I'm 38 weeks pregnant with my first child. I have a 3 year old nephew that i helped raise from birth. Now that i'm having my own baby any day now i suddenly forgot how to take care of a baby. It was a breeze with my nephew and everything came naturally. I don't remember how often to feed a baby or change a baby or even what my baby should be wearing to sleep at night! Will this all come back to me? Am i just over reacting? Am i going to be a bad mom because of this?
2007-03-10 11:37:10 · 12 answers · asked by newmom 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
pre-birth jitters. Don't worry, you knew it then, it will come back naturally when the baby is there. The baby knows when hungry, and you'll know again too. That motherly instinct will kick in once more and even more so now that it's yours.
2007-03-10 11:55:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no your not a bad mom its just new mom anxiety...your worried you will do something wrong and hurt your baby its natural. as far as everything coming natural with your nephew although im sure you love him and you were concerned for his well being it wasnt really your responsibility to worry.....that was up to his mother to do. so all you had to do was do the best you could.....now it all falls on you. as far as feeding and changing goes.......newborns eat every 2-3 hours. they will tell you at the hospital all about that. change him/her when he/she is wet or dirty...and as far as what they should be wearing ...the days of bundling baby in 10 layers of clothes is over, the rule now is whatever you are comfortable in......if you are wearing shorts and a tshirt dont put a blanket sleeper on your baby (just an example) they also say now to do a "tummy test" dress them and wait 30 mins.feel their bare stomach.....if they are hot or cold add or take away clothes. and once that baby comes you will just know what to do anyway...its mom sense =)
2007-03-10 11:48:35 · answer #2 · answered by CRmac 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with MiMi that you're just nervous, which is natural. You've been through it before which gives you a leg up on 99.9% of new mothers.
The first thing you can do is express your fears to the hospital staff. Hospitals tend to have childcare experts who can give you tips on what to do the first few months. They can also help you look out for warning signs of stuff like post-partum depression which hits a lot of first time moms.
After that an excellent book my wife used was "What to Expect the First Year by Murkoff, Hathaway, and Eisenberg. Here's the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-First-Year-Second/dp/0761129588/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-7977683-7255948?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173574016&sr=8-2
One last thought: The human race is many many mellinia old. People have been raising babies for a long long time. A large percentage of them had no idea what they were doing, yet they managed. You'll manage too.
2007-03-10 11:49:46 · answer #3 · answered by Dave R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I went through this exact same thing when I was pregnant with my first. I totally freaked out and forgot everything about how to care for babies. This only lasted for a very short period of time. A couple of days.
It all comes back to you, you are just in a moment of panic and this is quite normal.
I'm sure you'll be a great Mum. Good Luck with it all.
2007-03-10 13:31:42 · answer #4 · answered by Monkey Magic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it came natural with your nephew believe me it will come natural with your own. You're just over reacting from excitement. No you're not going to be a bad mom. You're just exciting and happy and maybe even worried. Everyone is with there first child. You'll do fine, if I did you will. It will all come back to you and even more
2007-03-10 11:45:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
babies pretty much let you know when thier hungry and if your changing thier diapers about every 3 hours or so thats great. And you will learn thier differents cries and things...typically babies are fed every four hours. Everything will come back to you I'm sure. You will be wonderful! don't worry You will be great. Just relax :)
good luck!
2007-03-10 11:45:12 · answer #6 · answered by Ria B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry! You WILL be a great mom! I would get the book "Baby 411" (amazon has it) it is the greatest baby reference book.....it saved me! Pretty much goes through everything you need to know about any situation that may come up.
congrats!
2007-03-10 12:02:39 · answer #7 · answered by trouperstar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will come naturally. I have had a few panic moments with this pregnancy too.. even moments where I didnt' want the baby!!!! It is just hormones... panic is liek a pregnancy symtom
2007-03-10 12:10:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your just over reacting i did the same thing i just had a baby girl and my son is 6 i worried for months over the same things but it does just come back to you i remebered how to do everything and you will to good luck
2007-03-10 11:55:21 · answer #9 · answered by Jamie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
relax- it'll all come back to you, and if it doesn't don't worry the nurses in the hospital are all very thorough and will fill you in on what you don't know. Congratulation and good luck!!! Say hi to baby for us here when it arrives:)
2007-03-10 11:44:39 · answer #10 · answered by Shawna 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋