If you could send yourself a message in those first weeks of motherhood, what would it be? Win a £100 voucher and a Premium subscription to Calm!

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What do you remember of the very early days of motherhood? If you could send a message or share one piece of advice or encouragement with yourself at that time what would it be?

According to Calm's recent survey of over 2000 UK mums, nearly half of Mums are kept awake with stress and anxiety. That’s why Calm has teamed up with Mumsnet to support maternal mental health in the run-up to Mother’s Day.

We know motherhood can feel isolating at times (especially during those long, sleepless nights) but having a supportive community can make all the difference. That’s why we’re inviting you to be part of this conversation.

Plus, as a little thank you, everyone who comments on this thread by Friday 25th April will be in with the chance of winning an £100 VEX voucher and a Premium subscription to the Calm app. Four lucky runners-up will each win a Premium Calm subscription in our weekly prize draws! We'll be announcing winners each week. Our insight T&Cs apply .

So, if you could send a message to your past self in those first few weeks of motherhood, what would you say? Drop a comment below to share your words of encouragement and support with fellow mums!

That these days will pass

This phase shall pass

The first 6 weeks are the worst -so take each day at a time and enjoy the feeds, sleep when they do, and say no to visitors when you are not up to it.

When the baby sleeps. Sleep!

The washing up can wait. If you find yourself with a spare 15 minutes, have a shower or put your feet up. If someone comes to visit and doesn’t offer to help/make a cup of tea/bring biscuits, don’t invite them again. Is your baby/babies warm and safe? Then you’re doing a brilliant job.

DH is never ever going to stand up for you. Take a deep breath and say no, it isn't convenient for you to drop in for the evening, I am far too tired to be playing hostess when I should be in bed.

My DH did, ALL the time.

You are in the trenches right now but it will get better and quicker than you will believe. You hate the baby stage and that's normal for many woman but that squashed looking blob is going to turn into the most beautiful toddler and you will be a champ at the toddler stage. Keep buggering on you are doing a great job .

It takes time to adjust and find your rhythm. Some babies are genuinely harder than others so comparisons aren't helpful. Keep talking to supportive friends who will make you feel better about yourself. Get as much rest as possible.

Everyone else struggles behind the scenes as well. Social media posts are not real life!

It will be OK. You are doing great and one day you will sleep again. Though probably not for long, because round about the time your first little one starts sleeping through the night you will decide that what you really need in your life is a second little sleep stealer.

Number two will be OK too.

Take one day at a time! You're not superwoman, the cleaning can wait. Relax when you can and sleep every opportunity you get. Do breast, if you can, and bottle, combination, if you can, is the best!

im just 4 weeks pp but already learnt the following

accept any help. Sleep at any given point, the housework can wait. Your not a bad mother for sleeping, it’s a necessity and I’m a way better mother after some sleep.

It’s only a problem if it’s a problem for you.
Doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

She isn’t going to die. It’s going to be ok.

breast feed on demand.

To listen to my gut and not some ridiculous maternity nurse.

Trust yourself to know when something is right and when something is wrong. The most important people at the beginning are you and your baby, even more so if you’re breast feeding.

Don't push to get out of hospital so quickly. Don't put so much pressure on yourself to breastfeed.

You do NOT need to be superwoman, After getting home when the baby was 6 hours old you don’t need to be showered and hair done/make up on the very next morning and if you do finish getting ready and come through to find umpteen visitors who were waiting on you to make them tea/coffee, tell them to make it themselves or fuck off out of your house!

You don’t have to be perfect. It’s ok to give up breast feeding if you and your baby struggle with it. You tried. It’s ok.

The days can feel so long, and the nights endless, but the years feel so, so short. Enjoy every single moment.

This too shall pass.

I read it first here, and repeated it to myself as nauseam throughout those early years. It really helped, not just knowing that things change with time but that there were many others having, or who had had, the same difficulties I was trying to deal with, and they had survived! As did I, in the end! Dd is 25 now.

Don't listen to people "advice". You're doing great!

Life will return to normal… give it time

It feels impossible now, but things will get better. Your baby will sleep through the night. Soon, you'll burp them and it'll be thr last time you'll need to do it. Sooner, they'll smile at you.