Before I became a mom, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what those newborn days would look like.
I imagined a sweet little routine, a baby who slept in their bassinet, laundry magically getting folded during nap time, and somehow still having time to shower every day.
Then I actually had a baby.
Motherhood has a funny way of humbling you in the best possible way.
So if I could sit down with every expecting mom over coffee, here are seven things I’d want her to know.
1. You don’t have to have it all figured out.
There are so many books, podcasts, Instagram accounts, and opinions out there. It can feel like everyone else knows exactly what they’re doing.
The truth? Most of us are learning as we go.
Your baby has never been here before, and you’ve never been their mom before. You’re learning each other together, and that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.
2. The house can wait.
I know that’s easier said than done.
There will always be dishes. There will always be laundry. The floors will eventually need vacuuming again.
But those tiny newborn stretches on your chest? Those sleepy milk-drunk cuddles?
They don’t last very long.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is sit on the couch and soak in your baby.
3. Your baby doesn’t need perfection.
They don’t care if dinner is homemade.
They don’t notice the unfolded laundry.
They aren’t comparing themselves to babies on social media.
They just know you’re their safe place.
And that’s enough.
4. Every baby is different.
What worked for your sister, your best friend, or that mom on TikTok might not work for your baby.
That’s okay.
You’ll find your rhythm.
Maybe your baby loves contact naps.
Maybe they sleep great in a bassinet.
Maybe they don’t.
It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
5. Take the picture.
Not because your hair is perfect.
Not because you’ve lost the baby weight.
Not because the house is clean.
Take the picture because one day your little one is going to love seeing that you were there.
Holding them.
Rocking them.
Loving them.
Even if you felt exhausted.
6. Ask for help when you need it.
Motherhood was never meant to be done alone.
Whether it’s letting someone bring dinner, watching the baby while you nap, or simply texting another mom to say, “Today was hard.”
You don’t have to carry everything by yourself.
7. These days feel long… but they really are little.
Someone told me that when I had my first baby, and I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes a little.
When you’re awake at 2 a.m. for the third time, it doesn’t feel little.
But then one day, you realize your newborn isn’t a newborn anymore.
They’re running through the house.
They’re telling you stories.
They’re asking for snacks every fifteen minutes.
Somehow, those tiny days quietly slipped away.
That’s one of the reasons I believe so deeply in photographs.
Not because every moment is picture-perfect, but because life moves so quickly. Photos give us a way to pause for just a second and remember the little details we never want to forget.
If you’re expecting a baby, I hope you know this: you don’t have to be the perfect mom.
You just have to be their mom.
And that’s already more than enough. ❤️
