How are you as a new mum?

[sunlover1123]

Pre baby I had my shit together, got up at the same time, went to work, did my hair and makeup and felt put together. Had lots of compliments and felt happy.

5 months of being a new mum and today... not left the house even though the sun is shining, not put a brush through my hair and just can't fathom putting an outfit together.
Ate pretty much a whole lemon cake thing and am writing this as my tiny human contact naps.

Instagram has not been my friend today and all of the other mummies look so well put together I'm starting to feel ashamed of myself!

So I thought I'd ask how old is your LO and how are you as a mum? 😊

My DS is 11mo. FTM. I always laugh because when I see my mom friends they always comment that my hair is down and straightened, I have full face of make up and my baby is always in perfectly matched clothes. But that's because I prioritise and enjoy doing that on the ~2-3 days a week when we actually leave the house. I don't like to go out everyday because taking a baby out solo requires planning and a lot of effort and energy!!

The other days I am at home, no make up, in pj's (I always wear pj's when I'm home) and so is my DS. I will throw on a tracksuit if heading for a walk around the village. That is life. Home is my comfortable and happy place. Having make up on is pointless and it gets in the way of nice cuddles because I don't want it getting on DS. Hair gets pulled and clothes would just get stained with whatever 3 meals he is eating that day.

Be kind to yourself. Instagram is an absolute snapshot of the best parts of someone's life. I don't post there but I can relate at how fake it is. I started taking those monthly pics of my DS with the milestone cards. They always come out so cute. People see the one lovely pic but don't see the 30 blurred photos, him crying when I take the card out of his mouth, me sweating and heavy breathing in the effort to get it 🤣 I imagine most insta photo shoots are like that!

P.S. I eat more sugar than ever before. I think it's the sleep deprivation!

My LO is 3 months today! FTM

Some rare days….I feel like I could just about pass for instagram instagram! My hair is clean, I have eyeliner on and I take my baby to nice places and he behaves like an Angel.

On other days I certainly do not have my shit together. Today is a really good day. Little one slept relatively well, has had lovely naps and has been a delight.

Yesterday I was crying into my cold cup of tea after a horror of a night, with the grumpiest baby in the world with greasy hair in unmatching pyjamas with toothpaste and sick stains on at 5pm

instagram is mainly bollocks. I now try and work off the concept that every day is a totally new day. Just because today was a bit of a s**t show it doesn’t mean tomorrow will be. Clean slate every morning. Since I’ve started thinking that way I feel 100% better. I am still critical of myself though and feel like a fish out of water at baby groups….but I’m learning. Feeling like I’m getting to know what my DS wants now which is helping!

I think we all just wing it really! Or that’s what I’m telling myself!

Oh! And I also now think that dairy milk and wotsits is a perfectly acceptable breakfast so don’t feel bad about the lemon cake!

I’m doing OK. I haven’t brushed my hair, but DD (also 5 months) has had a bath and I’ve made soup.

BUT - she is an easy baby. She naps in her cot (usually) and is happy on a playmat. DD1 did neither of those things and the house and I were a wreck for a year.

Anyone who has there shut half way together has the total luck of a cooperative baby.

Yuup pretty much the same as you here.
Used to have my shit together until I had a bad pregnancy, just was ill all the time.

Now my DD is almost 5 months old and I'm lucky to have days where I feel like I want to look like me again. I feel a shadow of myself. Literally spend days covered in sick, leaky chest, looking like a panda, hair scraped back and eat/drink whatever I can find when I can. Genuinely think what an earth my DP sees in me 😆

But seeing how my LO is growing, developing and how happy they are makes it all worth it ❤️
We forget what an amazing job we're doing.

What is your secret to the 2/3 days a week? Struggling to do 1 a month at the minute 🤣😵‍💫

LO always looks so put together but i on the other hand just can't seem to figure out when to sort myself out....

I'm convinced some people are just better at multi tasking with this stuff than I am and the Instagram posts are from mums I know. One in particular always managed to have perfectly manicured gel nails and mascara on.

I think in 5 months I've looked nice twice but it took planning and full support of DP!

Oh I only manage this because he naps for 45 minutes in his cot in the morning so I slap on a bit of make up if we are going anywhere. When he was 5 months he would sit in a chair in my room and watch me do my make up once it took 15 minutes or less. Honestly, you do start to feel more yourself as time goes on and they drop to 2 naps a day and everything is more structured.

I also remind myself that if I have no where I need to go and nothing I need to do then there is no pressure to go out. A walk will suffice if I get stir crazy!

Im a FTM to twin DS and DD they are 3 months, today we have been in pjs all day they have been bathed, ive brushed my teeth and thats as far as we have got. Other days are more productive when they are napping ill shower do my hair a bit of make up, clean up, have a coffee and other days i get 0 done. But ive learnt thats ok as long as your LO is clean and fed all the other stuff can wait you are doing a great job (the hardest job) looking after a little human so dont be so hard on yourself x

I have a 10 month old and I'm also due in April. I work FT.

I feel better now that he's getting older, newborns are so boring but thankfully it doesn't last for very long! I can't believe I'll be doing it again soon😂

Recommend simplifying your routine, have clothes in coordinating colours that don't need to be ironed necessarily and makeup at the ready so you can just grab them. Buy some new accessories ie new pair of sunnies or some cool trainers. When baby goes down for their morning nap jump in the shower and blow dry your hair that way it looks nice for 2 days. Lipstick goes miles, get gel nails done, good excuse for me time but also really easy way to look polished.
I think it's absolutely possible to pay extra attention to your appearance and it's good for our mental health as mums (not all mums but speaking from experience from me and other friends)

DD is nearly 21 months. Only recently have I found the strength and energy to put make up on and think about what I'm wearing. Even then it's only maybe 3 days out of 7 that I do it. Haven't lost the baby weight, house could do with a clean and I hardly ever exercise, despite it being one of my favourite things pre baby.

At your stage I was on anti depressants and seriously suicidal. You at least sound better than that!

My DS is 2 years old and I still don’t think I’ve properly brushed my hair 😂
You’re all doing great, honestly x

Todays dinner was pasta, cake and a cuppa .... I eat the most random meals now 😂🙄

FTM to 8 month old - he has pretty regular naps now so I get ready while he naps - we only go out and see people in the afternoons though so I have the whole morning! Deffo eat lots of cake too so don't worry about it :)

8 month old. I don't brush my hair often and tbh I'm
Lucky if I manage teeth twice a day. Although have just discovered my baby finds me
Brushing my teeth hilarious so now do it more! I just put my hair in plaits after washing it so it's wavy instead of blow drying as only have tiem to shower when baby is sleeping and don't want to wake him up!
We both Always have food or stains on clothes.

It gets a bit easier when they can sit up as you can put them on floor. But harder again as soon as they are crawling!

I also live off (healthy ish) ready meals.

At my wits end... my 7 week old does not sleep in the day without the sling and even that is a battle. Baby screams blue murder in the car and in the pram and pretty much all the time. Theres no signs of pain, no trapped wind or allergys.. baby is so clingy it is unreal. Have a baby they said, it would be the best thing ever they said....

9 month old DD. Returning to work in Dec p/t.
Pre baby id get up at 6 and work out, be in the gym five days a week or boxing or cycling. Size 12, fit and healthy. Make up every day, hair maintained (brushed/washed) and smart outfits.

After baby, I weighed five stone heavier, size 24, have managed to get to a size 16 so far! I try and remember makeup and to brush my hair, but dry shampoo is a common ally! I can barely get out of bed for 7.30 (DH gets up with DD at 7ish), I'll be asleep by 10! I try and get to gym/cycle three times a week but it's so much effort! There's nothing insta about my life 😂

I spend DD nap time cleaning or doing washing (which has tripled!).

I do try and get out every day, baby groups and coffees, but again it's a struggle!

I was diagnosed with PND early on and medication helped, but damn I'd like my energy and positivity back!!

Oh and I live in jeans/leggings and baggy t-shirts.

Honestly though, you're doing great. And your LO will be a joy, I'm sure x

12 month old. Get dressed if got to go out but the rest of the
Time it's sweats and t-shirt. Hair gets washed and straight up to be hairsprayed if going out. Haven't worn hair down since early pregnancy 🤣

Stop looking at social media!

To be honest, although I managed to look presentable enough for work at 12 months or so, I didn't really "get my shit together" until each of my kids turned three

Gosh glad it's not just me then! I will hopefully have my shit when I'm back at work.

I've worked out I can look semi presentable if I slick my hair back and find a hair band.... and mascara makes my eyes look open. That's all I've got in the tank at the minute 😂

Hoping it gets better for you... the early weeks were tough.... I was glad when I hit the 3 month mark and things got better. Hang in there!

www.instagram.com/reel/CxY88lpStlj/?igshid=NjFhOGMzYTE3ZQ==

I am mum number 2 😂

I have a 3yr old and 9month old.

We go out everyday... because we have to #toddlerenergy.

But I rock the mum bun, I go out with sick / food stained clothes... because there probably isn't enough of my own clean clothes... but the children look good 😂.

I do shower everyday - but that's only because nap time isn't sacred when you still have to parent the toddler and Peppa Pig and I have an amazing co-parenting relationship!