The First Six Months

My son (and second child) turned six months old recently. I couldn’t believe how hard this milestone hit me.

I thought I could never handle having another baby after my daughter was born in 2017. I remember how hard those first 6 months were. 

Struggling to Adjust

I had a tough time adjusting to motherhood. Breastfeeding didn’t work for my daughter or me. And although my daughter thrived off of formula, I was always a little insecure about it.

I returned to work about one month after she was born, and during my maternity leave, my family experienced a big loss. Overall, it was a really hard time to learn how to be a mom. 

I felt like I had been thrown into an entirely new world and I had to mourn my old life. 

Everything about those early days of motherhood was difficult.

When our daughter turned two, I decided I was ready to think about having another baby. My husband always wanted a bigger family, and deep down I knew we weren’t finished having kids.

I had grown to love motherhood so, so much. And kept telling myself that the best gift we could give our daughter was a sibling. And several months later, we found out that our son was on the way. 

The First Six Months

I wondered how we would be able to go through the newborn stage again when it completely crushed me the first time around. My husband reminded me many times that it would be hard for the first six months, so I kept that benchmark in mind. I just had to make it through six months. And it was hard— but it was different. 

The second time around, I realized the sleepless nights would eventually end (eventually, right? Still waiting on that one). I realized that there is absolutely nothing wrong with formula feeding your baby straight from birth. And I realized that my hormones would eventually level off, and if they didn’t, there was no shame in asking for professional help. However, I still found myself wishing that time would hurry up, so we could get to an easier stage. 

Rushing Through It

I rocked my son to sleep a few days before his half-birthday. As I looked down at his thick eyelashes and chubby hands, I realized the first six months were coming to an end. This realization hit me even harder because he is very likely our last child. And I was rushing through it all way too fast.   

For someone like me, who always is looking to the next stage, it’s hard to slow down and appreciate what’s right in front of you. Parenting has taught me so many lessons, but I think the most important one is to take the time to appreciate the stage you are currently in. 

A Sweet Time

The first six months of my son’s life were full of precious memories and time that I won’t get back. I already miss the days when he curled up perfectly on my chest. The days when we had nothing to do but lay on the couch.

There is not a part of me that wants any more children, but realizing that the newborn days are completely over is a very tough pill for me to swallow. 

The first six months are hard, but they are filled with so many cherished moments. If you’re in the trenches of those first six months, know that this time will pass. Hold your baby for a little longer tonight, and soak in that sweet baby scent. It’s all just a phase— and this one goes too fast.

If you are in those first few months with a newborn and needing support, see our post Postpartum Resources.
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Anna Wischer
Anna is a Fargo native and currently practices family law. She lives in Fargo with her husband William, Goldendoodle Rory, and two children, Kensington and West. Anna is passionate about building connections in motherhood, because she didn't realize how much she needed other moms around her until she became one herself. In her free time, she enjoys cycling classes, yoga, reading, and the Green Bay Packers (even though they break her heart every year). Anna's guilty pleasures include Bravo reality TV and a good glass of Prosecco.

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