I imagined the first time seeing my baby would make me cry, like a dramatic scene from a movie. I didn't plan on the intense desire to go to sleep.
When I was pregnant with my first child I imagined I was headed towards the most dramatic event of my life. I was right about that but it was nothing like I expected it to be. I was worn out from what was a very long day. I was induced and had been given medication to lower my blood pressure and all of that made me a bit confused. When the doctor placed a bloody, screaming, baby on my stomach it took my tired brain a few minutes to even realize what was going on. I felt like a bad mother. I didn't know anything about this strange little creature and didn't feel the overwhelming love that I expected. That came later and overwhelmed me with the feelings that I felt for my baby. It took some time, however, and I have sinced learned from other mothers that my experience was not unusual. Mothers bond with their babies differently. No one way is right or wrong. It is a process that we each go through differently.
For more information about life with your Newborn read Bonding with your New Baby.
