7 Ways Being A Mother Changes Every Part Of Your Life
From the very moment you hold your newborn child in your arms, your entire world changes. Life as you once knew it is a thing of the past. Now, you’ve entered a whole new chapter of your life; you’ve become a mother.
In truth, few women realize just how deep this transformation runs. In the lead up to you giving birth, people will tell you about the changes, but you’re unlikely to believe them. It’s not until you actually take that step; until you’re responsible for the most precious thing in the world, that it really dawns on you. This is it — how it was always meant to be. Here’s how motherhood changes every single part of your life.
1. It makes you believe in love at first sight.
There’s no doubt about it, when you look into the eyes of your child for the first time, you will feel pangs of love deep down inside. It’s unlike anything you will have experienced before now. A sense of caring, loving, and protection will rush over you all at once. Right away, you will be certain that this is your purpose. You are here to nurture and support this little being, no matter what the future holds for the two of you.
2. You bond in a new way with your partner.
Just as you’ve become a new version of yourself, so will your partner. You will notice it soon after you become parents. The way that they interact and communicate with you will change. Nothing is uncertain anymore; you’ve now got an unspoken bond that is stronger than anything you had before. You’ve created a new life.
There’s nothing more attractive than seeing the father of your child looking after them. When you start to see them in this new light, it will completely revitalise your relationship with them. From now, it’s you against the rest of the world.
3. You start to worry about your child 24/7.
One of the most unexpected side effects of motherhood is worry. All of a sudden, this great, ginormous responsibility is thrust upon you and you need to deal with it. You may worry that your baby will get hurt or that they are ill in some way. These concerns are completely natural. In fact, according to a study from Northwestern University, found that new mothers are more likely to show obsessive-compulsive symptoms than the rest of society.
The reason is simple — your primary goal is to keep your baby safe and, of course, happy. It’s no wonder that so many moms become obsessed with keeping their child out of harm’s way. Luckily, these symptoms lessen over time as you relax into your new role as a parent.
4. But you’re better equipped to deal with stress.
While, sure, you might worry more about your child, you are able to deal with the stress much better on the whole. In fact, a study from the Society For Neuroscience, found that motherhood leads to lower levels of the stress hormone. That means that no matter what your baby throws at you — both literally and figuratively — you will be ready for it.
The likelihood is that your strength and resilience will really surprise you when you become a mother. It comes from nowhere, and suddenly, you feel as though you really can conquer anything that gets in the way. That’s the sheer power of being a parent.
5. Your threshold for grossness changes.
Whether it’s changing your baby’s diapers or cleaning up their sick, being a mother can be icky at the best of times. Somehow, though, when it’s your own child, it no longer matters that these things are disgusting. When it’s your baby, you feel as though none of the above grosses you out. You just take a deep breath, get yourself mentally ready, and get on with it. It might not be pretty, but it’s all part of the job!
6. You become way more protective.
While you may not have thought of yourself as being protective before now, things are about to change in a serious way. Having children means that a new part of you unlocks. Say hello to your inner lioness — ready to fight off any dangers at a moment’s notice. Hear her roar.
Many people wonder how exactly this change happens so you might be interested to know that your brain really does change during pregnancy. Just last year, research from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona found that pregnant women experience a ‘long-lasting alterations’ in the brain. The team suggested that the reason for this could be to help mothers protect and interact with their child. Interesting!
7. Your priorities change dramatically.
Finally, here’s a major lifestyle transformation that you will notice in an instant. Before you were a mother, you likely had a whole load of things on your plate. You had to juggle your social, work, and love life all at once. Well, now, there’s a brand new priority on the scene and it’s gone straight to the top of your list.
Just ask any mother out there and she will say the same thing. The biggest way that motherhood changes you is that your baby becomes your number one in every sense of the phrase. You put them before everything and everyone. Because, in the end, isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?
