Posts: 57
6/25/12 8:09 P

Thank you for your reply, MimiBen- it gives me comfort! I've had it in my mind that parenthood is going to be ungodly challenging, so hearing that it isn't that bad (at least the waking up in the middle of the night part) eases my mind a little. And thank you for the feeding/diapering advice! I know it sounds trivial, but I was genuinely unsure of how to go about it. Good luck with your impending bundle as well! :)

Posts: 321
6/25/12 5:37 P

Congratulations! I know you'll be a great mother because you care to be. Getting up in the night and in the early morning aren't as bad as you may think it will be. I always got up and enjoyed the night feeds so much because the house is dark, there are no sounds of traffic or people outside, no children or husband up talking to you...just you and your baby. I always changed them before feeding them because I didn't want them to drift off to sleep and then wake them up on the changing table. Sometimes it meant having a screaming baby for a couple of minutes but other times they were calm enough with the fact that I had picked them up and talked to them softly. But you'll try different things and finds what works best for you two. Trial and error. Then there will come the routine both for you and the baby and you will both know what to do and what to expect.
Sometimes I wonder why after all these years I've decided to start at the beginning again, but it's because every moment is worth it. Best wishes!!!!

Posts: 57
6/24/12 5:10 P

This will be my husband and my first child, a girl! I am absolutely over the moon, but at 35 weeks, I'm starting to worry. Will I be a good enough mother? When she wakes up in the middle of the night, do I change her and then feed her, or feed her then change her? More than anything, I worry about making some of the mistakes my parents made with me. I realize that I will make mistakes, and no amount of articles read or advice sought will prevent that, but really don't want my daughter to have to deal with some of the issues I've had to.

I also worry about balancing...everything. I just graduated from graduate school and am beginning my career at about the same time our baby is due. My husband is fantastic, he does more housework than I do, is patient, and barely ever complains, so I'm not worried about having to do everything on my own, I'm just unsure of how I'll be able to manage my personal and professional lives. I've never been a morning person, either, but I guess I will be soon! I'm very much hoping that my body and mind will "rise to the occasion," so to speak. In the past, I've found that the more I have to do, the more productive I am, so here's hoping that's the case when the baby comes!

Only a few more weeks to go...