To be freaking the f out!

[BigThang]

Because my babies due date is getting closer.

I thought I was pretty prepared but the closer it's getting I'm thinking FUCK what the hell am I supposed to do with a small human being. How am I supposed to keep this person alive.

AIBU to be having a little bit of a melt down at the thought that in a few short weeks I'll be responsible for a whole other person?!

Oh yeah, that happens. Just wait at the freak out you’ll have when you go in to labour

Seriously though, all valid concerns and natural feelings. Then your baby will be here and it will all fall in to place. And newborn cuddles are just THE BEST.

Enjoy these last few weeks, do try and rest and relax.

So far I've just tried to avoid thinking about labour as much as possible 🙃

You'll be fine. As long as you can feed it, clean it, and give it somewhere to sleep, it will be content. Don't be afraid to ask your midwife for help, and read some books before then so you know the theory. Oh, and the first poo they do will be horrible as it's like tar - try and palm that one off on someone else 😁

I felt like that too. I remember absolutely freaking out when v early labour started - for the exact same reasons as you. But it was all fine and it will be for you I'm sure.

Just try and breastfeed. It ends up solving so many different problems or challenging situations you can find yourself in with a new baby. If difficult at the beginning, find an IBCLC lactation consultant - they are brilliant and can make all the difference.

Also you can just take it day by day, or even moment by moment - I find you freak out more the more you try to think ahead!

Love, give them love and milk.

Oh and frequent nappy changes.

Easy.

I remember when I first started reading up on things, seeing all the different do's and don'ts and types of this and that and feeling like my head was going to burst and thinking I'm definitely going to mess this up!

I feel a bit more 'educated' now but still... HELP. 🤣

Congratulations also 🙂

You aren't having a baby, you're just expanding your family. It won't be a random child, but your own child. The basic care is extremely straightforward usually. And the love you'll feel will make the poo and sleepless nights worth it.

It will be okay! Don't stress!
FWIW, I'd give birth x10 over then have the toothache I had last week.

SAME OP. My baby isn’t due til the 12th but I just found out today I am being induced on Monday and it’s just hit me that in a few days I’m going to be mother to something that needs me to keep it alive... AHHHHH. Quietly freaking out over here 🤣

FWIW, I felt exactly the same. I have 2 now & have managed to keep them alive!

It’s very very exciting & despite all the nerves & emotions it will be the BEST day of your life. Enjoy it!

When I brought first baby home & everyone had left me & DP just looked at each other like 😱... it’s all on us! Shit!

You will be grand I’m sure. It takes a while to get used to obviously, and you may forget your baby’s name or leave them somewhere at some point, but that’s part of being a mum! Enjoy those first couple of months as it is just the best!

This is so normal. I remember asking the midwife to strap baby dd into her carrier the first time- we were way too nervous to do it!

@bringittomm Or just feed, which ever way you choose is fine...

Of course you can do this! Millions of people across the globe manage every day, you will be brilliant. All you have to do is:

1. feed them
2. clean them
3. love and cuddle them

You will find your own way of doing things. You can do this

I'd save the freaking out for when he/she becomes a teenager

You'll be fine OP, you just learn as you go along!

Perfectly normal.

And welcome to the many meltdowns you'll have the next indeterminate amount of years

Just remember - being a good enough parent is good enough.

Shelter, food and love. If you provide those and you all get to bed at night you've done well.

Congratulations my the way. It's a live like you've never known and you'll be fine

If it helps, when my daughter was born I had a meltdown because I didn't know how to push a pram, and I couldn't find a guide on how to do it anywhere

@BigThang

I remember when I first started reading up on things, seeing all the different do's and don'ts and types of this and that and feeling like my head was going to burst and thinking I'm definitely going to mess this up!

I feel a bit more 'educated' now but still... HELP. 🤣

Thats why the Internet now is so good as you can Google as you go ;)

@bringitomm

Just try and breastfeed. It ends up solving so many different problems or challenging situations you can find yourself in with a new baby. If difficult at the beginning, find an IBCLC lactation consultant - they are brilliant and can make all the difference.

DIsagree. Be completely flexible about feeding - do whatever works best for you, and don't put any pressure on yourself either way. Breastfeeding is fantastic when it works. If it doesn't, though, bottle feeding is also fantastic. I bottle-fed all of mine, as breastfeeding didn't work. For me, there were more "problems or challenging situations" with breastfeeding than there were with bottle-feeding. But everyone is different, and the main thing you need to be is flexible and responsive to the actual situation, as it arises.

I had the freaking out moment when the baby was there and I realised that now if something happened to me, the baby would be left with no mother!

It's not the same when you're reading books and thinking theoretically about being a parent. I'd imagine most people have that moment when reality hits.

Funny, I can't say that the actual birth freaked me out that much at all. The baby is going to come out somehow and then it stops hurting... it's not like you're ill and don't know when it will end.

Hmm, you'll be fine but don't take it for granted that 'newborn cuddles are the best'. Some newborns are bloody nightmares and it can be a huge shock if you think you are going to be spending all day cuddling a sleeping baby when actually you'll be trying to get the blinking thing to settle! BUT you will survive, you'll get there, and you may even find yourself in a year or so's time thinking another one would be a GREAT idea... Good luck!