The due date is finally here, and with much anticipation, the time has come to bring your new baby home! This new chapter brings both joy and excitement, and (hate to break it to you) a new kind of nerves and pain. The postpartum journey – it's a wild ride but totally worth it! Here’s what to expect. 

The postpartum period is a whirlwind of emotions, ranging from overwhelming joy to moments of self-doubt, exhaustion and sometimes depression. Hormonal fluctuations, coupled with the challenges of adapting to a new routine, can create an emotional rollercoaster. It's important to acknowledge these feelings and talk with your spouse or other loved ones when needed! Another important tip here is to remember that just because your emotions are ok a week after birth, doesn’t mean they won’t change. This could happen even 6 months postpartum.

It's so fun getting to create a relationship with your brand new babe, but there’s another relationship that can’t sit on the back burner during this time. It's important that you and your partner remember to connect (you are still healing so don't even think about connecting in the sheets yet!). There are other ways to strengthen your connection, watch a movie at night or while baby is napping, play a game together, or take your new little one out for a date with you guys. Don't forget it's also important to take time for yourself, so make sure you make time for that to get some extra z’s, watch your fav trash TV show, or do some online shopping!

There are some frightening things that happen after childbirth, and there's no getting around them (unless you have a c-section, in which brings other unfortunates that based off of the experience I have none). These are things that people don't share and I'm not sharing them to scare you, but rather inform! The first bowel movement is going to be the worst experience and will be a close second to giving birth in terms of nerves. It must be done. Just find something to distract you, and remember everyone goes through this! Next up, the mom brain, yes it's real, and it's real annoying! Going downstairs only to forget why you're down there, or telling your husband a story and forgetting mid-sentence what you were even talking about (happened to me). Last one, not feeling like yourself. Between clothes not fitting, your mind constantly occupied by your cute baby, and your brain being foggy it's hard to feel normal. With all these unfortunates though, this is such a rewarding experience I promise! And guess what, all these “unfortunates” don't stick around forever. Hope that didn't scare you too badly! 

The postpartum journey is a chaotic, tiresome, and very rewarding time. These are moments that grow and shape you into a parent! Remember to go at your own pace, give yourself grace, and try not to compare yourself to other postpartum experiences, because everyone is different. Enjoy this new time, it goes faster than you think!