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!

Don't wait for help to be offered, ask!

You do you. If you don’t want visitors or don’t want to make plans then don’t. Be selfish with your time and energy.

Everything is a phase - if it’s going well, enjoy it and if it’s hard, know that it will pass soon.

Please ask for help. Get back on ads. You’re doing your best

Don’t fret about the housework. If DH or anyone else wants to help, accept it and smile if it’s not to your liking.
Don’t worry if baby’s progress doesn’t match that of your friends’ babies, they’ll get there in their own time, it’s not a contest!
Look at, and listen to all the advice and then make your own routine. Try and make a little time for yourself- long soak in the bath, home facial etc.
Be kind to yourself, don’t take comments as criticisms, do what you want, enjoy it!

Take things at your own pace - you don't have to keep up with your friends social circle - put yourself and your sleep before taking baby out. You'll be so tired - they can wait until you have a proper routine

You're doing great. Keep trusting your instincts.

Nearly everyone else is winging it too - it's not just you.

Imperfection is key. Don’t try and be perfect.

My mum used to come over every Saturday, I used to hold on to that visit ALL WEEK thinking ‘at least I can have a couple of hours sleep on Saturday!!’. It was desperate thinking but it got me through! I would remind myself that it does pass, even though you don’t think it will, and you will one day be looking back missing all those sleepless nights and contact naps, because your baby is no longer a baby!!

Don’t feel bad that baby can’t latch. Baby will be absolutely fine on formula milk.

There's no such thing as spoiling a baby by holding them. Hold them all day, hold them to sleep, make the most of those precious moments!

Enjoy it - even the 'bad' moments.... it really does go so fast.

Don't worry so much about saying no to people coming round.

I'd be surprised if ANY mum would not feel sleep deprived and exhausted with a newborn - If I was to tell myself something, please put the visitors off -especially your mum who wants to spend the day holding baby, when all you want to do is sleep, so you can cope better with the night feeds.

Don’t be so smug that your baby sleeps well and you don’t get what all the fuss is about, babies are simple. In a few years time DC2 will arrive and prove you very, very wrong! 🙈

Enjoy the cuddles, eye contact, and feeding, and if breast is not working out for you, then change, and if you enjoy breast feeding don't let feeding in public overwhelm you, do it discreetly and people won't bat an eyelid

Take everything one day at a time and remember you will sleep through the night again one day.

Motherhood is a job of work.
Listen to your instincts.

Sleep when baby sleeps instead of catching up on housework.
To pause before rushing to pick up baby, see/listen if they can settle on their own (one could the other, not a chance😂)
Good enough is good enough (learnt that too late)
You will be blessed with two forever friends in your life.

The most important thing is to take care of yourself when you can, sleep when baby sleeps, don't worry about the cleaning so much. Prioritise yourself and baby.

You know your baby, go with your instinct, have confidence in yourself.... Also a rash(especially nappy rash) may sometimes be a sure/early indicator little one is getting ill, always used to happen to my first born.

It is OK to cry if you are too tired to empty the dishwasher.

Advocate for yourself more. Don't be polite and tell people what you need. You don't need to attend the HV appointments either.

Try to relax, enjoy it and do what feels right for you!

The baby will be the love of your life x