Let's start after one month of Anika's birth. When I was all restless and wondering how to mold myself into the new role. Blessed with the presence of my mom and mother in law right beside me they played a major role enabling me to cope with my post-partum stress.
Both helped me to discover myself first, before I lost my sanity balancing both my life and baby. Mom in law was very particular to pamper me with breakfast-two poach eggs and glass full milk. She was not concern about the baby alone but me too.
In their presence I got to learn many tips and tricks which I will love to share with new moms and mom to be-things no one might ever tell you.
ACCEPTING MY NEW BODY
Where wishes came from all parts of the world I was still under the believe that I am pregnant. I keep trying to protect my belly like the bump is still there(how did those months passed). My mom noticed this but was very cooperating in accepting the facts that these are absolute normal. She will secretly pull my jeans above the waist line telling me, the baby is now in your arms. At times I will panic seeing myself so fat with double chin and protruding belly. I was in tears when i could no longer fit in size six dress. Both my mom acted like support pillars here conveying me this is all temporary and I need not worry about this but the baby. She really meant when she told me, be kind and thankful to your body for granting you with a healthy baby. Be grateful to god that he made your body capable of carrying a life. I felt bad for punishing myself like this and divert my attention to the new life instead. I totally got over with this guilt and start loving my body again.
PATIENCE
The one trait which was nil in me till now, hit the infinity-patience I start to learn to suppress all my frustrations, anger and eruption of useless emotions. Emotions not required to disturb the environment of the baby. Even at times if me and Ani felt the urge to fight we moved to the basement to vent our anger. Pheww! once done we were always feeling better. I start talking in whisper, watching movies in mute(ofcourse with with subtitles), tip toeing all the way to kitchen at midnight just to make sure the baby won't get startled by noise and wake up.
SLEEP IS LUXURY
Sleep when the baby sleeps. The clever trick that my mom and mother in law ever gave me. Because my body need to rest and recover from aches at places I never imagined. The healing process was a month long and standing for a prolong time became painful for me. I never let go of spare time I used get to lie down and zzzs. Sleep time became a luxury. You wont get in abundance but in installments. I would try to hold my baby mostly when I am sitting or breastfeeding.
MESSY ME
Now getting ready is no longer about me. It is more about what my baby should wear and what is not missing in her baby bag. My mom made a list sticking it on the wall, so everytime I put my step out of house I simply recheck the babybag list making it clear i got everything for the day(thanks mom). Now I barely notice if I am carrying my fave lipstick or hand cream in my bag. My heels are replaced with comfy Nike shoes. My clothes are complete mishap. I will be glad if you can tag me with messy mom! But this is just a phase and I guess I am enjoying this crazy adrenaline rush.
FEEDING
To make sure you can breastfeed your baby for continuous 6 months you just need a comfort environment void of depressions and anxiety. Yes, such emotions do cause decrease in milk formation. So both my mom made sure I was not worrying about cooking, cleaning and other house chores rather live with free mind and feed the baby in ample. The more frequently you feed the more milk you will produce and miraculously it worked. I was so self contend to know at the end of the six months that I have fed my baby with all the required nutrition.
Thanking both my moms for being with me, to enable me fulfill my role and making me believe I can be a good mother too!!
