HeidisMum wrote: No one told me that epidurals sometimes don't work AT ALL!

This one as well, Mine worked a little and mine ended up as a c-section. I was having shooting nerve pains the whole way through and crying the whole time.

No one had told me that I wouldn't actually want to have my baby on my chest for skin to skin (was too nauseous and somehow chlostrophobic), and then how much it hurt to leave her in neonates and then how relieved I was to not have to look after her in my room.

Noone told me (not that they could have predicted) how sick I would get after the birth.

As someone who is yet to go through this experience, it seems to me you don't get told much at all and its nothing like the movies or tv.

But then I've found there are very few conversations about TTC, pregnancy and giving birth on an open and friendly basis.

Thankfully we have OB, otherwise I'd be completely ignorant of a most of it.

No one told me that people would be commenting on what my body looks like after giving birth and for the weeks following

No one told me how hard it is not to push when you get that urge.

No one told me how hard you can shake during labour

No one told me that when you have an epidural MW's would be changing your pads for the next few hours

No one told me about the weird feeling you'd get after getting up and out of bed for the first time

No one told me how much you can miss and love your baby after only just meeting him

kellie wrote: That you might as well leave your modesty at the door when you arrive at the hospital

So true!  I dreaded the thought of that many people having access to bits I never intended them to...by half way through labour I couldn't have cared less how many people were there!

Nobody told me my hair would be falling out afterwards for a while...

Nobody told me not only did the epidural numb you around the middle but also all down your legs aswell....for a while afterwards!

Nobody told me babies have weird things like dry skin and gooey eyes and all sorts of little things like that...they're always clean, smooth and perfect when you see other peoples...!

That having 9 people in the room with your fanny exposed was such a non-issue compared to my childs dropping heart rate....

Let's see if the new mums will come in and post their experiences here -- I'd love some fresh perspectives too! :)

lilfatty wrote: That you will have this little being attached to your breast pretty much 24 hours a day and your ass will go numb from sitting down feeding so much.

Ha! SO TRUE!

Also, nobody ever told me that just because I have massive boobs doesn't mean breastfeeding will be easy. It took ages to "get it right", and I had to feed in some pretty awkward positions to ensure that my giant breasts didn't flop down and smother my feeding child. Seriously, they were bigger than her head for a while!

Along the same lines, nobody ever told me that trying to express breast milk might not work for me. I could have saved myself some serious dosh (as I bought a posh hospital-grade pump) and stress if I had realised that pumping just doesn't happen for some people.

What surprised/shocked/amazed/embarrassed you about being in labour and giving birth? And the early days of motherhood as well... I'd love to hear your stories.

Nobody told me that the minute my daughter was out, the pain simply evaporated, as if by magic.

Nobody told me I'd be so ravenous following her birth that I demolished toast, tea, dinner, dessert, an entire box of chocolate macadamias, and several glasses of water, all in one "meal" that lasted for about an hour!

Nobody told me that babies aren't really that cute when they first come out, and that they may have coneheads, especially if you stopped pushing while they were crowning. My kid wore a hat for three days until her head evened out, because I didn't want anybody to see it.