We asked a group of women from all over the world to write a short note to their Younger Selves just before having their 1st child. This page is not meant as advice to you, but we hope you’ll find these women’s comments amusing, educational or just food for thought. Add your own note to your younger self about having your first child in the comments.
Follow your instincts even when others urge you not to…
Carry on you’re on the right path don’t be scared by them don’t listen to the propaganda – and love yourself more!
don’t panic, it’s all ok
Dear Younger Self, stop! Get informed. Learn about birth and dare to do it your way.
Stop looking at the negative and enjoy it… listen to your body.. it’s trying to tell you something. ?
Dear younger self. Don’t listen to the [person] that just scared you! Listen to your mum she knows what she is talking about. If not then get yourself a doula, quick! 🙂
Dear me, let your body do it’s job & don’t let anyone get in the way. No interventions – no monitoring, no sitting on a bed, no enemas, no pitocin, no epidural, …… No unnecessarians.
Stop worrying about breastfeeding.. you have a 98% chance of being able to and its extremely unlikely that you won’t be able to! (I was paranoid that I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed purely because so many people told me that they couldn’t)
Trust, enjoy, love
Take advice with a pinch of salt 🙂
Dear Me, find a doula. You may think that you don’t need one but believe me you do. It will help you to own your birth and not have it all taken from you, needing ages to heal. You will be a fine mum, but ask for help when you need it. No one has to do it alone…..especially when they are married!
Look for more help with BF, educate yourself before you begin, and don’t allow your MW to just fob you off and say to you it’s fine that it hurts!!! Leaving you in so much pain you feel something must be wrong with you, and then feeling guilty when you stop as it it is just too painful.
Dear younger self. You are not fat!!! Just becoming a women and mother.
Dear Young self : leave that dude who knocked you up immediately!
Dear younger self: don’t beat yourself up about what went wrong or what didn’t go according to plan. You made the best decision you could at that moment.
Dear younger self- you’re worried about that little stretch mark on your leg? Just wait till you can see your belly after giving birth!! Dont worry you won’t care all at once you see your little boy smile for the first time…if fact you’ll respect your body for the first time in your life- so chill!
Dear younger self…hire a doula and a midwife. Have baby at home and stay far far FAR away from the hospital!!
Live in the moment and enjoy every precious minute. Worrying is futile; if the worst does happen, worrying won’t have made any difference, you’ll have just wasted all that time. Ps get as many lie-ins and uninterrupted trips to the loo as you can.
Dear young self, knowing the facts, reading the serious books, going to those ‘listen to me’ classes won’t get you anywhere!!! the thing, young me, is to find someone you trust, who will listen, who will listen, who will listen!!!!! Don’t be afraid of your body, and know it knows what to do, let nature produce its wonders through you!!! and don’t step into another hospital, for lord’s sake!!!!!!
Dear younger self, trust yourself, believe in your body. You can do it. Don’t go to the mothercraft classes, they will scare you unnecessarily and you don’t need to be distracted by their ideas. Speak to your community midwife about your thoughts because she cares and can help you. Don’t lie down on the bed when you’re in labour, trust yourself and move as *you* need, don’t accept that those in uniforms know best, show them that you do.
Leave a Reply