Its the end of February and the end of Baby’s and my “fourth trimester” (the first 3 months after birth). Supposedly we’ve now gone through the most exhausting stage of being a new parent and of being a baby.
I believe it.
Before we were co-sleeping I was mostly a sleepless zombie (more on that here). Life was hard! Now we continuously get 7-8 hours of sleep throughout the night and can sometimes even get in a full 4 hours at a time! Cue the fireworks!! – Or don’t because babies are actually freaking sleeping and we don’t want to wake them up.
Reflecting on this past month I have a few new take-aways to share:
Baby’s Progress Amazes and Terrifies Me
The now sleeping baby at my house is busy working on new skills and it amazes me how much delight I get when I observe a new one. This past week we had a bath where baby suddenly discovered he could splash the water. It was so joyous I didn’t even care about the pools of water all over our kitchen afterwards! When he accidentally rolled himself over the first time I became that mom – the one who cheers so loud she scares her own baby. But I was so excited for him! I thought all his progress was sooo cool until he also started something else new: teething.
Teething was unexpected to me because he is only 3 months old right now. Apparently, new teeth can come in any time between 3 months and a year. Someone could grow a whole other baby in that span of time! Lord knows it won’t be me though. That same day baby rolled over I realized we will be baby proofing our house soon. I’m really dreading putting locks on everything and setting up baby gates where I normally breeze on through.
Thoughts of Myself
Just over three months ago I was still growing a human. Today, the average person probably wouldn’t be able to tell but I can. I was feeling a little upset a few weeks ago because I love clothes and none of my pretty pre-pregnancy clothes fit. Pants just were not fitting and tops were not working with breastfeeding. That left me with yoga pants and nursing bras. Ugh! So I went looking for some inspiration. I found it in “Love your body for what it can do”. My body can produce all the food my baby needs!! The same baby that it grew for almost 40 weeks!!! Until I can love my body for looks again – which might be a while – I can love it for function. I love what my body did and can do and I’m determined not to let myself feel upset about what it can’t do because its temporary.
Three months: the End of Maternity Leave?!
I cannot wrap my head around the fact that it is expected that I go back to work now. I was lucky to have my health insurance covered through my work for the past 12 weeks but now its ending. If I want to have health insurance now, I can either continue the same insurance for OVER $800 a month – HA! – or I can get an insurance option with a $6,000 deductible and practically no coverage for a more affordable price. Adding me and baby to my husbands insurance would leave us with no paycheck. If you have never understood that the health insurance in America is MESSED UP I hope this clues you in. It really angers me that after 12 weeks new moms and babies have such limited options that are either completely not affordable or have no actual coverage.
Finding New Fun
At the Bird Walk at Myakka park
One of the best ways for me to work on my happiness now is to be outside. Luckily, we live in a city that has a lot of outdoor opportunities and ideal weather. I have lived in Sarasota almost all my life and we have gone places recently that I have never been. Before having a baby, our idea of going out together involved doing something that cost money but that is not an option right now. We have found a new love for our hometown and all the (free!) places we can go. It has really helped me stay positive and we have really enjoyed being out as a family and experiencing new things. I’m pretty impressed with my husband’s and my ability to change up our fun routine and really enjoy it.
What did you learn around three months after having baby? I love hearing other people’s journeys!
As Always,
Wishing you Happy Momming!
-Leah
