100 little things about pregnancy, birth, and being a first-time mom

No greater joy than becoming a mom. 100 things you need to know about pregnancy, birth, and being a first time mom.

In celebration of my 100th post on this wee blog I want to share 100 things I’ve learned in the last year about pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, caring for a baby, and being a first-time mom. I make no apologies that this will be a long post, but I really hope it serves you… or at least makes you smile. Because motherhood, after all, really is the greatest joy and privilege.

About pregnancy:

About pregnancy - what you need to know as a first-time-mom.

1. Don’t worry about timing your baby “just right”. Most people take a few months to get pregnant anyway.

2. Forget #1 and do everything possible to not be in your third trimester in the middle of summer. Because seriously, nine months pregnant in the height of summer sucks.

3. Your pregnant elephant ankles will return to normal. Just hang in there.

4. Take more naps. Don’t wait for the baby to be born so you can “nap when the baby naps”… He might not be a good napper.

5. Ask your husband’s employer if he can take an extra week of paternity leave if you end up having an unplanned c-section.

6. You have no idea about your capacity to burp and fart until you’re into your second trimester. Just you wait.

7. Don’t feel guilty if the gender of the baby on the ultra sound isn’t what you were expecting (or hoping for). It’s normal and will pass. (And you will be so happy about your little boy or girl that you’ll forget about it anyway.) Many women struggle with gender disappointment during pregnancy, so don’t let it rob you of your pregnancy joy.

8. Wear fitted clothes – your bump is beautiful and you look cuter without extra frump.

9. Don’t buy maternity clothes if you can get around it. Just buy a belly band or button extender and wear your normal clothes. (Until/unless that’s not an option any more.)

10. If you do buy anything, buy long tank tops that you can layer under other “normal” shirts. Or better yet, buy nursing tank tops (You will live in them during those first few postpartum months, whether you are layering over them or not.)

11. Take heart, your shoes will fit again someday.

12. Enjoy that beautiful skin. Unfortunately it doesn’t last.

13. Enjoy that hair. You will soon be losing it in copious amounts.

14. Save receipts because you really don’t need that bottle sanitizer.

15. Use your birthday money on yourself, silly girl. I know you’re excited, but that little baby will get more presents than you know what to do with.

16. Get educated about giving birth. The more you know, the more you will be empowered and the less scared you will be.

17. Have some understanding about c-sections and recovery… just case. (Ever heard of a “gentle cesarean“?)

18. It really is reasonable (and loving!) to let the lady with small children move to the front of the line. Start now.

19. Read differing parenting philosophy books and then decide for yourself what’s best for you and your family. I know it’s hard to believe, but you really are the expert.

20. In light of #19, be prepared to change your mind later if you need to.

About labor and giving birth:

About labor and birth - what you need to know as a first time mom.

21. If you want to speed up labor once your contractions have begun, use a breast pump. Oh. My. Goodness.

22. Have a birth plan but know that it’s just a plan, not a prophecy. It will look different. (Need help? Here’s how to organize and write a birth plan.)

23. Having your waters break is not a one-off gush… it continues for hours into labor. Don’t be alarmed when you have to walk around with a towel between your legs for the rest of the day. (Birth is so glamorous.)

24. Watching So You Think You Can Dance between contractions provides good distraction, but don’t get mad when they forget to pause it during contractions.

25. Giving birth is messy. Really messy. What? You know that? Ok then, remember it.

26. Remember that sometimes your midwife needs encouragement too, especially when things go wrong.

27. Make sure your husband knows how to quickly and efficiently find the ice machine.

28. Labor is hard work, but you were totally made for it. Go for it, girl.

About postpartum recovery:

About postpartum recovery and the 4th trimester.

29. If you wake up drenched in sweat a week or two after giving birth, get excited about it. You’re sweating off those extra baby fluid pounds.

30. Deal with your disappointment about things that went wrong with the birth and don’t let it steal the joy of birth from you.

31. You are going to feel so overwhelmed with love – don’t try to harness it, just soak in it.

32. Who cares about getting your tiny baby on a schedule from day one? Just snuggle, snuggle, snuggle and let him sleep on your chest as much as your little heart desires. I promise you, you will not regret this. Don’t let any book or auntie tell you otherwise.

33. Yes, the world really does want to see a bajillion photos of your baby on facebook – load ‘em up. (You’ll never feel so popular as when you’re the mom of an incredibly good-looking brand-new baby.) And even if they don’t, you will NEVER regret taking all those photos. (Just give clear, repeated instructions to your husband to make sure you’re included in some of them too. Don’t shy away because of bad hair or bags under your eyes. When you’ve survived the baby years, you’ll want photographic proof that you were there – mothering victoriously.)

34. Tell hubs to stock up on Draino because at around four months post-partum you will begin to shed ungodly amounts of hair.

35. Your c-section scar will still be numb six months after the surgery, and it will sometimes still feel itchy. Just deal with it and know it’s now a badge of honor.

About breastfeeding:

About breastfeeding as a brand new mom.

36. Breastfeeding will come easily and natural to you, so you have nothing to be nervous about, and just ignore all those horror stories. Unless it doesn’t. Go ahead and read a few stories (without obsessing) and prepare for both the best and worst. And practice this mantra now: I will not be defined by breastfeeding ‘success’ or ‘failure’. (Psst – no mom that’s trying hard is a failure. Perhaps banish that word from your vocabulary?)

37. Breastfeeding will be one of the absolute sweetest things you will ever do. (Need courage to breastfeed in public?)

38. Breastfeeding will sometimes feel like one of the most annoying things you ever do.

39. Breastfeeding will sometimes feel like a competition with some inanimate object while you vie for your baby’s focus and attention.

40. Breastfeeding will sometimes feel like one of the most time-consuming things you ever do. (And it is.) Hang in there, it changes before you know it and you will miss the excuse to sit down for forty-five minutes at a time like you did during the newborn phase. Later, when you’re baby’s nursing for only ten minutes at a time you’ll be thinking, What baby? Already done? No… let’s just sit here for a while snuggling.

41. Breastfeeding will be one of the wisest things you do for your baby and for you. (Still pregnant? Here’s how you can prepare for breastfeeding.)

42. Breastfeeding is the one thing only you can do with (and for) your baby. That’s a special honor that only a mama can experience. Remember to appreciate it.

About caring for your baby:

About caring for your baby as a new mom. (Yes, they will poop on you. Be prepared.)

43. If you keep your baby awake too long, he will never go to sleep easily. Don’t overestimate how much awake time a newborn can handle between naptimes.

44. Don’t worry about changing your baby every time he spits up. You already have too much laundry to do. Just rub it in – ha!

45. Never judge your baby’s clothes by the numbers on the tag. If you think that cutest-ever outfit for your baby is too big to pull out, do it anyway. It’s easier than you know to miss the “right size” window.

46. When traveling on an airplane, don’t only pack a spare set of clothes for your baby – pack a spare shirt for yourself too. Just go ahead and trust me on this one.

47. I’m totally against the use of “baby TV time” (you guys know how bad it is for your kids’ development to let them watch TV as babies and toddlers, right?! experts say to wait until two years old), but go ahead and use the TV to your advantage when cutting your baby’s fingernails. (Don’t worry, when they hit the stage where this is necessary, you will know.)

48. Don’t wake your sleeping baby unless you absolutely have too. Feeding schedules, shmeeding schedules. Let the baby sleep. (You’re welcome.)

49. When your baby is a newborn, take extra care to burp him after a feed. (I like the firm, upward rub up the back. I’m also a fan of the firm thump.) It’s worth the extra few minutes to avoid gassy baby melt-downs.

50. If your baby is having a melt-down, drop everything and walk outside. It really does work every time so don’t waste your time trying to find something else more “convenient.”

51. Four months is not too early to begin teething. If in doubt, just keep sticking your finger in there to check.

52. Decide on a lullaby song for your baby so that every time you sing it they know to expect that it’s naptime/bedtime. (Just make sure that you like it, or make your own up.)

53. Just because your baby sleeps through the night consistently at a few weeks old doesn’t mean they will continue as he gets older and hungrier. Just know that in advance. Sometimes this really feels like two steps forward, one step back. (Or one step forward, two steps back.)

54. Traveling with babies is fun and adventurous and you often get to jump to the front of the line. Take advantage of kind security guards and airline officials.  No shame here, ladies, no shame. Take favors when you get them – DUH.

55. Leave the diaper bag in the car unless you really, really need it. You have enough to carry around.

56. Don’t wait months and months to introduce the bottle – you underestimate just how much you baby really does love your boobs.

57. There will be some diaper blowouts that are not worth trying to clean up outside of the bathtub.  We’re talking a right, hot mess. That goes for both you and baby.

58. Don’t be legalistic about starting solids at exactly six months old. Get educated about a baby’s gut development, but then learn to listen to your baby’s cues and trust your instincts. Don’t start them too soon (again, read up on that gut development!), but remember that something magic doesn’t just click on their half birthday.

59. It’s okay to pull your baby into bed with you sometimes when you’re just too tired to get up yet. Do what you want. (Just do it safely: bed rails are your friend, move away your blankets, safety first, ladies! . . . with comfort and convenience being a close tie for second.) And seriously, don’t worry — you’re not going to ruin them by co-sleeping. I promise you co-sleeping is not the evil that will turn them into disobedient, overly dependent narcissists. (Don’t allow any rigid parenting book to convince you otherwise.) Remember, these are BABIES. Let them act like babies. They have plenty of time to grow up. And remember, you are TIRED. Do what you need to do to get a little sleep, too. DUH.

60. There will be lots of times when the baby is crying and you don’t know why. That’s ok, babies cry. Sometimes they are trying to communicate something, but often they are releasing their big emotions and pent up baby angst. Just do your best and remember that sometimes even you specifically choose movies based on the fact that you need a good cry, too.

61. When introducing solids to your baby, strip him down to a diaper and bib, roll up your sleeves, put on goggles, and make sure an assistant is standing by (with a camera, of course).

62. Be prepared when you’re encouraging your child to learn to crawl. I know it’s fun and super cute, but there really is no turning back. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you, you overly keen first-time mom, you.)

About being a first-time mom:

About being a first-time-mom. Everything you didn't know you needed to know.

63. Never judge a parent that is bribing their baby with food… there will be times when you end up doing it too.

64. Be prepared for spontaneous mama-tears when you have love-saturated-heart moments. (And don’t rush them – they are precious.)

65. Although you already thought you were a responsible driver, you will start to drive even slower and even more cautiously. Just sayin. Your wild days are over. . . at least temporarily. (But seriously Grandma, please at least try to drive the speed limit. You don’t want to get pulled over because a cop thinks you might be driving stoned. BE NORMAL.)

66. Congratulations, you will now forever be known as “so-and-so’s” mom.

67. You will be tempted to spend more time making sure your baby looks cute than making sure you do. Keep it real, girlfriend. Brush your hair for goodness sakes.

68. Diaper bags are for carrying important things, like snacks for mommy.

69. Your baby will sleep through the night sometimes… and when he does you will have insomnia.

70. Even though you think you won’t be one of “those” parents who wants to buy their kid everything, you will come home with a big ridiculous Baby Einstein exersaucer. (And he will absolutely love it.)

71. During those first few months, be prepared to go through baby’s clothes every 3-4 weeks and pack up the too-small ones and pull out the bigger ones. (And be aware that you might get a little teary on occasion about how fast it’s all going.)

72. Even though it feels like a lot of work to think ahead and make double portions, it’s worth the effort to have homemade meals to pull out of the freezer instead of frozen pizzas on those nights. (Although frozen pizzas work too. See a theme here, ladies? Again, no shame. No shame.)

73. Write milestones down on a calendar if you’re not into doing a baby book – it’s a lot easier than scrolling back through all your facebook status updates to remember when baby learned new tricks.

74. Make sure to regularly go through your photo files and delete 30% of the millions of photos you’re taking of sweet baby. (They really are more similar than you think.) But don’t stop taking the millions.

75. Plan for “quick errands” to take twice as long as they used to. Actually, make that three times as long.

76. There will days when you want to return to work just so you can have a break.

77. Being a stay-at-home-mom is the only job in the world that doesn’t come with coffee breaks, lunch breaks, weekends, holidays, or sick days. And there’s nothing you can do about it except to learn to roll with it. You really can learn to be a SAHM without losing your marbles.

78. There will be days where you cry as much as your baby. This is normal. There will also be days when you cry more than your baby. This is also normal.

79. When your baby is going through a growth spurt, cut your to-list down to 25% and give yourself lots of grace when it comes to house work and errands.

80. You think hearing your baby say “mama” for the first time will melt your heart… It will, but know that it’s even more than that. It will also blow your mind and make you weak at the knees. (So basically it affects your whole body, it’s that good.)

81. Different babies have different milestones at different times. Do your best not to compare.

82. Weekly menu-planning has never been so important. I know it’s boring and not spontaneous, but it really does help. And I’m NOT one of those women who have binders of home organization stuff (bless their hearts), and yet I’m telling you – just plan the freaking meals. You’ll thank me later.

83. If you’re having one of those days where you feel discouraged because you’re getting nothing done, take 20 minutes to play with your baby without multi-tasking. It will instantly give you perspective.

84. Take long moments to stare at your little wonder and drink in that baby goodness. They really do grow way too fast.

85. Keep in mind that immunizations are harder for mama than for baby.

86. Find an on-line forum to join for encouragement and support.

87. Your bookmarks bar will become overrun with parenting websites and forums… but save your other links too. After the first couple of months you’ll want them again.

88. Always try to leave five minutes earlier than you need to. Then you will only be five minutes late to wherever you’re going (instead of ten) after you’ve changed the pooey diaper that inevitably happens when you’re walking out the door.

89. Be prepared to wonder if you ever knew what love was before you had a child.

90. Doing a load of laundry, folding it, and putting it away all within the same day will make you feel like wondermom. (Go ahead and congratulate yourself and tweet about it when you accomplish this.)

91. Make feeding yourself as big a priority as feeding your baby. (That way everyone wins.) You really do need to be intentional about taking care of yourself.

92. Don’t stress about baby-proofing. Your baby will help you when it’s time.

93. Watching your husband be a daddy will make you fall in love with him even more. Relish it. Appreciate it. And make sure he knows how much it turns you on.

94. Don’t wait too long before finding a mom’s group. It really is more fun than you’d expect. You’re entering into one of the biggest changes of your life (maybe the biggest) and it helps to have others going through it along with you. They don’t even have to be your best friends. They just need to be willing to share the mom life and the little years with you. Solidarity, girls. #WeNeedEachOther

95. You might find yourself accidentally speaking in a higher pitch or saying things like “bye bye”  or “night night” or “poo poo” when talking to other adults. You’ll grow out of it as you get used to this gig, so just have fun making fun of yourself in the meantime. You might also find yourself swaying the childless shopping cart back and forth as you read labels or scan the shelves looking for an item during the rare kid-free grocery run. Again, just laugh at yourself and then tweet about it later. These days are over fast.

96. You will re-define “sleeping-in” to any time past 7:00am, and thankfully it will happen every once-and-a-while.

97. Don’t put off buying a video baby monitor if you can afford to swing it. Not only will it provide endless entertainment for your first few days of having it, but it will save you from playing the guessing game about naptimes.

98. Be careful not to underestimate the small things. Starting your day with simple things like making the bed, having a shower, and eating breakfast will make the entire rest of your day better. Seriously, DO THIS STUFF.

99. Don’t get defensive when friends without children (especially single friends) ask you what you do all day at home. They honestly have no clue what it’s like to maintain sanity as a stay-at-home-mom.

100. Remember that you’re doing a great job. Being a mom brings out the best and the worst in you. Know that you’re normal and try to learn from all of it. And more than that, enjoy the ride — you’re a far better mom than you probably think.

Dear moms and expecting moms and future moms — please hear this last little tidbit and chew it up and let it sink right into your bones: my mothering mantra is not, “I am a perfect mom.” That would be ridiculous and unattainable and depressing. But my mothering mantra is, “I am the perfect mom for my kids.” And guess what? You are too. You’re the perfect mom for your kids and don’t ever let yourself think otherwise — not even for a moment. You’ve got this mom gig.

Love, Adriel xo

 

Inboxes can be depressing. Need some encouragement in there instead? Sign up for my ‘secret posts’ here:

LoveNotes - a little note from Adriel

 

Preparing for baby number two?

Here are a few just for you: In Which I Realize I Might Never Feel ‘Ready’ to Have More ChildrenPreparing for Baby #2 – It’s Okay to Question Yourself, or Making Enough Room in My Heart & Life for Baby #2 (Will I Ever Be ‘Enough’?).

 

Recommended reads:

I highly recommend these books by my dear friend Jessica Wolstenholm: The Pregnancy Companion: A Faith-Filled Guide for Your Journey to Motherhood and The Baby Companion: A Faith-Filled Guide for Your Journey through Baby’s First Year

The Pregnancy Companion and The Baby Companion

I hope you don’t need this, but if you do, I hope my book will be a blessing to you and serve you as you process the grief of a pregnancy loss: Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss

Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss by Adriel Booker

I’ve also written a free ebook to help you journal through your grief and write your story. Download your copy here: Journaling Our Scarlett Stories: Journal Prompts for Processing Grief after Pregnancy Loss

Journal Prompts after Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss to Process Your Grief

My Pinterest resource boards:

Bump, Birth, & Baby

Motherhood & Parenting

Pregnancy Loss: Miscarriage, Stillbirth, & Grief

VBAC & Cesarean Birth

 

Related posts:

Tons of resources for new moms and moms-to-be about pregnancy, birth, parenting, and motherhood.

VBAC or Repeat Cesarean: 20+ Resources to help you decide.

Support After Miscarriage—Stories, Resources, Community

 

*affiliate links used

About Author

Adriel Booker is an author, speaker, and advocate based in Sydney, Australia who believes storytelling, beauty, and the grace of God will change the world. Adriel has become a trusted voice in areas of motherhood and parenting, Christian spirituality, and global women's issues. She's also known for her work with the Love A Mama Collective—serving under-resourced women in developing nations through safe birth initiatives—as well as her years spent as a Bible teacher and leadership coach. Her latest book is Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss and she's made the companion grief journal available for free. Find Adriel across all social media platforms at @adrielbooker or sign up for LoveNotes, Adriel's 'secret posts' that aren't published anywhere else online. ✌️

194 Comments

  • Elle
    28 July 2010 at 8:49 am

    I just found your site and I LOVE it. Lately I've been doubting my abilities as a mom to my 15 month old but this list shows me that I'm doing just fine. Thank You for that. 🙂

    Reply
  • cooperl788
    28 July 2010 at 11:14 am

    This list cracked me up at some spots and had me tearing up at others. Mommyhood is such an awesome and challenging job, isn't it? Don't you wish babies came with their own manual? I liked your section on breastfeeding (though it WAS really hard and painful and unnatural for me in the first month). It's important that women know that they CAN do it, and their bodies were meant to do this. It will work with some time and effort. Great list, and congrats on the 100th post!

    Reply
  • furygirl3132
    28 July 2010 at 12:37 pm

    What a great post, thanks so much for sharing!
    I am a new follower from Welcome Wednesday, so glad to have found your blog and I look forward to reading more. Hope you have a wonderful day!

    Eloise
    Mommy2TwoGirls
    http://mommy2twogirls.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  • KimD
    28 July 2010 at 1:05 pm

    Great Post! So true!

    Reply
  • the mombshell
    28 July 2010 at 1:36 pm

    when I was looking at the pictures of you while pregnant and then postpartum I puked a little in my mouth from jealousy. Then the picture of you with some sort of baby fluid running down your leg made me love you again. Fabulous post!

    Reply
  • my shy thai
    28 July 2010 at 2:01 pm

    SO many good ones, all good ones! I especially relate to # 63, 64 and 67! 🙂

    Reply
  • Mandy
    28 July 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Oh my gosh, I LOVE this post! You were the cutest pregnant lady ever, and such a beautiful Mom. You put so much thought into this post. And don't worry about 'breaking blogger rules'- like you said, it's your blog you can do what you want. I never follow rules, I don't really care :-). I will totally link this post to all of my expecting friends, they will love it and find it so awesome and informative. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this!

    Reply
  • Design It Chic
    28 July 2010 at 2:53 pm

    Love your 100 post:) I am now following you thanks to Welcome Wednesday!It would be nice if you could share back the love on my blog! Happy Wednesday!

    Reply
  • The Planet Pink
    28 July 2010 at 3:24 pm

    Great list! You're right, there's more to come, but that's the great thing about motherhood – there's always something to learn!

    Reply
  • Livy
    28 July 2010 at 3:41 pm

    I liked your list. I could relate to so many of those. It is crazy how much life changes once you have a baby. I mean I knew that before, but you can't really know until you experience it.

    Reply
  • Kayla
    28 July 2010 at 4:06 pm

    Love this post! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the shout out! 🙂
    Kayla
    mybellababyshop.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • Chelsea Pearl
    28 July 2010 at 4:09 pm

    I loved the list! And yes the list will grow and change as your baby does.
    Isn't being a mommy so much fun!?

    Reply
  • Jhen.Stark
    28 July 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Fan-freakin-tastic! Goodness, this was hilarious and spot on! As I was reading this, 10 names of expecting and new mommies went through my head so I must spread this on!!! THANK YOU!

    Reply
  • Amy
    28 July 2010 at 6:15 pm

    hahaha! So true, so true… Great list, and congrats on your 100th post!

    Reply
  • Jamee
    28 July 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Love this list even though I can only relate to #43 and beyond! But I must say that I smiled at #35 as I have a scar similar to a c-section scar from my hysterectomy and it completely freaked me out that it was numb! I even called the nurse in a panic and of course she just laughed! Congrats on your 100th post!

    Reply
  • Erica
    28 July 2010 at 7:29 pm

    My son is 10, and your list made me miss his babyhood so much more than I already do!

    Reply
  • Andrea
    28 July 2010 at 7:42 pm

    So cute. I love breaking the rules. And you did it with such style.

    Reply
  • Amy
    29 July 2010 at 5:43 am

    I loved this celebration of your 100th post! It was so informative, honest and funny. Awesome!

    Thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting. Don't be a stranger!

    Reply
  • Melissa (Confessions of a Dr. Mom)
    29 July 2010 at 7:00 am

    Congratulations on your 100th post! What a wonderful way to celebrate it and to celebrate your journey into motherhood! Awesome job:)

    Reply
  • Sus Obaika
    29 July 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Thats great, Adriel..I think you ll have your 200 points list when Baby no 2 is joining the family..I promise you!!! 🙂

    Reply
  • Tori
    29 July 2010 at 5:36 pm

    Aww, I loved this post! So sweet. Makes me want to have a baby all over again 🙂

    Reply
  • Jill
    30 July 2010 at 2:07 am

    You said it girl. The breastfeeding section is definitely near to my heart, since it didn't go so well for me. However, there is always the next child, right???? I hope it works out anyway.

    Probably the biggest thing I've learned is that trying to put a dynamic person onto a rigid schedule is sometimes impossible to do and not to let it wreck your world when it doesn't go as planned. Thanks for sharing Adriel!

    Reply
  • Natalie
    30 July 2010 at 2:50 am

    Love, love, LOVE it!!! #8 is my favorite, and I wish I would've listened to that advice when pregnant with the twins. And that pic of the exploding poop? I wish I would've got a pic of that because it really is unbelievable disgusting every single time it happens!!

    Reply
  • Rachel
    30 July 2010 at 11:39 am

    I love it! This was just perfect for me today!

    Reply
  • KLZ
    30 July 2010 at 1:22 pm

    This is a great list but I am distracted by the dress you are wearing in the first photo. May I please borrow it?

    Reply
  • ohmygoddess
    30 July 2010 at 4:11 pm

    i absolutely love your list! funny, helpful, and cute!

    Reply
  • Cameron
    1 August 2010 at 12:24 am

    Seriously, oh my gosh. You are so awesome at making these lists!!! I sometimes have a hard time getting to 10 things in a list & you come up with 100!!! You're amazing. And I must say the one that I went, "Oh wow I totally agree" was the one about using the TV to your advantage when clipping their fingernails! Isn't that such a random one to really identify with?

    And happy 100 posts!!!!

    Reply
  • Liz
    26 August 2010 at 9:27 pm

    A friend of mine shared this on facebook and I have to say thank you for helping me to see the bigger picture about my L&D…and also to comment that for some women breastfeeding is NOT easy or natural and it's all you can do to stop yourself from breaking into tears because everyone says that it is 😛 I do agree that it is one of the wisest things you can do as a parent, though…and when BFing fails, breast pumps are the best invention ever 🙂

    Reply
  • The Empress
    23 January 2011 at 8:24 am

    This was so sweet.

    You were as happy as I was, to be finally pregnant. I was finally pregnant at 35, and felt like it was a dream, I was so happy.

    I can see the joy in your face. I was that way, too.

    THank you for helping me remember.

    Reply
  • Melissa {adventuroo}
    27 September 2011 at 11:26 am

    OMG you are SO beautiful preggers. And I had to totally crack up at poop on your leg. But I know how you feel. When Big Roo was a baby, he did that at an Arizona Diamondbacks game. Thank god we were in box seats.

    Anyway, thanks for the shout out too– I think you did an AMAZING job at your list. Seriously. Congrats on 100 posts!

    Reply
  • […] on October 16, 2011 | Be the first to comment [About pregnancy: part 1 of 6 originally published here as part of "100 things I've learned about pregnancy, birth, babies, and motherhood" in honor of my […]

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  • […] 3, 2011 | Be the first to comment [About labor and giving birth: part 2 of 6 originally published here as part of "100 things I've learned about pregnancy, birth, babies, and motherhood" in honor of my […]

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  • […] 100 Little Things About Pregnancy, Birth and Becoming a Mom […]

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  • Carly
    28 November 2013 at 4:09 am

    Pinterest brought me here. Thank you for this list it was a great read. Me and the husband are trying to have a baby and this was one of the better lists I’ve read.

    Reply
  • Veronica
    4 December 2013 at 1:31 pm

    I absolutely loved this list. Just a comment about #29, I woke up a week after birth shaking and sweating so bad. I thought it was just post partum stuff. Until I took my temperature and it was 103 and rising. My doctor sent me to the ER. So it’s okay to question if some things are “normal.”

    Reply
    • Adriel
      15 December 2013 at 9:44 am

      Absolutely Veronica!! Thank you for mentioning that – I totally agree and should have added that I asked my midwife about it before I knew it was harmless sweating. (I had no fever, which is why were weren’t concerned.) We always need to listen to our instinct and if in doubt, knock on some doors and ask an expert. So glad you’re ok!
      Adriel recently posted..Bankrupt without Love – Mandela, Saint Nicholas, you and I My Profile

      Reply
  • brianne
    5 December 2013 at 5:20 am

    Loved this!!!! Wish I would have found it before I had my son instead of a year and a half later but I still really enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • kati
    30 December 2013 at 12:14 am

    Enjoyed reading your post! Congrats on your 100th post as well!

    http://www.mommymoments.org

    Reply
  • Jen
    31 December 2013 at 3:04 pm

    I love 99 of the tips on here. Moms do need to hear this stuff. However please do not put ur baby in bed with you if you are sleeping. I have had a friend that lost her daughter this way. It is just too big of a risk take.

    Reply
  • Jen
    31 December 2013 at 3:09 pm

    I love 99 of the tips on here. Thank you, moms do really need to hear this stuff. However please don’t put your baby in the bed with you while you’re going to be sleeping. I have a friend that lost her daughter this way. It’s better not to risk this one.

    Reply
  • Chloe
    2 January 2014 at 2:45 pm

    Thanx so much for this post. I was excited when I realised you were down under!

    Reply
  • Rosanna
    15 January 2014 at 9:02 pm

    Nowhere near being a mom but still superuseful, for later. Thanks!

    Reply
  • Liz
    25 January 2014 at 8:51 am

    I just found this and after just having my 2nd I agree with everything you wrote (especially about the unplanned c-section) I will be passing this along to many of my first time preggo friends. Thanks for such a great post and I look forward to reading more.

    Reply
  • Holly
    1 February 2014 at 2:52 am

    It was sooooo gd to read a positive post about pregnancy, birth and mummyhood!! I have a 20 wk old and seem to be inundated with negative posts claiming to be “the real truth” about it all. I’ve loved the last 9 months + 20 wks..not always gone as planned (what ever does though?!) but no way letting that rob my joy!! Thanks for being real but positive too!!

    Reply
  • Jamie
    1 February 2014 at 9:22 am

    Great list, if I could change one thing though I would really reconsider #48, I’m not sure how big your baby was, but both my girls were tiny and I had to wake them because they needed to eat every opportunity they got- if your baby is a healthy weight however then I totally agree that letting your baby sleep is best for everyone and once my girls were a healthy weight, I let them sleep.

    Reply
  • techkim
    13 February 2014 at 1:07 am

    First list that really is true. I especially like #58.

    Reply
  • Kristen
    15 February 2014 at 12:46 am

    Any suggestions on what will make pregnancy more enjoyable for my wife? I’m leaving for basic training soon and I want to make sure she’s happy and enjoys every part of it!

    Reply
  • Crystal
    15 February 2014 at 4:41 am

    Adriel,

    Let me first start by saying that I loved reading this post! My husband and I don’t have children yet and won’t for some years to come, but this post made me look forward to having children someday! I can’t tell you how many blog posts I’ve read that were just so negative and scary that they almost made me not want to have children! Thank you, for being so encouraging to well, WOMEN, in general; Moms-to-be, first time Moms, and those of us who want to be a Mom some day, but just aren’t quite ready! The 100 Little Things we’re so down to earth and sweetly honest! I love how you sweetly reminded us to not forget our husbands and taking care of ourselves (when we do have a baby)! It is so very important!

    Thank you, thank you, for being so encouraging and honest! I’m pinning this, just for the day when my husband and I are expecting our first bundle of joy!

    Thank you!

    -Crystal

    Reply
  • Kat
    21 February 2014 at 4:37 am

    Thank you so much for this. My little boy is only two months old, but each of these still really hit home. I kept finding myself giggling or getting a little teary eyed as I went through the list. I’m also sharing the link with my best friend who is due this summer. She’s been feeling so overwhelmed and I really think this will help her relax and enjoy all the little things. 🙂

    Reply
  • Allie
    8 March 2014 at 6:52 am

    I loved the list! It is very sweet and a lot of them are oh so true. However, I have to say that I disliked the part about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was the single most difficult thing I have ever experienced in all my life. I spent 4 months trying to fight a losing battle. Saying it is the easiest thing is a slap in the face. It makes women, like me, who struggled and spent days crying because you just can’t make it work, feel worthless. This perpetuation of the ease of breastfeeding needs to stop. It’s not always as easy as putting your baby on your breast and BAM they’re eating. For most women there is some kind of struggle involved. It’s blurbs like that that make women who can’t or struggle to breastfeed feel like something is wrong with them. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s wonderful that it was so easy for you, I wish it would have gone that way for me and mine. I just feel like the few that have babies born knowing how to breastfeed make the majority who do have any sort of obstacle or struggle feel incompetent and horrifically guilty when at long last they resort to formula. We need to share the bad as well as the good. New mom’s should be aware that breastfeeding may (heavy emphasis on may) just happen “naturally” but for most it is hard work, really hard work. You’ll probably make at least one trip to a lactation consultant, use up more than one tube of lanolin, be put on antibiotics for mastitis or develop thrush, and like 60% of babies born today, your little one will probably have some sort of tongue or lip tie making they’re latch almost incomprehensibly painful. Not to mention the few babies that cannot thrive on breastmilk or the women who cannot produce enough or any milk. Sorry to be a Debby-downer, but it’s the real truth on breastfeeding.

    Reply
    • Adriel
      9 March 2014 at 3:34 pm

      I’m sorry for your difficult experience Allie. Like I said: “breastfeeding will come easily and natural to you… unless it doesn’t.”

      Personally, I had heard so many horror stories that I was completely intimidated and anxious and expecting the worse. I wish someone had encouraged me that it can turn out differently so that I would have anticipated it with more faith instead of fear. This is my experience and the reason I’ve written in the way that I have. I think if you re-read that section you might realize that I’m not sugar coating it, but rather sharing what I personally learned. I understand that you are looking through a painful lens, and that affects the way you’d read my experience.

      Thanks for taking the time to comment and share about your struggles. I’m sure you’re a fantastic mom. x
      Adriel recently posted..Goodbye, hello: The year before and the one ahead (including the ‘best of’ for 2013 and why we’re now homeless)My Profile

      Reply
  • Melanie
    9 March 2014 at 11:26 am

    I loved this post. I have 4 littles of my own (6,4,3 and almost 1). I sooooo identified with this. What a great post for those expecting! All of it was so relevant, funny and sooo true!

    Reply
  • Yaritza
    13 March 2014 at 10:12 pm

    Beautiful, amazing and funny! Well written and I felt like I was talking to a best friend. Thank you.

    Reply
  • obat kutil kelamin
    18 March 2014 at 9:35 pm

    This perpetuation of the ease of breastfeeding needs to stop. It’s not always as easy as putting your baby on your breast and BAM they’re eating. For most women there is some kind of struggle involved. It’s blurbs like that that make women who can’t or struggle to breastfeed feel like something is wrong with them.
    obat kutil kelamin recently posted..Cara mengobati kutil di sekitar kemaluanMy Profile

    Reply
    • Adriel
      21 March 2014 at 5:31 pm

      Thanks for taking the time to comment, but what you’ve said makes me think you didn’t even read the post since that’s clearly not what I’ve written. I understand that when people read with a certain lens or preconceived idea or grievance, then it’s easy to read exactly what you’re looking for. Perhaps that’s what happened here.
      Adriel recently posted..What if your baby has Down syndrome? (Would the world love him, too?)My Profile

      Reply
  • […] If you made it through all 101 of those I applaud you. If you’re a soon-to-be mama a dear friend of mine wrote a similar list just for you a couple of years ag0 about 100 things she’s learned about pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, caring fo… […]

    Reply
  • Jasmine
    28 March 2014 at 11:14 am

    This is the best post I’ve found in awhile! ! Made me tear, as well as smile 🙂 I may have to save it and read every now and again to remind me that I’m not in the stay at home momma struggle alone. Every single one absolutely true …

    Reply
  • Louise
    1 April 2014 at 5:16 pm

    I had a good laugh! Could relate, thanks for the piece loved it!

    Reply
  • Victoria
    19 April 2014 at 1:01 am

    My little guy is 5 weeks old and I appreciated reading this! It is always important to be reminded to enjoy this time and let all of the other expectations go. I recently started telling myself, “what you do mean you didn’t accomplish anything today and are still in your pajamas? You fed your son 12 times and changed as many diapers!” Thank you for sharing. And yes, I did come home with an exersaucer the other day.

    Reply
  • Natilee
    21 April 2014 at 10:28 pm

    First off, I find your blog very entertaining and helpful so PLEASE do not take this the wrong way. I just want to throw some persepctive out there. I do not agree with 75 & 76 and I have great reasons.

    I know that stay at home mom’s have a big job, and I respect that and all of them. Most of my friends I grew up with have had the opportunity to stay at home with their babies and they are great people! I just wish everyone would stop comparing a stay at home mom with working moms. I am expecting my first baby this summer and I have already been so fustrated about how much working Mom’s get underminded (intentional or not). I have to (not want to) return to work. I get only 6 weeks of partial-paid maternity leave and then leave my newborn at home while I cry myself to work. I will have to use all my coffee and lunch breaks to pump milk and try to scarf down my lunch while answering phones. Those sick days? Yeah, I may get to call in sick to work, but I’ll be at home with my baby on those sick days taking care of him. Those weekends and holidays? That will be when I’ll get to bond with my baby and somehow also do all the crap everyone else does without an outside job. Chores, laundry, cooking, all of that in a fraction of the time a SAHM gets. My point is, you really shouldn’t say that SAHM wish they could get a break from the baby by going back to work. It’s not a break at all. It’s an extra job on top of being and doing all the same things SAHM’s do with so much less time.

    Reply
    • Adriel
      22 April 2014 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks for taking the time to share you perspective Natilee. I really do appreciate it. I’m sorry you feel undermined by your friends or society at large. I think most all moms recognize the hard work it takes to do what we do, no matter where the work takes place – inside and outside of the home. Unfortunately I can confidently say that many SAHMs struggle with the perception that society at large doesn’t respect the hard work they do at home. (My husband is a stay at home dad right now and he’s just beginning to realize this on a completely different level as he grapples with the demands of being at home all day.)

      I’ve been a SAHM, a WAHM, and a work outside the home mom and I can assure you – each has its own set of challenges! I’m pretty sure none is easier than the others unless/until you find your personal sweet spot as a mom and as a family. I did, however, have many moments as a new SAHM where I wished I could return to work to have a break from the constant demands of the home variety of motherhood. That’s why I wrote that – it WAS very, very true for me when I wrote this post three years ago. That’s not to say being at home is harder in general. I never said that and NEVER would. Each woman has a different hard. For one, being at home is harder than being away at work, and for another being at work is harder than being at home – each depending on how she’s wired. Unfortunately we can’t all “work” in our sweet spot due to childcare issues, finances, etc.

      I’m just going to leave it at that because we both have reasons for our observations and neither are “wrong”. I hope you’re finding some encouragement and the support you need. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart and we ALL work super hard!!! I’m sure you’re a fabulous mom. xx
      Adriel recently posted..Sometimes a kid just needs to know: Will you trust me? My Profile

      Reply
  • Courtney
    14 May 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Thank you for this post! By the way you wrote it, I knew you loved Jesus. I felt so encouraged and hopeful for the future for my husband and myself. We just started trying to have children. It hasn’t even been a month and I’m already impatient! Number one on the list was for me! And all the rest were so fun to read about and look forward to.

    Reply
  • Katie
    21 May 2014 at 10:38 pm

    A wonderful list! Already in my second year with my little one and everything you said is right on target a good read for expecting moms or moms who already have to get a look back.

    Reply
  • A Morning Grouch
    5 June 2014 at 6:39 am

    Fantastic list! Well written – love the truth sprinkled with the wit.

    Reply
  • Pam Carmody
    6 June 2014 at 6:58 pm

    Thank you for this post. I my self have never had the wonderful opportunity to be a mom. But I have step sons. One is now married and expecting their 1st. I sent this to his wife I really thought it was light and funny but very informational. Thank you again!!!

    Reply
    • Adriel
      7 June 2014 at 11:54 pm

      Thank you for sharing Pam!

      And if I may, I just want to say that sounds to me like you are a mom!!! 🙂 And congrats on becoming a grandma – woohooooo!!! x

      Reply
  • Miley Adam
    20 June 2014 at 4:32 am

    Many many thanks for this valuable sharing with new moms and upcoming moms like i found your post very helpful to me because i will be a mom soon. I never read that types of article before about pregnancy 🙂

    Reply
    • Adriel
      20 June 2014 at 6:02 am

      I’m so glad Miley. More importantly, congratulations! 🙂

      Reply
  • Emily
    20 June 2014 at 3:55 pm

    At 30 years of age, I find myself unexpectedly expecting my first little one. This post has been so good for me to read and I will reread it many times. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  • Brooke
    23 July 2014 at 11:18 am

    I just stumbled upon this and I just want to say thank you. I am about 9 weeks into my first pregnancy and I am a worry wart. I am constantly worrying about things that might happen 6 years down the road. Your tips and advice put me at ease and got me excited (and crying). I am super nervous about being a mom but after reading this I know I will be okay. Thank you and God bless!

    Reply
  • Rachael
    1 August 2014 at 6:54 pm

    Love this post! Not a mom yet, but trying to conceive. There are so many blog posts out there about how hard and overwhelming being a new mom is. It’s wonderful to see a post that acknowledges that it’s hard but still offers such home. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • Karla
    11 August 2014 at 8:54 pm

    This was amazing to read. I clipped so many things to Evernote to read again later. My long time boyfriend and I have been discussing us having a kid together despite him having kids from previous, and it’s been all that’s on my mind lately. I believe the more I read, the better off I’ll be. ^_^

    Reply
  • shaboopi
    21 August 2014 at 9:36 am

    This just made me laugh so hard! I’m pregnant with #4. It was still so funny! The way you want things to be with the first and the reality are so very different. With each one you care less about the little things and learn to breathe deep a little more. You also find yourself praying about 100 times a day for God to give you peace and enjoy the faults in this season of life. My kids are 16, 5, 2, and one baking. My life is a mess! We’re blessed with these gifts God have us and one day the mess will be clean. For now we’re living life and having fun. The laundry pile can continue to grow.

    Reply
  • Anna
    24 September 2014 at 8:22 pm

    You wrote great things. I am not pregnant but I am in college and seeing this article you wrote was great. I do love kids and I find a lot of this stuff that you wrote seems to be true although I don’t know half the stuff you wrote. I read every single one of your 100 comment deals and they seem great. I legitimately have read this and cannot wait to be a mom. I will look back and use this when I become a first time mother.

    Reply
  • aswathy
    16 October 2014 at 1:18 pm

    I just loved reading this so much! It brought smiles and tears both at the same time. Esp. Mom encouraging part. I really needed it. Thanks for your wonderful list which every new mommies can relate to. .will look forward for reading more from you!

    Reply
  • Baby Care
    8 November 2014 at 8:14 am

    In the starting time of your baby you need more work and more attention to give real proper maintenance for your baby.

    Reply
  • Mumzone
    10 November 2014 at 11:23 pm

    I had a baby in winter and after not feeling the cold for so long whilst pregnant I suddenly really noticed it and found I had to wear extra clothes to keep warm. I also found that breastfeeding at night made me cold. So if you’re due during the colder months take this into account because the last thing you want to do when you’re looking after a new baby is end up sick.
    Mumzone recently posted..Some Reasons That A Baby May CryMy Profile

    Reply
  • Marilyn
    4 December 2014 at 6:16 pm
  • http://www.mind-mom.com/
    4 January 2015 at 1:50 am

    The post is very good.

    Reply
  • mumzone
    5 January 2015 at 4:43 am

    Nice post and congratulation for your Baby

    Reply
  • Julie Graham
    9 January 2015 at 12:19 pm

    I’m currently at 9 months with my first and oh the things we learn! Except I know that with a second it will be different for that little individual baby and I’ll be learning quite a bit more- again! I’ve had to tell my husband a number of times recently, “I don’t know all the answers” to which he says, “oh.” Here’s to what we can become!

    Reply
  • Judy
    15 January 2015 at 5:16 am

    its a wonderful process, i miss it 🙁

    Reply
  • CN
    16 January 2015 at 10:03 pm

    This is a wonderful site!! im really young and this is my first so this has helped me a lot!! I JUST CANT WAIT!!

    Reply
  • Victoria
    22 January 2015 at 3:30 pm

    I really like this my fiancee and me are trying to have a baby and i am looking up peoples opinions on mother. I for sure loved the info i gotbhere

    Reply
  • Ashley
    29 January 2015 at 3:43 am

    I’ve been really down on myself as a mom the past few weeks, and this post was exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  • Lucyca
    5 February 2015 at 2:54 am

    Hi
    It the great post and all about pregnancy. Will of course be helpful for the expecting ladies and their family. I am happy with getting this post as I am expecting on next June. Thank you for this nice post.
    Lucyca recently posted..4 Points to Identify the Diaper Rash that Affect BabyMy Profile

    Reply
  • name
    11 February 2015 at 1:49 am

    Well written article.

    Reply
  • Amy Louise
    18 February 2015 at 1:22 am

    I love this post and am so grateful to have found it! My first baby is due in 2 weeks and after reading your list I feel alot more confident about it all. I know I will end up reading this again and again…thank you so much x

    Reply
  • mummy2b
    27 February 2015 at 9:45 pm

    Nice post! It’s really helpful esp the birth plan portion as I’m due in Apr 2015 and I can discuss this w my gynae in our next appt…

    Reply
  • Charmaine
    3 March 2015 at 11:05 pm

    Hi, I am going to be a mommy in September, well thats what the doctor estimates but I am sure we all know babies have a mind of their own … I am 10 weeks pregnant and I am loving every second of it. i am not a strong believer in pretty much anything, however I do believe that we are all here for a purpose and mine was to be a mommy! I am so happy, lucky and blessed to be this happy. I love reading up about everything, whats to come, whats happening on the inside and the out, my favorite day of the week now is a Monday, thats when I get my weekly updates on what to expect this week, I love it and I constantly sit with a nerdy grin on my face while working, my boss just looks at me, smiles then goes about his business. I loved this article and I look forward to reading many more. I am not at all nervous about being a mommy, the late nights or early morning, money is pretty far in the back of my head, all I am concerned about is bringing my precious gift into this world … I wont say concerned, I am more nervous, as I had a back operation about 2 years ago and I am still battling with dropped foot, its horrible, did I mention I’m only turning 26 in April, I am young and full of energy but I am so worried that carrying this baby is going to put too much strain on my back. I hate this thought and this is the only thing putting a damper on the most amazing time of my life. Anyway, definitely not going to harp on this, all I wanted to say is how much I loved reading this and I look forward to the next few months to come …

    Reply
  • Brooke Cason
    6 March 2015 at 3:29 am

    I love your tips! Reading your post makes me so excited to be a mommy! I especially love tip 32, “Just snuggle, snuggle, snuggle.” I definitely want to spend plenty of time snuggling with my baby because I know he will grow so quickly.
    Since I’ve never had a baby before, I was wondering, what do I need to do to find a good OB/GYN doctor? I was thinking I should just ask my friends who they use but are there specific questions I should ask my doctor about the care he provides?

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      5 November 2015 at 11:05 pm

      Sorry I’m just now seeing this comment, Brooke. Not sure how I missed it before! But yes, I’d recommend going by word-of-mouth recommendations from friends for sure! Other than that, if you’ve done a little research for the type of birth you’d ilke to have, you can ask your doctor questions related to that as well. If there are birthing centers in your area, I’d highly recommend checking one out and speaking to a midwife. I’m a huge fan of midwife-led care! Best of luck with it all! x
      Adriel Booker recently posted..Coming Clean: This teen star’s confessional should inspire us allMy Profile

      Reply
  • Stephi
    28 March 2015 at 6:26 am

    So i am pregnant for the first time I am 20 years old, and i have honestly have never been so happy or so excited about anything in my life. Reading your tips just brought tears of excitement to my eyes, I really cant wait, your tips made me even more excited for my future family. Your tips are super helpful, thank you.

    Reply
  • Radhika
    2 April 2015 at 2:57 am

    My LO is nearing 6 weeks and I guess I’m at that stage where time seems to slow down and speed up simultaneously! Reading your post made me feel so very much better about…well, everything! Thank you from the deepest corner of my heart for sharing your experiences. You really are amazing!

    Reply
  • Megan K
    5 April 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Hello! I am going to be a first-time mom in July this year…can I just say that your 100 tips made me feel ONE BILLION times better about myself than I did before reading this. My husband and I are both in our early 20s and some days I feel like I don’t know anything about being a good mom, especially when I myself am just getting used to adulthood! I am very very excited but also nervous and overwhelmed by everything. Sometimes I even have some random emotional breakdowns or nights like this where I have not slept because all I can think about is having baby and what I need and how to be a good mom..blah blah BLAH. (As you can tell I have so many things on my mind at this point in time).
    Anyways, long story short, I just wanted to let you know that your article inspired me, even though I found this post about one year later! I have really been wanting to find support groups and advice to help me along the way…this really helped calm my nerves. I know I should give myself more credit and to relax in knowing that there is no way to be a perfect mom. I just wanted to say how appreciative I am to have found your blog this early in the morning and that I hope you will write future ones along the way! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      13 April 2015 at 1:40 am

      congratulations megan. i’m sure you’ll be a wonderful mom for your little one. if you’re able, try to get connected with some sort of local moms group. i hesitated at first, but when i finally did i was so glad. it’s nice to have that support in person when everything is so new.

      you’ll do great! best of luck with your pregnancy.
      Adriel Booker recently posted..Beautiful or Average: Would I choose Beautiful with no one watching?My Profile

      Reply
  • Laura
    15 April 2015 at 10:16 am

    Adriel, where were you and this advice and encouragement 33 years ago when I was a first time mom? Hmmmm, nevermind, you probably weren’t born yet. 🙂 My daughter is about to make me a Nana for the first time and she pinned this. I sincerely hope she prints it and re-reads weekly. Wonderful, real-life info. THANK YOU!!! Laura

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      18 April 2015 at 1:46 am

      HAHA! Well, I was born. . . but considering I’m now 37, I guess I would have been about 4. 😀

      I even have fun re-reading this one myself from time to time. The baby years go so fast!

      Reply
  • Sarahjeffries
    7 May 2015 at 7:31 pm

    After any delivery, a mother needs to allow her body to rest and heal. Ideally, this means little or no housework or running after other little ones. The maternal mortality rate is highest in the postpartum period, so special consideration needs to be given to the care of the mother. Take time to understand the limitations of a new mother and the kind of care that might be necessary. Keep in mind that it is normal for a new mother to feel overwhelmed emotionally and physically drained. I found some really interesting information that will assist you as it did to me.

    Reply
  • Ria
    2 June 2015 at 12:09 am

    I can totally relate! So true!!!! 🙂

    Reply
  • Lynn McCrankerton
    1 August 2015 at 6:06 am

    As a mother of 6, these 100 nuggets of knowledge truly are things that are spot on! Can’t say how many times I’ve thought these same thoughts, and could probably add a few too! Seriously a really must read for new moms.. might help save you some of those inevitable new mom feelings of stress and being so overwhelmed and wondering what must be wrong with you. Wish I had this list my first time around! Love it Adriel, this is info they should hand out at the first prenatal appointment! Great job!! 💕

    Reply
  • Fabiola
    28 August 2015 at 6:34 am

    i loved this post. It was great!! It made me LOL. Everything I read was so true, and for the things I didn’t know, thank you for the great advice.

    Reply
  • […] 100 Little Things About Pregnancy, Birth, … – 1. Don’t worry about timing your baby “just right”. Most people take a few months to get pregnant anyway. 2. Forget #1 and do everything possible to … […]

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  • CP
    14 September 2015 at 1:25 am

    By far the best advice I have read yet! Thank you! I can’t wait to read more! I will be sharing this with all of my new mommy friends!
    CP recently posted..Wings and roots: Of mixed metaphor and the search for homeMy Profile

    Reply
  • […] 100 Little Things About Pregnancy, … – 1. Don’t worry about timing your baby “just right”. Most people take a few months to get pregnant anyway. 2. Forget #1 and do everything possible to … […]

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  • […] 100 Little Things About Pregnancy, … – 1. Don’t worry about timing your baby “just right”. Most people take a few months to get pregnant anyway. 2. Forget #1 and do everything possible to … […]

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  • Penny
    29 September 2015 at 2:32 pm

    wow, thank you for this article. It’s so good to know that it’s not straight forward for anyone. I have a 2 yr old and a 17 day old baby, but gosh a feel like a first time mum all over again and today was a struggle! Your article made me laugh which was just what I needed to get some perspective on the situation.

    Reply
  • Gustav
    7 October 2015 at 8:15 pm

    As a parent even if you get tired you will never felt it despite you will still feel inspired because of your love to your baby. Two thumbs up for this post.

    Reply
  • Ashley
    15 October 2015 at 11:25 am

    Hi Adriel,
    I am 12 weeks pregnant with my first child, youre site has really informed me alot about pregnancy and all that fun stuff. I give you a two thumbs up for youre posts

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      5 November 2015 at 6:13 pm

      thanks for visiting ashley. and big congrats!

      Reply
  • Baby Insider
    17 October 2015 at 3:08 am

    Did you know that babies are learning more in the first 3 years then during the rest of their lives? This is a very busy time for them.

    Reply
  • maroschane
    21 October 2015 at 12:42 am

    absolutely love your post, every single point mentioned had me in stitches cause i kept thinking back to my early days as a single mom. Love the fact that you kept it honest

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      5 November 2015 at 6:10 pm

      thanks for reading! glad i could give you a giggle. 🙂

      Reply
  • Eva
    4 January 2016 at 6:00 am

    Hi I’ve been feeling very tired and emotionally drained. I’m 8 weeks pregnant & glad I found this article it’s very comforting to me.Thank you so much. Can’t wait for this baby to come.

    Reply
  • […] read the whole list (100 things) head over to Adriel Booker. She is totally awesome and you will love her blog. When you are done there come back and leave a […]

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  • Lauren
    3 February 2016 at 6:45 am

    Loved your post!! Im 33 weeks preggo with my first and this definately made me laugh, smile and get all emotional and most of all realize not to sweat the small when being a mom (especially a first time mom) – I will def look back at this list again when my little one arrives 😉

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  • James
    5 February 2016 at 10:22 pm

    Nice information about the pregnancy Thank You

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  • Natria
    10 February 2016 at 11:34 am

    I loved reading this it has helped me a lot! I’ve been so drained since having my daughter. The only addition I would make it to the breastfeeding section
    #101 don’t get hung up if you find you can’t breastfeed it doesn’t make you any less of a mum.
    This was one of my major problems I wasn’t able to produce milk due to complications and was so hard on my self because of this. it took my husband telling me I was still a wonderful mum and my daughter still loved me to get me to accept I couldn’t breastfeed but that was ok.

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  • Nicole
    11 March 2016 at 5:28 pm

    This is such a great post! Number 15 never works for me I always end up at a department store shopping for my boys instead of myself… I must do better I struggled with breastfeeding in the beginning and felt shamed by so many women including my own mom we eventually got it all worked out but it took so much work for something that’s so natural.

    My sister bought me this first time mom book a few weeks ago and it’s been so encouraging. store.littlebookofwords.com/first-time-mom/

    Thanks for being so incredible and honest Adriel

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      31 March 2016 at 1:02 pm

      Hey Nicole. I’m glad things are going so well for you now. And yes, I think we do our friends a huge disservice by not painting the whole picture of breastfeeding. While some women find it starts fairly easily… others most certainly do not. I’m glad you were abler to get the help you needed to get through the rocky beginning, but I’m sorry you felt so shamed. That’s simply heartbreaking.

      Thanks for stopping by. Glad you were encouraged. Now, use your birthday money on yourself next time. LOL
      Adriel Booker recently posted..Coming Clean: We’re all drunk on somethingMy Profile

      Reply
  • Dee
    18 April 2016 at 5:12 am

    Thank you for this. I just found out I’m pregnant and already wondering how I am going to juggle everything. I work full time, I’m in school for my graduate degree and am so excited and scared about this little nugget growing inside me. You’re post was very re-assuring that everything will be ok. Thank you for that!

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    • Adriel Booker
      19 April 2016 at 10:49 am

      You certainly have a lot to juggle, but it’s just one decision at a time, Dee. Don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out seamlessly. Motherhood is a bit messy, but women are amazing creatures. If we can reach out and get the help we need when we needed, all will be fine. 🙂

      All the best for your pregnancy and welcome to motherhood! x

      Reply
  • Luke Yancey
    12 July 2016 at 11:58 pm

    Thank you for your heartfelt advice when it comes to pregnancy. My wife is extremely worried, but I think she will be more comforted when she knows everything that will happen. For example, I don’t think either my wife or I knew that when a water breaks it will last hours into labor. It’s things like this that my wife is interested in that will help things go more smoothly if she is prepared and knows what to expect.

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    • Adriel Booker
      13 July 2016 at 10:34 am

      Hey Luke. Huge congrats on your baby!

      There’s no one “right” way to labor. With my first son, my water broke during the night when labor started and I delivered him the following evening. With my second son, I was in labor for twenty hours before my water broke (when I was at the pushing stage). Either way is fine and safe. And don’t worry, your care providers will walk you through all that stuff as it’s happening. That’s their job! 🙂

      Reply
  • sunidhi
    15 July 2016 at 8:58 pm

    Thanks for sharing. Very helpful post. We are also planning for baby and this post really me. keep it up.

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  • Cynthia Simmons
    23 October 2016 at 11:28 am

    Very useful guides. The advices you give are really necessary for the pregnancy mom, especially mom who has the first baby. Thanks for your article

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  • Liah
    11 November 2016 at 11:35 pm

    Wow, thank you SO SO much for writing this article. I just found out I’m pregnant, and I’m so overjoyed and this article just gave me so much peace and confirmation that everything will be okay.

    Thank you!!

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  • Katie
    21 November 2016 at 4:36 pm

    I just saw this list and I am happy I did… you had me laughing and wow, you are a brilliant writer! Thanks for the advice… I will keep referring to it as I am due with my first little one in April!

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      21 November 2016 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note, Katie! And congrats on your little one!!

      Reply
  • jean
    23 November 2016 at 12:18 am

    awesome read. i was googling first time mom cuz i was having one of those days where i’m wondering and doubting my capabilities as a first time mommy! definitely there are days where you’re just full of love, but there are exhausting days too!

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      23 November 2016 at 11:03 am

      Hey Jean! I’ve been a mom for about seven years and I still have those days! (HUGS) It helps to take a deep breath and remember that we can trust ourselves to not wreck our kids and that we mustn’t “rate” ourselves as parents based on those “worst of” days. 🙂

      Hang in there. You’ve got this!

      Reply
  • kumar
    2 December 2016 at 9:11 pm

    Thanks for sharing. Very helpful post. Esp. Mom encouraging part. I really needed it. Once again thanks.

    Reply
  • Casey
    7 December 2016 at 3:52 am

    I too experienced gender disappointed for a short while. I so badly wanted a boy to be our first, my husband didn’t care as long as our child was healthy. We had gone to the ultrasound and the technician stated possibly a girl but wasn’t 100%. So my husband and I left the ultrasound not entirely accurate as to the gender but I still found myself disappointed if it was indeed a girl, I found myself not wanting to enjoy my pregnancy since that ultrasound Appt. My husband encouraged me that no matter what we were having our baby regardless and to be happy with the outcome for it can’t be changed. He changed my entire outlook for the positive. We kept things neutral and I still had hoped for boy and believed it actually was up until our precious baby girl came. She’s 7 months now and I’m so thrilled at being a mom to our beautiful princess. It no longer bothered me when that moment came and she was placed on top my chest after her birth. Blessed moment of my life. She’s simply an amazing little being!<3

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      2 January 2017 at 3:47 pm

      Huge congratulations Casey! What a beautiful account of a mother’s (and father’s) love.

      Reply
  • Anasheh
    28 December 2016 at 9:31 am

    At the first when I see 100 things that I should read,I thought its too much,but when I read it I wish if it was more,I like the way you are writing,it makes me interested to countinue and reading.

    Reply
  • Hanna
    19 January 2017 at 3:05 am

    Thank you so much for such amazing details about pregnancy. I wish I read this article earlier during my pregnancy. I add a link to some tshirt sold by Amazon for great mom to be and dad to be. I think it is important to tell others that we are pregnant so everyone will understand you.

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  • Rev. Paul Michael
    10 April 2017 at 7:15 pm

    It was an awesome article to read Adriel. Fully loaded with helpful pieces of information for parent especially for mom. However, I am commenting after many years, but good contents are always new and always helpful. Keep up awesome writing : )

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  • cathy m. smart
    23 June 2017 at 3:04 pm

    Hello, I read this whole article. It’s very helpful article for newly mothers and encouraging them.

    Reply
  • Priya Thomas
    22 August 2017 at 11:06 pm

    Thank you so much for the information about pregnancy woman’s, and very informative. These 100 points are very helpful.

    Reply
  • s wms
    28 September 2017 at 1:25 am

    Sweet and informative but we must also remember –not all first time moms have a husband or ability to breastfeed.

    Reply
  • Kelsey
    30 November 2017 at 7:18 am

    I found this great resource to help other pregnant women! MothertoBaby is a nonprofit organization that answers our questions about exposures to baby, completely free.

    Reply
  • Barbara
    19 January 2018 at 10:33 pm

    Thank you so much for this. It was a great read. I’m due in June and I’ve been having thoughts on how much of a good Mom i’ll be. But you just made me know i’m good enough for my child. My husband will read this too.

    Thank you : )

    Reply
    • Adriel Booker
      25 January 2018 at 10:33 am

      Huge congrats Barbara!!!! You will be the best mom for your child because you are hers/his! <3

      Reply
  • Stephanie Cole
    14 February 2018 at 7:03 pm

    The greatest feeling in the world is being a mother. Congrats to you Barbara! Thank you for sharing your experience.

    Reply
  • Stephanie Cole
    14 February 2018 at 7:04 pm

    The greatest feeling in the world is being a mother. Congrats to first time moms out there! Thank you for sharing your experience.

    Reply
  • Olivia
    28 February 2018 at 12:28 pm

    Well written, it was nice to read. I have a question for the sleeping part. Have you used any methods? I am just reading one short e-guide (Susan Urban How to teach a baby to fall asleep) in which the HWL (Hold With Love) method is well described. Did you hear about something like that? Do you have your own solutions?

    Reply
  • Ntando
    9 March 2018 at 1:26 am

    Thank you for sharing,well said….was a bit scared I’m pregnant with ma first child my husband &I just got married 4 months ago,im 1month preg was taking birth control pills but I fell pregnant anyway,,my husband is way more excited than I am and was starting to wonder if I’ll be a better mother to my kid,I’ve wished that when I have kids I would make sure that I give them what i have never had from ma own parents which is “love” nou that its happening its Scarry”#actually I’m more scared of giving birth*

    Reply
  • Scott Manuel
    24 March 2018 at 8:57 am

    Nice Article very informative. The best feeling on earth is to become a mother. So congrats to all mom out there.

    Reply
  • Elizabeth
    12 April 2018 at 9:01 pm

    I am thinking about bookmark this site. Great post really. This is a complete guide.

    Reply
  • Mary
    25 July 2018 at 12:07 am

    Hi Jane,

    I’m first time pregnant (now six months running ) I’m little worried about it, I’m confused to choose a perfect mattress for me. Can you please suggest me a perfect mattress? I’m waiting for your helpful reply. and thanks for the great informative article.

    Thanks

    Reply
  • Pregnancy funny quotes
    20 November 2018 at 4:48 pm

    This Article is great and awesome guideline.
    Thank you for sharing your experience.

    Reply
  • Marvin Muso
    24 November 2018 at 1:02 am

    I wish and I hope mothers can find this article, it would answer all most all the questions they have around pregnancy and giving birth.

    You have said most of it. Thank You

    Reply
  • Rebecca Nickoley
    5 January 2019 at 3:37 pm

    I LOVE this. I’m not a Mom yet, but I’m so excited for the day I am and I love how honest and real this is! I can do real and this lets me know it’s the best thing is to be real and that my pregnancy will be my pregnancy and it will be beautifully unique! Being pregnant will be so much fun!

    Reply
  • Omar
    21 January 2019 at 10:34 pm

    I like your article
    Thank a lot for all these information

    Reply
  • Baby Chakra
    8 March 2019 at 8:08 pm

    Millions of expecting parents and parents to newborns connect with each other, and hundreds of experts and doctors to learn about proper parenting.
    From pregnancy tips to recipes, we have it all. Get helpful tips, recipes, milestones and medical tests that are helpful at every stage of your parenting journey, you can contact here.

    Reply
  • Sarah
    15 March 2019 at 8:36 pm

    I have been blessed by the greatest joy and privilege of being in motherhood. But this joy brings along a 100 of responsibility towards myself and my to a born baby. With my curiosity to know things about motherhood, I came across your post. I am so happy to see 100 little things that I need to know. Thank you for such detailing post. Motherhood is such an awesome and challenging job, hope to complete it with full justice.

    Reply
  • Karen Cole
    29 March 2019 at 6:17 pm

    Hi Adriel,

    I am Karen cole, mum of 2 kids.

    Now, we are planning third one and I found your article very interesting.

    You did a good research to patch up all things in one article.

    Great, I like this.

    thanks!

    Reply
  • Kelly
    24 May 2019 at 3:34 pm

    Good article
    Thanks for providing information and sharing your experience

    Reply
  • Raj
    14 July 2019 at 5:08 pm

    Good article
    Thanks for providing information and sharing your experience

    I like your article

    Reply
  • Nancy Westberg
    16 July 2019 at 6:56 pm

    Really loved it thanks for sharing such a wonderfull story and congratulations on ur 100th post i really am happy for u may you have a wonderful life ahead

    Reply
  • lweezar leanald
    8 August 2019 at 3:02 am

    Thank you for your sharing such a beautiful journey of your pregnancy and your 100 Posts. There are so much things i have learned from your posts, from #1 to #100..Most people take a few months to get pregnant anyway..Yes, it is but i feel like it takes me forever and ever, first time mom Twins pregnancy at weeks 30 and summer heat in Las Vegas, i was like.. when is going to be the end!Thanks to your post, its guide me to the right paths and give me encouragement to go through and to get prepared.

    Reply
  • Martina Baum
    29 August 2019 at 10:19 pm

    What a great content, I really liked your content .Wish you all the best. I am a regular visitor of your website, please keep writing.

    Reply
  • Prakash
    19 February 2020 at 7:54 pm

    Great Information about about pregnancy woman’s, and very informative. These 100 points are very helpful.

    Reply
  • Prakash
    19 February 2020 at 7:55 pm

    Great Information about pregnancy birth first time mom

    Reply
  • Jun
    22 April 2020 at 11:36 pm

    Congratulations on your 100th post! I am so glad you’ve posted this in your blog. This read is quite informative, fabulous, and exceedingly amusing. I will recommend this blog article to my friends, who introduced me to Bradley Method and BirthForMen. Indeed, motherhood, after all, really is the greatest joy and privilege.

    Reply
  • Cintia
    30 January 2021 at 7:51 am

    Great Information about about pregnancy woman’s, and very informative.

    Reply

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