Motherhood is a journey filled with challenges and rewards. Beth shares her story on coping with a premature birth and the challenges of the separation from her baby, and finding solace in gratitude. Witnessing her children's loving bond became the most rewarding part. Her advice: be gentle, cherish every moment, and let everything else wait.
What is the most challenging part of your motherhood journey so far? and how did you cope with it?
My first baby was born prematurely at 35 weeks, which meant at birth he was rushed away to the special care nursery and fed through a nasal tube. It took three weeks to transition him away from tube feeding to breastfeeding and the hospital does not provide for mummas to stay with their little ones if they are not a patient themselves. I was discharged the day after I gave birth and going home without my baby was horrible. I was pumping every 3 hours so he could be fed my milk and spending as much time at the hospital as possible. Towards the end I was going in twice a night to breastfeed him! I’d rock up half asleep in my Pajamas with milk leaking everywhere, what a sight. During this time I focussed on cultivating gratitude - my baby was early but healthy, and I was extremely grateful for that! I wrote a list of the positives and read through it when I was feeling down.
What has been the most rewarding part of your motherhood journey so far?
The most rewarding party of my motherhood journey closely followed the second most challenging part - coping with intense mum guilt after my second child was born. I was so emotional about not being able to give my first born all my attention as I was so used to doing! It wasn’t long before those feelings subsided and I got to watch the absolutely beautiful transition my eldest made to become a caring big brother. Seeing the way my kids play and care for each other makes me smile everyday. It’s just as special seeing it happen again now with my third baby, Tilly. The boys love to hold her, tickle her and make a competition out of getting her to smile! Sometimes I catch them lying next to her just gazing into her eyes and I could literally melt to the floor.
What advice would you give to a new mum or wish someone had told you before you became a mum?
Be gentle with yourself! Don’t rush to get back into activities that you did pre-baby. They will all come back in time, when the time is right. Stages during the first year can be intense and feel long and all consuming but you’ll blink and that first year will be over. So enjoy your baby - rest when you need to - and soak up all the cuddles you can - everything else can wait for now!