What's the best bits of becoming a new mum?

[donut8]

People always tell me how hard it is, how tired they are and sleepless nights etc. but people rarely mention the good bits. So what's the best bits about becoming a first time mum?

Meeting them. Seeing their face and not being able to take your eyes off them.
It’s amazing, amazing.

For me, after years and years of infertility and multiple miscarriages it was overwhelming relief, like a blindfold has been lifted and like I had finally hopped off a treacherous high wire that I could fall off any minute onto solid lush ground.

Then afterwards when it was just me and him, it was just me and him, alone in the world to do our thing.

He was mine, I loved being one of two people who could calm him and absolutely adore him.
One of the only two people that he wanted and needed all the time.

The feel of his little soft fingers, the softness of his little head, the smell of his head after his bath.
Him looking up at me with huge eyes as I breast fed him, calm, warm, snug, happy.
The feel of his little cheek against mine when I hold him upright to cuddle and wind him.

It’s all just bloody delicious isn’t it.

I love being able to delight in every new skill or little thing he does. I love seeing him really smile when he sees me in the morning, he kicks his legs and his happy to start the day. He's a joy to look after, are happy smiley little boy.

Seeing their personality develop. My daughter is 8 months now and is just a smiley, chatty joy. I much prefer this stage to the newborn stage!

I loved the first few hours when the only people in the entire world that got to meet him and know about him were me, his dad and the midwives. It was such an amazing time being our little family before announcing his arrival

then it was new born cuddles. the way he curled up into a little ball on my belly and chest. loved having my bump replaced by his cuddles.

now his a bit older the way he strokes my side when he feeds and stops every once in a while to look up at me and give me the biggest grin. also the way you can see he gets very excited stretches out, has a huge smile and waves his arms manically whilst gurgling as he can't laugh yet.

The cuddles, smelling their heads and feeling how soft their hair feels against your cheek.

I have two children, both now adults, and both of them were an absolute joy as babies. I know how lucky I was, because I never struggled with them at all. I loved every single second of it, and I think I nearly kissed and cuddled them to death. Their smell, their noises, everything. They were both a total delight. Definitely the best time of my life when they were little.

The cuddles. Especially the night feed ones, when it feels like you're the only two people in the world. Dd is flat out on my chest right now, and I should be going back to bed but shes so comfy and cuddly, I'm just going to sit here a while longer.

Your newborn smells amazing. There’s no way to describe it before it slowly fades to the normal baby smell

The intensity and importance of it. Everything else seems trivial in comparison to creating a new person, and they stare at at the world, amazed.

@donut8 The 'it is so hard' part all depends on the baby! My DD never slept she was really difficult and still is now at 3! But DS has been an angel baby has slept from day one wakes twice in the night for a feed and goes straight back down!

The best part about being a new mum is when you realise how much your baby needs you, especially little boys, they seem to not want anyone but mummy 🥴😂

My " baby" is 40 and I still get a warm loving feeling when I hear her voice. I've felt like that since the day I first met her. As she was born she looked straight into my eyes , it was the most wonderful experience I've ever had. I loved everything about being a mum and I still do.

I loved wearing my newborn in a wrap and rocking side to side as he slowly drifted off to sleep 😊. Also just having mini things dotted about the house.

Newborns smell lovely, they fall asleep on you because you are their safe place, they have no wants only needs, you are helping them transition to the world and then at around 3 months they wake up and wow they are little people.

When they snuggle in to you.
You are number 1 in their world - this can be tough but is also so special.
When they laugh hysterically at something you do e.g. pulling a face.
The little moments that make you proud.

Sitting around all day cuddling and feeding.
My second baby was so easy to care for, he was so cuddly and cute. I miss it

My experience was slightly different because we adopted our son at just over a year old, but its along the same lines. Falling head over heels in love, watching them grow and learn and develop, being their entire world. It is the most amazing thing in the world.

I'm so jealous of women getting to do it all over again - especially the intensity and thrill of my first baby. The others were just as amazing and special and adored (and if anything I enjoyed them more because I trusted myself more) but for me, nothing will ever compare to the other worldliness of becoming a mother.

Gosh it took me a while to realise I loved him but when I did it hit me like a (wonderful!) punch in the face! I found the first six months incredibly hard and struggled to enjoy him but after that he's become the love of my life.
The feel of his fuzzy little head when he snuggles in for a cuddle after his bedtime bottle gets me every time. It's absolutely magical watching him grow and learn and change every day. Whilst the relentlessness of working and looking after him is still hard, he brings me immeasurable joy. For the first time in my life I am excited about the future.

I felt like my life had a much more profound sense of joy, and meaning. I know it sounds cheesy but even little things like decorating the Christmas tree and telling him the stories of the baubles and our families.

Feeling DS' hand in mine is the best feeling ever.

I've got a three week old, a two year old and a four year old. The best bits about them when they are teeny is just the snuggly, miracle-ness of it all. I feel like day by day I'm watching my daughters eyelashes and fingernails grow as I feed her and cuddle her and it's just amazing to think I grew her inside me. The baby days can be hard (not necessarily though, depends on the baby) but they go by in a flash, believe me.

As they get older it's about finding out who they are and what they think about things, I love that my children have opinions and ideas that are different to mine and that they are their own little people.

Mostly I could just burst with pride about my children, I can't believe they are mine.

When you first see them smile and recognise you, and the first time you make them giggle...swear my heart almost burst with love! I've found from 6 months onwards a lot more enjoyable than the newborn stage tbh. Ds has the best little personality and it's just amazing to watch him develop! It's still a slog, but much more rewarding now that he can interact and play.

The way they look at you, first smile, all the cuddles.

DD is 6 weeks old. I've just fed her and really should put her in the moses basket so I can have a shower but I'm just having 5 more minutes of cuddling her, just because I can. I didn't know I could love this fiercely until she was born. I've been so happy and content since she arrived.

And it's a great excuse to sit on the sofa feeding while being waited on!

How she'd fall asleep on me easily in the early days, or fall asleep with her arms up in the air like she was reading a newspaper.
The way she looked in her little white sleepsuits.
The friends I made - I've become, since having her, very sociable and well-connected locally and I love it.

A bit later, but seeing her develop, like a PP - she's now two and seeing her run over to hug her friends or say hello to their mums can set me off crying.