Advice on how to actually enjoy life with a new baby?

[SK166]

This might sound ridiculous but I’m currently 38 weeks with first baby and the only messaging I’m hearing, from all directions, is about how hard and exhausting and awful and emotional and relentless and generally terrible it is having a new baby. It’s genuinely my biggest worry right now - more than the birth - that I’m just going to hate it, because from the way everyone talks it’s just going to be relentlessly awful.

Has anyone got anything positive to say?! I’m all for being prepared for the realities and I know it’s going to be no walk in the park, but there must be some up sides, surely?

I’m lucky to have a very devoted and loving husband who is so excited to meet his baby girl. He’s a grafter and I know he’ll pitch in with all the dirty work to take care of us, but realistically he’s also going to be gone a lot, possibly right from the very beginning, because he’s self-employed, running 2 businesses and we’re in a tough financial situation at the moment so with me just on MAT pay, he’s going to need to work a lot.

Tell me it’s going to be ok and I’ll actually enjoy some of it and still find joy and things to do that don’t cost money?!

sleepingdragons I couldn't agree more. It would be a terrible shame to have this thread deteriorate into another breast v bottle debate. Neither one is objectively easier in the early days - depends on so many factors unique to mother and baby and circumstance. It's unhelpful to suggest that formula helps you enjoy life with your newborn when we should be encouraging women to breastfeed where possible.

Bottle feeding did contribute to me enjoying motherhood hugely. I'm not going to lie about my feelings on this

And I am as entitled to my opinion that bottle feeding can be easier, as are you that breast is easier. Its a personal decision. We don't all have to think alike...

No, my opinion is not as simple as "breast is easier" you have misunderstood.

I agree with harrietm87:

Neither one is objectively easier in the early days - depends on so many factors unique to mother and baby and circumstance.

Absolutely it's a personal decision. But given the health risks associated with giving formula, I also agree:

It's unhelpful to suggest that formula helps you enjoy life with your newborn when we should be encouraging women to breastfeed where possible.