Did anyone not hate having a newborn?

[roarfeckingroar]

I'm pregnant with my first and quietly excited but having read the postnatal boards and general threads, it seems like everyone talks about the abject horror, misery, loss of identity, physical pain of a newborn / early months.

Is it going to be that awful? Did anyone not hate it? Did anyone enjoy it?

Or have I made the biggest mistake of my life, which is soon to be not even my own life anymore?

It was my favourite part. I loved it, even if I was exhausted.

I didnt hate it at all.

Recovering from delivery and lack of sleep was hard, plus I probably worried about stuff that really wasn't important in the grand scheme of things.

Ds is nearly 4 now and I'd love to rewind and have a day with a newborn him again.

Oh I loved it! Particularly the first four weeks with DH off work, we would spend a lot of time looking at our lovely little baby, have nice quiet mornings, take her out for a coffee, home for lunch, lie about watching films in the afternoon or head out for a walk. Took it in turns to nap. Muddled through it all together. Enjoyed sharing a bottle of wine together again!

It took a couple of weeks before I was comfortable breastfeeding outside of the house so I'd feed her before we left, and DH had her in the wrap sling the whole time we were out - she stayed asleep in that.

I’m only ‘just’ pregnant but I find those areas of Mumsnet overwhelming. I think the poster demographic is skewed towards people who are having a rough time and are in need of advice whereas the women I speak to in real life provide a more balanced viewpoint.

I loved having a newborn.
I had three, all very different from a laid back sleeper to very high needs.
I’d have had countless children if the newborn bit lasted longer.
I find the pre school and early primary age very hard. For me it’s just as exhausting as newborn but with the added tantrums and repetitive games and toddler groups (shudder).
Everyone’s experience is different and what each person enjoys is different.
You might love it, you might not.
There will be some stages of being a parent that you won’t enjoy so you just learn to ride it out!

Me. I found it pretty easy, other than getting breastfeeding established. She just slept a lot and DH was off work for a month so did all the housework and cooking, so I actually read a ton of books and watched loads of box sets. I had way more free time than I do a year on now she's mobile and requires entertaining! (As I write this she's just handed me one of her finger puppets so got to go and sing the accompanying song!)

Admittedly I wasn't fond of the first year of babyhood, but it definitely had its moments of utter bliss and love. Even if you do hate having a newborn OP, the newborn phase doesn't last forever! Kids are a challenge, that's for sure, but they're also the source of much happiness and love to me. I wouldn't be without mine and I'd do it again if I had my time over.

I do have friends who LOVED the newborn stage, so it is possible ;)

Me! I loved the newborn stage. It’s just the best. I do admit I got lucky and both of mine were very, very easy babies and breastfed well.

I just spent 8 weeks snuggling on the sofa with baby sleeping on me while I watched Netflix. Every now and again they’d wake up and I’d stick them on my boob. It was bliss.

For me I found it harder once they started to sit up and demand entertainment. Around three months they start to get bored of your living room and then you have to get off your arse and take them out and go to baby sensory and all that stuff. No more uninterrupted eating cake on the sofa ever again. Until they leave home.

I think it's one of those things where people who are happy and coping well don't shout as loudly as those who find it difficult, or those who make money from solving the "issues" (sleep consultants etc). Yes babies are hard but only because they need you so very much. I do know how lucky I was with my two and do appreciate that pnd and medical issues truly are awful but it's not always like that. And yes, I did / do enjoy it.

Loved it! And I was on my own as I split from dd's dad when pregnant.
I felt happily justified in eating what I fancied, watching what I wanted on TV whilst breastfeeding dd (for hours)
I made sure I left the house every day even just to go to corner shop. That was an effort sometimes and I found the sudden end to being able to just 'pop out' quite a challenge. But it absolutely wasn't the horror story that others experienced.

Good luck and I hope you feel the same.

It was fabulous. Very tiring, but fabulous.

I think the biggest shock to the system is the lack of available hands, the loss of spontaneity and the amount of stuff you have to take out with you. So prep (batch cook, get a great bag with multiple pockets, arrange kitchen for maximum one-handed operation and do plenty of cinema and salon visits - or whatever you enjoy - now).

That way you’re set for an easy, cosy fourth trimester.

I hated it with my first, tbh. But it was lovely with my second, mostly because I knew what to expect and how short it really is.

The newborn period can be a huge, huge shock, especially as an adult who has had many years of autonomy and freedom. There's just really no life change that upends your life as much as giving birth to your first baby. A huge amount also depends on the baby you get and whether they are high-strung, clingy, chilled, need a lot of help sleeping, have reflux or colic, etc. And constant sleep deprivation and interruption can do things to your sanity that you could never have imagined before. The good news about the newborn period is that it really and truly is very short. That perspective, and understanding that all you can do is roll with the baby you have and get to know their specific needs, makes all the difference IME.

Yes I really love the newborn phase

Loving it! It’s hard but not horrible.

Newborn is my favourite stage as they can’t move! So much easier.

It was hard work and stressful and emotional but I didn't lose my identity or experience abject horror! Holding and staring at my beautiful new baby was a joy and seeing her grow day by day incredible (and still is).

I struggled to adjust with my first (7 weeks prem and in SCBU for a period) and didn't really enjoy the newborn phase as it was such a shock to the system. But have ABSOLUTELY loved it with my second. I think if you go into it knowing that you're going to struggle with sleep and that you won't have the freedom that you had prior to kids then I think you'll be fine... it's about managing your expectations. The biggest thing for me was the unrelenting responsibility that never, ever leaves you. My second baby has just been absolutely wonderful and the newborn phase was just beautiful. I'd have another in a heartbeat if I could.

I loved it, especially with my last one as I knew I'd never do it again.

I think you need to be prepared for the sheer level of tiredness, that's tough and the broken nights are testing but one smile from baby at 6 weeks makes every second of it worthwhile.

They're tiny for such a short space of time. Make the most of it and just don't put any pressure on yourself.

I didn't love it the first time but I did the second. She was so sweet and tiny and perfect and it's so so short. Then the bigger baby stage is great, when they're smiley and fascinated by everything, and I loved the toddler stage, they're just so CUTE and curious. Also keen on one in preschool, and once in primary school, when they're getting opinions and learning things not from me and getting more independent. And hilarious. And quite looking forward to both in primary, as I'll get some me time again, although I'll miss my little sidekick (I work part time). Basically, having kids is GREAT. If hard at times.

Loved having a newborn , love that whole stage would happily have my babies stay as a newborn for a year if I could

It was fine, they are very portable for the first few months, we moved half way around the world in fact!

It's tiring of course. But lovely too. Looking back now with a 9, 5 and 3 year old I'd love for them to be new borns and stay that way forever ❤️

I loved the newborn stage! I was lucky in that dd didn't have colic or anything so she just slept and ate! I remember saying when she was 5 days old that it was quite easy. DH did most night feeds the first week so I could sleep and recover.

It is really hard and horrible sometimes but dd is 2 today and it's been the best 2 years of my life!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

With dc1 I loved it- I felt the same as you beforehand because I’d been on MN for years and I was expecting a total car crash, but it was lovely. She was bottle fed and we could share the feeds, and although birth wasn’t exactly a bundle of laughs, it’s amazing how quickly things heal. I remember looking at dd when she was a week old with DH beside me (on paternity leave) and just thinking it was the happiest I’d ever been.

Dc2 was a bit different as I breastfed so I was exhausted from the constant feedings and looking after a toddler. But still no where near as bad as some posters would have you believe!!!