came from this Etsy Store.

3. It’s ok to cry once in awhile. Hormones are still raging and the tears might flow. A few times I cried without a good reason. I was simply tired and a little thing made me cry. It can be healthy to cry instead of keeping it all in. If you have true postpartum depression, make sure you seek some help! I only had a touch of it with my second child, but it can be hard to feel blue when you have a new baby to love on.

4. Use paper plates, order pizza, have simple meals like BBQ chicken wings and cooked potatoes, parent from the couch, and accept help from others the first few weeks!

5. If the baby won’t sleep in the bassinet, consider letting it sleep with you in bed until it gets older. I don’t like co-sleeping forever as neither my husband or I sleep the best with the baby in bed with us. However when they are fresh from heaven, they always stay snuggled up next to me.

6. Relax. All those things that make you hop onto google, call your midwife/pediatrician, or send knots to your stomach? They are probably all normal. The first few days Sophia was gagging and choking on spit up a lot. Even though she was my 6th I still asked my midwife if this was normal. Sometimes you just forget, or you may be so tired that everything is a much bigger deal than it should be. Of course problems do pop up, but a lot of times it is nothing to worry about.

Finally, remember that your baby is a fragile little person, they are not crying on purpose! They have true needs that should be met as soon as possible. There are always exceptions (taking a quick shower or eating dinner as fast as humanly possible!), but as mothers we are put on this earth to take care of our children. I’m 100% against the notion that babies need trained the first few months of life. As difficult as your baby might be, you don’t understand what discomfort that baby might be feeling. If you get frustrated, call someone or walk away for just a minute. Don’t be upset at your baby!