Here are some of the things no one tells you about becoming a mum:
Elizabeth – 26.
Nothing actually prepares you or warns you of what lies ahead in motherhood. It can be described as a rewarding experience, but very little is said of how overwhelming it really is. Especially if you have no help. The euphoria of being a first time mom soon vanished when the sleepless nights started. This was after the three months Omugwo. I should have eased into it you think…I got pregnant again when my baby was barely 3 months. So, I was battling with a crying baby and my pregnancy symptoms. Here is a list of what no one warned me about:
1) “That I would cry when my baby is crying. This happened to me several times when I couldn’t ascertain exactly what my son wanted and had tried all I knew.”
P.S: sometimes they cry when they are tired and want to sleep. Why can’t they just close their eyes you ask? sigh.
2) “That effective time management is not an easy skill to come by. I wonder how some mothers get things done in that same 24 hours. Most times I just live by the day and try the best I can.”
3) “You would feel guilty about dropping off your child at the daycare, but the guilt wears off when you are able to get other things done.”
4) “That spontaneous smiles, hugs, and kisses from your child could
lighten up your day.”
5) “You are super excited when you experience certain milestones such as crawling, walking. For your child’s first words, you may even shed a tear or two.”
Chi-chi – Undisclosed age.
1)”No one tells you that your nose would become approximately 125.75 times its original size during pregnancy. That would practically be the first thing people notice when they meet you. And wait for it – you’d probably look less beautiful. Yeah that too. Especially if it’s a boy…. so they say.”
2) “The craving??? I am sure you were told about that too. What they failed to mention was that you will forgo the seafood okro in your kitchen in search of Iya Bose’s reaction ewa agoyin. The one whose kiosk is on a plank right above algae-filled drainage. So yeah! E be things.”
3) “Lagosians are super nice to pregnant women. Even the crudest of conductors. Plus you get extra ‘fisi’ from market women and meat sellers. Be ready to have cars stop for you when crossing the road and definitely not because you are on a zebra crossing.”
4) “You get asked some really Ph.D. worthy kind of questions from your kids. Like “why can’t God come down so that he would ask the governor to fix the bad roads?”
5) “You get used to finding a spoon, a toy or some other random item (heck, might even be your very own underwear) in your purse at the oddest places…say like an important meeting. ATM cards are hardly found when you need them.”
6) “Your phone is never yours. At some point you have to become nonchalant to the gazillion times when your phone would be smashed on the hard floor. Plus your kids will become your unemployed P.A willing to take your calls and inform callers that you are doing number two. They might even bring a video call while you are bathing. Sigh.”
Bidemi – Undisclosed age.
“No one tells you that shoe size increases per childbirth. I have two kids and I can’t explain why or how I moved from size 40 to 41 after the first child. Then, after the second child, it became size 42🤷♀️.”
Toyo – 25.
1) “Postpartum depression is very real. The vibes you get around you when you’re pregnant and put to bed is very important. You have to guard your mental health even if you appear selfish.”
2) “Being induced during childbirth is really painful. There’s no nicer way to say it.”
3) “As a new mom, Google is your best friend. It’s safer than taking advice from everyone.”
4) “Breast milk might not flow immediately. You might also find it difficult to produce enough milk.”
5) “Your vagina might not go back to the way it was pre-pregnancy.”
6) “You’d monitor baby milestones in the first year like you’re being paid. Every milestone crossed is usually a big deal for most mothers. Some people won’t be able to relate with your baby craze.”
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