Surviving Your First Weeks With a Newborn: What to Expect
Let’s talk about those first weeks with a newborn. It’s a time that somehow feels like both an eternity and a blink of an eye! If you’re currently reading this while covered in spit up, sporting mismatched socks, and wondering if you’ll ever sleep again, welcome to the club!
Your new reality might feel a bit like being thrown into the deep end of a pool, except the pool is filled with dirty diapers and the lifeguard is a tiny human who communicates exclusively in pterodactyl screams. But don’t worry. Millions of parents have survived this phase, and you will too.
The Sleep That Isn't Really Sleep
Remember when you used to complain about getting only six hours of sleep? Those were the days! Your newborn has their own ideas about sleep schedules, mainly that they shouldn’t exist. You might find yourself doing victory laps around the kitchen at 3 AM because the baby finally dozed off, only to have them wake up the moment your head hits the pillow.
That advice about sleeping when the baby sleeps? It’s great in theory, assuming you don’t need to eat, shower, or maintain basic human functions. Some days you’ll feel like a zombie, and that’s totally normal. Your body is recovering from birth while simultaneously keeping a tiny human alive. Give yourself some grace here.
Becoming a Diaper Detective
Here’s something no one warns you about. You’ll spend an incredible amount of time analyzing the contents of diapers. Suddenly, you’re sending photos of suspicious looking diapers to your pediatrician and having serious discussions with your partner about color variations. You’ll become fluent in a new language that includes terms like mustard seedy and blowout.
Speaking of blowouts, always pack an extra outfit for the baby AND yourself. Trust me on this one. I learned this lesson the hard way during a grocery store trip that I still don’t like to talk about. Those tiny humans have an amazing ability to create messes that defy the laws of physics.
The Never Ending Feeding Schedule
Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding, or both, feeding your newborn can feel like a full time job. Actually, scratch that. It’s more demanding than a full time job because your tiny boss needs to eat every 2 to 3 hours and doesn’t care about lunch breaks or weekends.
You might find yourself watching entire seasons of shows while feeding the baby, only to realize you can’t remember any of the plot because you were half asleep the whole time. This is your life now, and honestly, it’s kind of amazing how you adapt to functioning on so little sleep.
Dealing with Well Meaning Visitors
Everyone wants to meet the baby, which is sweet but can feel overwhelming when you haven’t showered in three days and your house looks like it’s been ransacked by very tiny burglars. It’s perfectly okay to set boundaries and tell people you’re not up for visitors yet. You’re recovering from a major life event, and your needs matter too.
When people say let me know if you need anything, take them up on it! There’s no shame in accepting help, whether it’s a home cooked meal or someone to hold the baby while you take a proper shower. These offers usually come from people who remember exactly how hard those first weeks can be.
The Late Night Google Spiral
At some point, you’ll find yourself googling things like is it normal for babies to sneeze 12 times in a row at 2 AM. Your search history will become a fascinating chronicle of new parent anxiety. You’ll research everything from normal breathing patterns to whether that weird face your baby made means something serious.
Remember that while the internet can be helpful, your pediatrician is always the best source for real concerns. Most of the things that worry you in those first weeks are completely normal, but don’t hesitate to call if something feels off.
When You Don't Feel Like Yourself
Some days, you might feel like your entire identity has been reduced to milk producer or diaper changer. You might miss your old life and feel guilty about missing it. This is completely normal! You’re grieving your old life while simultaneously falling in love with your new one. It’s confusing and exhausting and totally okay.
This too shall pass and new phases of life will come. You’re not losing yourself forever. You’re just discovering a new version of yourself, and that takes time to figure out.
You're Doing Better Than You Think
Remember, these challenges are temporary, even though they might not feel like it when you’re surviving the first weeks with a newborn. One day (probably sooner than you think), you’ll be the experienced parent giving advice to new parents who are exactly where you are right now during their first weeks with a newborn.
Most importantly, you’re doing a great job. Really. Even if you haven’t brushed your hair in days, even if you’re wearing your shirt inside out, even if you just found yesterday’s lunch stuck to your elbow, you’re figuring it out. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to be doing as part of your new parent survival journey.
Take it one day at a time, accept help when it’s offered, and remember that it’s okay to laugh at the absurdity of it all. After all, parenthood is the world’s most exhausting adventure, but it’s also the most rewarding one. You’ve got this, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
– Ali
