What's something about pregnancy, birth, or new parenthood that you didn't expect or felt totally unprepared for?

My own recovery! I spent so much time researching and preparing for birth and my newborn I completely forgot about me. A friend gave me a postpartum recovery kit which I hadn't thought to ask for which helped but I had no idea stitches would cause so much pain sitting 😅

I was having consistent contractions but not dialating being told I was in prodromal labor. It was a very painful/uncomfortable experience for 3 days.

My mental health journey!! Soo freaking difficult

Financial struggles while prepping for baby #2, with a toddler. I had NO idea just how much things would change with two babies (my oldest only being 18 months when his brother was born). I prepped for the newborn, but i was completely blindsided by what came next. Things were already difficult because i chose to SAH with my boys and on my husband's income alone, we really had to make changes. I found myself in a very difficult spot PP, i almost lost my mind from the anxiety and rage and depression. I took it out on my husband and i was not wanting to hold or feed my baby(i still did ofc). I would have intrusive thoughts like wishing i could take back my pregnancy and birth because we just weren't ready for it. It was all just too much. Ffwd 2 months and things are MUCH better. Moving into a bigger place, finally connecting with my baby and my toddler settling into his new role as big brother...and looking into possible carreer change within the next few months for myself. Money matters for your peace of mind

The expectation. In laws, parents, friends, family, my own, medical professionals. Parenting is hard. But for each stage you have a different expectations from everyone and yourself. I didn't consider this at all. It's hard in different ways and easy in others.

Wish I hadn’t worried so much about a “routine”. Came naturally for us 4-6 months. Don’t worry so much about development, such as crawling, walking etc. I know everyone says each child is different but since having my 2nd, I understand this much more. Wish I’d taken more time to rest both times. Breastfeeding is HARD. Expect to write your own life off for a few months, but it’s so worth it and gets easier as time goes on.

This is something that doesn't apply to most parents (thankfully) but having a child with medical needs. It never even crossed my mind that it could actually happen to us until it did, and nothing else about pregnancy/birth/parenting has even come close to as unexpected and overwhelming as that. My son has an incurable medical condition that requires 2 medical devices and 24/7 management and affects every single aspect of our lives. He's 4 now and it's very much just become part of our daily life, but the shock and trauma of the diagnosis and adjustment was intense and it's still emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting, and I do get burnt out from it. I don't like to say it can happen to anyone because chances are it WON'T and moms have enough anxiety already, but it really can happen to anyone. And if it does all you can do is keep going for your baby. Get all the support you can, take care of yourself so you can take care of them, and try to find whatever positives there are.

Pregnancy none being stop sick until i had her- c section recovery (awful) 🥲& now daughter having so many allergies. Something that doesn't run in mine or my partners side, so we have no idea what we are doing. Oh, and the in-laws and their odd behaviours 🙄

@Aina🇵🇸🍉 Thank you so much for sharing lovely and this is such a good point and one that can cause a lot of stress. I'm so pleased to hear you are now in a better position 🥰 sending so much love x

@Lacy Thank you so much for sharing your experience and advice to those who may also experience this ❤️ You are doing such an incredible job and I know it must have been extremely hard at times and may continue to be but you are so strong and an incredible Mum! Sending lots of love x

Colic. I acgually had never heard of it. I didn't prepare for colic and I had no idea what to do. The midwife advised this anti-colic drops before feeding, and I eventually studied and learnt to hold her up right for 30 minutes or more after feeding which proved difficult if she fell asleep feeding. I didn't prepare for holding her all the time, and emergency purchased a cloth carrier to help keep her upright. I also didn't know it would last until she weened. The drops only made it easier to get it to form into one burp, but getting the burp out was still tricky. It was difficult mentally and physically too, and probably for her too. Once she burped you could see her relief and she immediately stopped crying. Another is nappy changing being a constant martial arts battle. Still haven't solved this.