Top 40 biggest surprises for mums after having a baby

Others were shocked by how lonely they felt, how their relationships changed with people around them not in the same situation, and even how often their newborn needed a feed.But the surprises aren’t all bad – as mums were also amazed at just how quickly they forgot what life was like before their newborn, how rewarding breastfeeding can be, the closeness you experience when feeding them, and how much they wanted to talk about their baby.A spokesman for supplement firm Vitabiotics Pregnacare and Wellbaby, which commissioned the research, said: ‘For many first-time parents, there are lots of new discoveries after having a baby.’While many of these are positive things, some can be more unwanted, but are a surprise because they simply aren’t spoken about openly.’But the more honest we are about the post-natal period – otherwise known as the fourth trimester – it can help mums be more prepared for the good and bad, hopefully making it a more relaxed and enjoyable time.’The study found more than three-quarters of mums (79 percent) were surprised by some of the things they encountered during the post-natal period.Nearly half (47 percent) of those blamed this on people not talking about it honestly, while 43 percent said you don’t see it happen in TV shows or films.Others admitted they never really paid attention before it was also affecting them (40 percent), or that they were the first of their friendship group to have a baby (34 percent). Mums are surprised by how often newborn babies need feeding (Image: BSIP/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)Despite the surprises, generally 53 percent enjoyed the post-natal period – although almost half (48 percent) admitted they found it harder than they expected.Nearly four in ten (39 percent) said more open conversations about what it is really like would have helped make the period easier for them, while one in three (32 percent) think it would have been better if they had friends or family close by.Others would have felt more prepared if they saw the bad – or less glamourous – side of parenting more on social media (32 percent), or knew more people going through the same thing (30 percent).It also emerged two-thirds (65 percent) of mums were surprised by how long it took them, mentally and physically, to recover from pregnancy and giving birth.And the average mum reckons the post-natal period lasted nearly 10 weeks.But 67 percent of those surveyed, via OnePoll, admitted their own health and wellbeing took a back seat during this time as they concentrated on looking after their baby – with 59 percent wishing they looked after themselves more.The spokesman for Vitabiotics Pregnacare and Wellbaby added: ‘It’s a time of huge change for mums, when they are also recovering from the toll that pregnancy and birth has put on their bodies.’So, it’s more important than ever to make sure you are looking after yourself as much as you are looking after the baby. Remember, happy mum equals a happy baby.’