Things no one tells you about the first year of motherhood

The first year of motherhood is often described through milestones, but what happens in between is rarely talked about. It is a season that reshapes you emotionally, physically, and mentally, often all at once.

You can feel completely in love with your baby while also feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Joy and tiredness often live side by side in early motherhood, and that does not mean you are doing anything wrong.

Many mums are surprised by how much their sense of self changes after having a baby. Your routines, priorities, and even your body can feel unfamiliar. This is not losing yourself, it is growing into a new version of you.

Time also behaves differently during the first year with a baby. The days can feel long, yet the months pass quickly. One moment you are adjusting to newborn life, and the next your baby has outgrown the clothes you bought only weeks ago.

It is also normal to grieve parts of your old life while loving this new one deeply. Missing freedom or simplicity does not make you ungrateful, it makes you human.

Your body deserves patience during this time. Healing after birth takes longer than many expect, and confidence often returns slowly. Gentle self compassion is essential in the postpartum period.

The first year of motherhood is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about learning, adjusting, and showing up each day for your baby and yourself. If you are in this season, you are doing more than you realise.