How did becoming a mum make you feel?

[katy14]

Just wondering how you all felt when you became a mum? How your life changed in the first year and how that made you feel? Highs and lows?

[HarkTEEHeraldAngelsSing]

Tired, mostly. All year.

[ExBrightonBell]

Busier, more tired, but also more thrilled and excited than ever before. But then also more worried once or twice than ever before, and occasionally more completely useless than ever.

I guess I'm saying that I experienced the same range of feelings as before, but much more amplified. I do think I have experienced many more truly joyous moments than previously, if that's not too twee!

[lockie1983]

The bad: overwhelmed, exhausted, bored, underwhelmed, out of my depth, busy, disorganised, rubbish

The good: strong, brave, resilient, overwhelmed, delighted, exited, like I can understand joy in the simplest of things,

I am only 5 months in but the range of emotions has been exceptional. Nothing prepared me for how tough it would be ... But in the same breath there is something more than magical about that little thing looking at you with total love and trust and understanding.

[milktraylady]

Why?

[HarkTEEHeraldAngelsSing]

I was going to ask that milk. Then I decided I didn't care.

[JewelFairies]

Tired.

[dodi1978]

Happy!!!

[DianaOfThemyscira]

My life made sense, and my life was far more precious for being needed by such an amazing, beautiful, precious child. (I drove my car FAR more sensibly than I ever had before, and I suddenly "got" Back Off, Baby On Board stickers)

I was born on the day DD came into the world.
I can't find words to do it justice, but it felt like the life I'd led up to that point was lived by someone else.

Nothing else mattered, just me, DD and her dad, and life was perfect. I never knew my heart could hold such love. I never knew such a tiny little thing could INSPIRE so much love. It knocked me sideways.
It took my breath away. Over-used phrases, I know, but so true!!

I used to lay her on the bed and just look at her for hours and cry with happiness that she was mine.

Suddenly, every love song that was ever written was written about me and this lovely smelling, warm, soft little bundle that I was lucky enough to have been chosen to be mother to.

Her needs became mine, I was so attuned to her every whim, I could tell her hungry cry from a bored cry, from a tired cry, from a dirty nappy cry, and I'd always thought that was bollocks! :)

It's just THE BEST :)

[MrsOB]

Knackered
Emotional
Proud
More love than I've ever known (for them)

[prettykedi]

I felt like I was finally the person I was always meant to be. Wish I'd done it earlier to be honest. It's so lovely to know that there is someone who loves you no matter how squashy your tummy is, or how greasy your hair. Puts everything into perspective. I love being a mummy.

[Yika]

Happy and fulfilled. Peaceful, relieved. But mainly just a profound contentment.

[milktraylady]

C'mon Katy why you ask?
Journo looking for quotes?
(Cynical moi?)

[LittleTownOfBOOTHSlehem]

Tired beyond belief,
Filled with joy & pride
Amazement that I finally made it to motherhood as it was a long road getting there. It took many months to believe he was really mine and that I wouldn't have to give him back.

Finally I felt complete

[blueshoes]

Like a prisoner with Stockholm syndrome

[katy14]

Hi, no I'm not a journalist, just a new mum of a 7 month old who's been staggered by how unprepared I was for the ups and downs of motherhood. Wondered if others were equally as surprised. I think for me as well as being exhausted and overwhelmed with love for dd, I also feel a sense of loss for my old self. Maybe it's selfish but sometimes I really yearn for the uncomplicated freedom in used to have.

[flossyflo]

Anxious. To the extreme. I know what you mean about losing yourself. Felt like I had lost perspective as my focus was completely on this little thing. When ever she suffered it was like I suffered more. I still worry 7 months in but it is getting better.

Obviously there has been some highs as well when you look down and realise how much you love them but the extremes of emotions has definitely caught me unawares.

[milktraylady]

Hi Katy thanks for replying.
I am in exactly the same position & you have articulated how I feel to a T!

It's like we joined a club, with no idea we were joining it & now we're in there's no going back.

I now look at adults without children and think they are missing a huge chunk of my reality.

(I do wish she would sleep tho)

[worldgonecrazy]

I felt motivated. That person from UKiP who said babies made women lose ambition was talking out of his backside. I suddenly woke up and realised I wanted to be something/someone that my daughter could be proud of.

I also felt like I'd finally made it into a wonderful club of motherhood. Only those who have been through the heartache of infertility, IVF, miscarriages can know what it finally feels like to hold that precious bundle in your arms. I still have to pinch myself when I think that intelligent, charismatic, charming and beautiful little girl came from my body.

[purplemurple1]

Blueshoes has captured it perfectly, at least in the early days

[Hessy]

Like I'd been living my life in black and white and someone had switched it to colour.

[joanofarchitrave]

Determined.
Bleak.
Interested.
Bored.
Like there are never enough minutes in the day, and like every hour lasts years.

[wonderstuff]

I felt tired. I was unprepared for how restricted my life became, I missed the freedom that I'd had before. There are moments in parenthood when I'm so content and so happy, it's a joy to be a mother, there are others when I morn my old life, it feels so tiring and so tedious to be a mother.

Time does weird things, I read once the days drag but the years fly, and that is so true. I think children force you to live in the moment and I try to embrace that.

[katy14]

Thanks everyone. You've certainly made me feel more normal. It's a wonderful and terrifying business being a mum isn't it?!