...To ask if anyone enjoys the newborn baby stage?!?

[Flamingo1980]

I'd be genuinely interested to hear stories from people who truly loved the newborn stage. It seems to me that childless people believe it's magical and you should 'enjoy every minute' and people who have had babies mostly seem to agree that it's hell on earth.
During my newborn stage I thought it was wonderful, but with hindsight I can see now it was dreadful but in comparison to most I think I actually had an easy time... So I don't know what to think.
Did anyone truly love it and if so what was it that happened or didn't happen to make that happen?

[brogueish]

Loved it. For all the reasons already said. I also felt as though my life now had a higher purpose, and I am fully aware how wanky that sounds 😂. Blame the hormones!
I am an older mum (40s) who didn’t think I would ever be able to carry a baby to term, so I realise I have a particular perspective.

[Strokethefurrywall]

Loved it with both my babies but they were both easy babies who slept a lot.

Struggled immensely with the willful toddler years with DS1 though, when DS2 was tiny.

I had easy deliveries and recoveries with both though despite excruciating after pains and baby blues with both.

[GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing]

Nope, really didn’t enjoy it.

I don’t do very well without sleep though.

[JudgeJ]

So lovely to read so many positive rrsponses, too often this site seems to be a competition to see who can claim the worst experiences and must terrify mums-to-be!

[eeek88]

I was dreading it but it was more enjoyable than I expected and a very happy time of my life. I didn’t enjoy the endless feeding and now am finding having an older baby much more fun.

[Angel2702]

I did, by far my favourite stage and I found it much easier than toddler years. If I could keep them newborn I’d have another.

[Aquamarine1029]

I absolutely loved the newborn stage, both times.

[vinoandbrie]

I absolutely loved the newborn stage with both mine, it was just the most special thing on earth. Hugely happy memories.

I think my hormones were doing something amazing, OR it was the joy of being on mat leave and not having to go to work. Just being in an amazing little cocoon with my new family. Bliss. Utterly magical.

Found toddler years much tougher, as was back to full time work.

[FlyingPandas]

Had 3, loved the newborn stage with each. And that was despite some fairly difficult health issues (for me, not them) during the early weeks with DC1. I had such an easy, relaxed confidence with all three of mine during the first six months of their lives -I just kind of quietly, instinctively felt I was doing it right. Sadly, I’ve never felt that confident since and now (youngest is 8, eldest 17) I feel I’m doing it wrong 90% of the time!

The toddler stage was particularly hellish, I’m always baffled by people who like toddlers if I’m honest.

[Youdoyoutoday]

My DS didn't sleep well but I miss the time I had with him, me and him entirely alone doing skin to skin. Holding him, watching him, completely in awe of him.

My DD was a great sleeper in comparison and I loved the new born phase with her. Now she's 2 and doesn't sit still, I'm forever finding her climbing everywhere, I'm exhausted. I miss my little babies!

[Curlyreine]

Loved it with all 4 DC.

I was convinced DC3 was trying to kill me through lack of sleep as he would only sleep on me, but they are so little, tiny, cuddly and (usually) quiet unless they need something (usually boob/nappy change/cuddle).

Never ever understood it until I had kids though.

[AmberGer]

Loved it both times. Ds was a fairly easy baby. Ds2 was much harder, lots of illnesses, reflux, hospital stays etc. Still absolutely loved it.

[WorkEvent]

To some extent I felt that the newborn stage was the easiest. Lovely sleepy babies, loads of cuddles, people falling over themselves to help out, they are very portable at this stage, they don’t run off or escape, very inoffensive nappies… I could go on 😂

I’ll admit that I was lucky that mine were (apart from the fairly usual evening witching hours) brilliant (breast)feeders and weren’t massively terrible sleepers as they would sleep happily in three hour blocks. I probably get less sleep now with DD who is 14 months than I did in those stages.

[JudgeJ]

@switswoo81

I loved it. Had been a long time coming.Baby was content and placid, liked sleeping a lot and my lovely mum stayed with me to help out.my fab friends travelled from far and wide so I just felt so special. I look back at those days with such fondness. Especially now she has learned to stand and is a ball of trouble!

I loved it both times, both babies fed, pooed and slept well and especially with No 1 we were so far away that we were left in peace, other than my Sixth Form dropping in for a look and a few friends ciming round. By the time we came back to the UK she was about 4 weeks old and we had everything running our way.

[Tal45]

Absolutely hated the new born (or any other) baby stage. I know people who absolutely love it though. I have a teenager and it's absolute bliss compared to having a baby.

[2022success]

I absolutely loved it - it was blissful.

I was just cocooned in this lovely baby bubble with my lovely baby, and nothing else mattered. I cuddled her, fed her, slept when she slept. I suspect I didn't even get up from the sofa for whole days at a time. I breastfed which I think made it much easier (for me anyway)

I also loved toddler stage - I thought that was fun, fun, fun.

13 - 16 stage was a bloody nightmare!!

[Muthalucka]

I love it!!! I really find the toddler stage hard. Newborn stage is amazing in my eyes

[Umbella]

Struggled with DS due to a traumatic labour, birth injury and resultant anxiety.

Loved every minute with DD.

[peaceanddove]

My MIL genuinely loved the newborn stage. She loved that they were so helpless and dependent on her. She could very happily sit for hour after hour on a sofa cuddling a newborn.

But she didn't require much in the way of intellectual stimulation, shall we say.

[LairyMaclary]

Loved the newborn stage with my daughter and loving it now with my son, though its definitely more difficult with a toddler to juggle.

I have been lucky enough to have fairly easy going babies though. I had a difficult recovery with my daughter, but had lots of support, and a straightforward vbac with my son. I also have horrible pregnancies, so I think the relief at not being pregnant contributes to my enjoyment of that postpartum period.

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

I thoroughly enjoyed it twice.
Of course it’s tiring, but mine were born in an era when 3 or 4 hourly feeds (depending on birth weight) were the norm. My first was happy with the 6, 10, 2, 6, 10, 2, regime from the word go - 2nd took a little while. And they were both entirely BF.
2 am feed was typically dropped at about 6 weeks.

I’m not surprised new mothers now find it so exhausting, when you’re supposed to have them plugged into a nipple countless times both day and night.

[Classicblunder]

I really enjoyed it with my second. Breastfeeding was easy and totally painfree, he was a very content and easy baby. My older son was in nursery 3 days a week, my DH continued to work 4 days a week, we had a cleaner. It was all in all easy and straightforward

[Valeriekat]

First was harder... I was very protective but didn't find it easy.
Second was amazing and easy.

[Moonbabysmum]

I loved it, and found it the easiest stage by far. My sleep was interrupted far less than it had been in pregnancy (rough pregnancy...) and I was far more rested than I had been in my high pressured job. I judt put them in a sling and got on with life, saw friends etc. I did a lot of napping woth my first. It was amazing, amd I was in a content bubble of love.

The first month of both of my children's lives have been the best times of my life. I could do that first week over and over again.

Toddlers I also love, but my goodness they are hard in comparison to a newborn.

[Anxietyandwine]

Also he came the day before my daughters first holy communion (I was teaching at her school also before mat leave)

So less than 24hrs after he was born we were in church at 8am surrounded by parents and my own pupils. I look back at the pictures and I still have my hospital wristband on and I just wasn’t there mentally. Then had a room/party booked after and wanted to cry at everyone holding him and touching him after over 24hrs in labour and very little sleep!