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?

I LOVE the first year. After that shit gets real!! Tiny little beast that can make your heart burst with love but also question your own sanity lol..

You’ll hate me for this, but I was bored with a newborn; he was a decent sleeper, a good feeder, and I sunbathed a lot and wrote (a very poor) book.

So it’s not all bad!

Weeks one, two and three though were very overwhelming, I felt like an impostor.

Absolutely bloody loved it so fingers up to all those “you don’t know what’s coming” people.

It’s fabulous and I felt I thrived.

Newborns are great. I absolutely love the newborn stage. Having done it 3 times I would happily do it again.

Sorry OP, but my oldest child is 8 now (plus I have 2 younger ones) and truthfully I found the first 6 months the hardest by far.

But that doesn’t mean to say it will be as hard for you. So much depends on your birth experience and receiver, as well as your baby’s temperament. My firstborn seemed to cry and scream nonstop for the first 6 months, whereas my second was so sunny natured and a doddle.

Still I don’t regret having them and would do it all over again!

To be honest though, it always seemed that people I knew would wax lyrical about how incredible newborns are, how lucky I was to be having a baby and to cherish every moment. When I was having such a tough time all those comments stuck in my mind and made it even tougher as I felt there was something wrong with me for not doing a better job and enjoying it more. I wished people had warned me more of how bloody tough it could be. At least you have more realistic expectations OP!

I enjoyed it all three times. I perosnally found the newborn stage really easy. They sleep 90% of the time and they stay where you put them. Once they start crawling and cruising was when I needed a pair of eyes on the back of my head. Even then though, I still enjoyed it.

So far for me, the ages of 10 to 15 have been the worst. Babies are a walk in the park compared to how complex a teenager can be..

Loved the newborn bit all 4 times. It’s always intense and can feel overwhelming with your first, but I loved the littleness of them, the complete dependence, long cuddles, breastfeeding... if toddlerhood didn’t follow newborn/baby I’d do it over and over!

I liked it. I didn't enjoy having a toddler but newborns are nice.

I loved it. Both times. And I had C sections with one recovery being pretty rough but still loved it.

I don't know why people are so negative about it all sometimes.

You do you 👍🏻and enjoy!

I had a great baby who hardly ever woke up at night and was really cute with lots of lovely blond curls. He was so good natured, he was no trouble at all.

I love it!!! They are so cuddly and really easy most of the time to mind!(unless you have a screamer, then it’s probably a bit more stressful!!!) congrats and enjoy!!!

I enjoyed it. Put your feet up and just concentrate on baby. Didn't put myself under any pressure to do very much, other than look after the baby and myself and just take it easy. I think if you keep things simple and realise some things will have to slide for a bit, you can relax and enjoy it more

I think that first bit where they just sleep on your chest and in your arms all day is just lovely.

I found it easier to enjoy second time round when I wasn’t expecting the baby to sleep for hours in a cot or Moses basket and didn’t even attempt it, just enjoyed all the cuddles.

I find it harder when they start having more awake periods but yet there’s not much to “do” with them but yet they seem to want stuff to do... then it gets easier when they can sit and crawl. For me, at least.

Positives outweighed negatives.

I loved the newborn stage with all 4 of mine - I found toddlers much harder

Loved it! There were some hard bits but it was the summer during the Olympics and I just spent the days watching it on the sofa with the window open looking after my precious newborn and pottering about. It was such a quiet blissful time. Toddler and preschool years are much louder and more chaotic

It is MAGICAL, tiring yes, but the most wonderful time of your life, enjoy every moment!

I've had 4 newborns and will definitely not have any more (I'm 51). I would love to have one again. My favourite times in my life.

It’s the best bit

Now the teenage years on the other hand .....
Oh my. Give me a tiny baby over a stroppy teen any day

I loved every minute, all three times. Just magical. If only it lasted forever.

I loved the first few months. I was just so in love with the baby that even when I was so tired and doing my 4th night feed of that night, I would just look at him and how cute he was and smile.

For me, PND cane when he was 3-4 months old, but I started meds and then found that being at home with the baby was my 'safe place'

I returned to work when he was 6 months old, been thrown back into the deep end, the first month was really really tough but then I got back into the swing of things and am managing everything well. Been back to work 3 months now and have even came off my antidepressants

Absolutely love the newborn stage, was always so sad when they started to stretch out and unfold from the newborn ball stage !

I miss having a newborn, it's amazing.

Absolutely loved the newborn stage both times. Boobs are just about the fix for everything. Lol