There's nothing quite like the feeling of becoming a parent for the first time. As your pregnancy progressed, you were likely counting down the days until you were able to experience all the incredible new-parent firsts you had heard so much about: seeing your baby open her eyes for the first time, her first coos, first smile, first laugh. And of course, nothing can prepare you for the deep, unconditional love you feel for your little bundle.
But as rewarding and exciting as first-time parenting is, it can be challenging, too. If you’re a new mom and are feeling stressed, guilty, exhausted or all of the above, know that you’re not alone. Being a parent is hard work — and for most people, adjusting to this new role takes time.
Below, 14 moms in the What to Expect community open up about their experiences as a new parent, plus the most difficult thing they've had to get used to as they adjust to motherhood.
“The toughest challenge I’ve faced is patience. I have learned to be extremely patient with my son.” — leidiso_
”[The] hardest thing is the lack of sleep.” — JayBee25
”I love my baby and she is easy-going, with one exception… SHE HATES CAR RIDES. My hardest thing [about being a new mom] is driving places with her.” — FitivlifeMommy
”For me, [the hardest thing is] all the sacrifices. Missing work, not having a paycheck or a cut in pay.” — AAJC2108
”Watching her grow up so quickly and leaving her to go to work.” — Tobesurprised
”Missing ‘us’ time with my husband and feeling guilty about missing the time when it was just us!” — brittb0524
”Leaving the house... [I] never realized what a feat it is when you have one baby.” — MMB2642019
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”I’d say learning to live with your own company. You spend so much of it alone and even when people are around — which isn't very often — it’s just about the baby (I don’t begrudge it).” — nikkiw91x
”Getting housework done when it’s not baby-friendly, like mowing the lawn.” — Nitrolea
”Not being able to leave the house after 9 p.m. And getting used to a postpartum body.” — Werbs
”The hardest part [is] being stressed over every little thing when there is nothing to stress about ... mom life.” — BaBartz
”To be honest, it’s breastfeeding. From day one I had trouble with it. How can something so natural be so hard?” — Nef_82
“The hardest part is when [my baby] cries and cries and I can’t figure out what’s wrong.” — livinonlove2
”The fact that I'm SO tired by the end of every day... Sometimes I feel as if a truck had ran over me. That said, I also feel so much love. More than I ever knew I could feel and that makes me feel so happy and fulfilled.” — anacaro00
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