Hey, mama! Whether you’ve got a baby on the way or you’re in the thick of those early, sleep-deprived newborn days, we’ve got you. Becoming a mom is exciting, emotional, and let’s be real — a little overwhelming at times. That’s why we pulled together some of our most helpful posts for new and expectant Jacksonville moms. From what to expect postpartum to local support and baby-friendly hangouts, consider this your go-to guide for starting (and surviving) motherhood in Jax.
Most Helpful Posts for New Jacksonville Moms
“‘I think we might have made a mistake,’ I whispered conspiratorially to my husband as we lay side by side in the dark, mindlessly playing on our respective smartphones, while our 3-week-old son, Archer, grunted and snorted and whistled just two feet away in his bassinet. ‘Yeah. This sucks,’ he whispered back.
Wait. What? He was supposed to disagree with me. Often the voice of positivity and reason, my husband was supposed to say, ‘It’s okay, honey. It will get better. You’re doing a great job.’ But in that very moment, neither one of us thought anything was going to get better. Ever. Our beloved newborn was sucking the joy out of our lives and the life out of us.”
“There they are — those two pink lines you’ve been waiting for! You’ve been dreaming about being pregnant, and it’s finally happened! But now what??
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as a first-time mom when you first see that positive test. You’ve imagined what it would be like to rock your newborn in your arms, but maybe you haven’t quite thought through the actual pregnancy and your checklist of to-dos before the baby arrives. Read on for a list of common questions (and answers).”
“A few months later, the joke was on me. No one told me I wouldn’t be able to wear my non-maternity clothes home from the hospital – and it never ever occurred to me my body wouldn’t immediately return to its pre-pregnancy state the day after my daughter arrived. Maybe I had been living under a rock, or missed reading the right helpful pregnancy book, or had just not been paying attention to anything said in my prenatal baby classes, because for some reason I thought I’d be able to wear my regular jeans home. Ha. I could barely walk after my C-section, let alone dress myself in something cute. I looked nothing like my pre-mama self.”
“When I was pregnant with my first baby, I spent several months researching and reading books on pregnancy, natural birth, baby sleep, and nutrition. I thought the hardest part of having a newborn would be labor and delivery itself… and boy was I wrong. Here are five common breastfeeding mistakes that I personally made — and actually fixed!”
“Let’s admit it, we’ve all fantasized about the ideal birth. The moment you find out you’re pregnant, you start looking into birthing classes. Will you do it Au naturel? Bradley? Lamaze? Hypnobirth? There are so many options and so many classes, but I didn’t find one that prepares you for a C-section.”
“You’re not alone in wondering: Is this ache in my back just part of the deal? Should I be worried? Will I ever feel like myself again?
Here’s what we want you to know: You don’t have to just “power through” the pregnancy discomfort. Pregnancy may be natural, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through every moment of it.”
“Jacksonville is full of great indoor play spaces for kids, newborn through age 6! Read on for a roundup of Jacksonville’s indoor play spaces, some newly opened and some that are community staples.”
“I am a planner. I like to know when, how, and where things are happening so I can prep appropriately. I also research everything, so when an event comes up, I know what I need to bring, who’s going to be there, and what we plan on doing as far in advance as possible.
Growing a person for nine months gave me plenty of time to plan. I knew exactly what color the walls of the nursery were going to be. I knew what outfit I would bring him home in. After reading every pregnancy book and article out there, I knew his entry into the world to be as natural as possible, with no epidural, and delayed cord clamping. But what I didn’t plan on was having my birth plan thrown out the window in a life-or-death situation.”
“No infinite number of mommy friends, parenting classes, self-help books or blog posts could have prepared me for what has been the toughest three weeks of my entire life. You see, three weeks ago, I became a mom.
Until then, I was never able to honestly give motherhood the credit it deserves. Yes, the chest snuggles in the wee hours of the morning make it worth it, but they don’t make it any easier when you’ve somersaulted into the insanity that is parenthood for the very first time.”
“I believe there is a common misconception of what a great mom looks like. Commercials, memes, and even famous Instagram personalities paint a picture of a disheveled woman in a milk-stained shirt and messy bun who is living off a diet of Starbucks coffee. I believe these silly images are relatable. I also think it is essential to be kind to ourselves and not hold ourselves to unrealistic expectations. However, I believe those images do perpetuate an expected norm of self-neglect, and I think there is a happy medium when it comes to how we treat ourselves as mothers. I don’t consider myself an expert, as my sweet firstborn is a mere 3 weeks old as I write this, but I have followed some advice since being discharged from the hospital, and I swear it has kept me sane. Take time for yourself, Mama.”
Do any of these posts resonate with you as a new or expectant mama? Let us know in the comments!
