mamashonestjournal

Are you an expecting mama?

I was once too.

Allow me to take you through some of the rude awakenings of parenthood that I myself was not prepared for.

And before you start to feel doom and gloom, let me say this…Parenthood is incredibly beautiful and I would not trade it for anything. But let us get one thing straight. It is not exactly a walk in the park.

1. The Blowout of the Century

You may have heard how messy diapers can get. What I was not prepared for was just how many shades exist.

The many colors of newborn poop will likely surprise you.

Black poop is totally normal in the first 24 to 48 hours.

Dark green is very common in the first few days.

Mustard yellow is the classic breastfed baby poop. I have never looked at Dijon the same way.

Brown is basic and normal too.

However, if stool appears red or white, that can be cause for concern and worth a call to your pediatrician.

Let me tell you about the time my husband and I took our newborn daughter to a friend’s wedding reception. Not only did she fuss the entire time, she had a blowout up her entire back. We were quite the sight. Flustered, juggling wipes, trying to change her properly with no bathroom. Her outfit had to be tossed and I had forgotten to pack a backup. We were stressed. Crisis not averted.

Welcome to parenthood.

2. The Spit Up War

Some babies do not struggle with this, but many do.

Clothes covered in spit up. Burping after feedings that leads to nothing but milk messes. Gas. Reflux. Outfit changes for both of you.

Stock up on burp cloths. Then buy more. And prepare to smell faintly of milk for a season of your life.

3. The Floodgates Are Open

Our daughter was particularly memorable in this department. I dare say the word. Colic.

She cried often and sometimes for no clear reason. She had been fed, changed, bathed, rocked, swaddled. I paced the floors until my arms felt like they might fall off. And still she cried.

I had to learn that sometimes there is no immediate fix. Sometimes the floodgates open and you ride it out.

4. Jaundice Me Yellow

Had I known that many newborns develop a slight yellow tint after birth, I would not have been so startled.

If your newborn’s skin or the whites of their eyes look slightly yellow, you are not alone. Your child is not a minion. This is very common and usually temporary. Feeding often helps their little bodies clear it. Many cases resolve on their own, though your pediatrician will monitor levels to be safe.

It looks scary. Most of the time, it is not.

5. Nothing but Nipple

If you decide to breastfeed, prepare your nipples. Mine were not prepared.

I had been told it could be hard, but I truly believed my daughter would latch perfectly and we would sail off into a peaceful nursing journey. That was not our story.

There were nursing consultations, positioning adjustments, moments of frustration, and a lot of patience required from both of us. But eventually we found our rhythm.

Breast be told.

If you are expecting, do not be alarmed. Motherhood is wild. It is humbling. It is a steep learning curve. But it is also instinctual in ways that surprise you.

You will grow into it. You will figure it out. That is nature’s way.

And somehow, even through the blowouts and spit up and tears, you will find that it is all worth it.