Emotional Transition to Parenthood

What is it like entering Motherhood?  Welcome to Parenthood!

I do get this question quite a fair bit and initially i would be stunned for a few seconds as to find the right words to answer this question. It is definitely a huge emotional roller coaster ride I have to say!

First of all, the pain and labour one has to go through itself is indescribable. Well it can be describe but you won't totally understand until yourself goes through it. All I can say this is the first emotional ride you take is to go through the labour pain (but of course if you going through planned C-section, you won't understand this). While going through that phase of pain, you would have a sense of the remarkable sacrifice one woman has to go through to give birth to get the official tag of "being a Parent". This is the first test of the power of your mind to overcome the physical challenge. :)

After giving birth, you would find the joy of holding your new born. But as a first time parent, you would feel like you are in a Lost World. All educational classes you attended won't give you the confidence that you know what to do next. However along the way, with a few trial and error, you would manage it some how.  Feeding, Bathing, Changing and putting you little one to sleep are the basic thing for a new born. However there is always a thought in your mind, Am I doing this right? Is the water temperature right and etc etc little questions you ask yourself while doing things. You find yourself tight up with all little things as you want to give your little one the best of everything and sometimes it can make you stress up more that you make mistakes while doing it.

Needless to say, the Sleepless Nights and Routine is one big transition. You would wake up to feed, then to burp , to play with your newborn and then put your baby back to sleep average every 3 hours (2.5 hours if you are breastfeeding). While your baby naps, you would rush to eat , to bath, house chores or to clean bottles and if there is extra time, a quick nap yourself. When the night time come, you pretty much would be walking like a zombie memorising the steps: Make milk bottle, Feed, Burp, Cuddle and Sleep. However sometimes the little ones don't want to go back to sleep, thats where you go.. Oh why don't you want to sleep? Daddy/Mummy wants to sleep...  this would go on for at least 3 months and when you get the hang of the routine, a new routine starts where they slowly move to solids or purely waking up to play as they have not play enough during day time.

You may think, ahh thats just physical changes in your life, oh my dear friend, you are wrong. The physical is actually much easier to overcome but the emotional is much harder. Why?

If you have been a working person, you would definitely find the difference to the routine and responsibilities that you hold now being a mother as working in a company. You need your mind to remind you that no matter how physical tired you are, you need to do it or else who would do it. House chores can wait, is it true?  when you are a mother, your maternal instinct kicks in. You tend to be more hygienic towards your surrounding, hoping to give a more "clean" environment for your new born child *i have to say, this doesn't work that well when you have your 2nd or at later stage... :) * You will miss eating in peace and so the list goes on... as all of this little things compile, you will have this huge emotional stress all piled up and waiting to explode.

God is great i have to say. With all the stress waiting to explode, you find that by looking at your baby sleeping in your arms or even in their bed you would have this huge calmness in you that seems to wash out the stress you build up for the day. When you see your little one smiling or giggling or even laughing with you, you would have this sweet smile in your heart. You feel the sweetness melting that crying heart of yours that you felt one hour ago when your baby was wailing or crying. It seems every stress you go through there is a gesture of love from your child to counter it.  That is the emotional transition to parenthood that one would go through for sure which would indeed make you a stronger person.

It is your choice to be a happy mother or a depress mother and never underestimate the power of your mind and the gracious of GOD (regardless what religion) to give you the best mind support you need. Pray  for Help when you are in stress and Pray to Thanks when you see the seed of love (i.e your child) grow healthy and happy each day.