The First Week at Home: My Tender Truths, Messy Moments & Real Talk

The baby is born. You’re home. And the world says:

“Enjoy every minute!”

But real talk? Some of those minutes are messy, disorienting, and nothing like the Instagram posts.

The first week at home hit me like a tidal wave — physically, emotionally, and mentally. And while every journey is unique, there are a few things I wish someone had told me. So here’s what helped, what surprised me, and what it really looked like — from one postpartum heart to another.

1. You Might Feel Like You’re in a Time Warp

Day and night blur. Time stretches and contracts. You’re feeding, burping, changing, rocking — and suddenly it’s 3AM and you haven’t eaten, showered, or spoken a full sentence.

This foggy, stretchy time is often called the postpartum cocoon — and it’s real.

I remember how far the kitchen felt from our bedroom in our tiny 700 sq ft apartment. Myles had just gone down for a nap, and my husband and I decided to make pizza. We brought the monitor with us… even though he was like, 300 feet away. We still popped in constantly to check his breathing — but that night? We felt so proud of ourselves. It felt like a tiny win in a sea of newness.

👉 What helped:

• Keeping lights low and routines super simple

• Letting go of productivity guilt

• Asking someone to check in on me — not just the baby

2. Your Body Might Surprise You (In Wild + Weird Ways)

No one warns you about the night sweats. Or the full-body shakes. Or how your belly might feel like Jell-O. Or the hormonal drop that hits around day 3 and makes you sob over how beautifully your baby breathes.

For me? I had a C-section and — in true people-pleaser fashion — insisted on going home early. The thought of “burdening” people made me so uncomfortable, I signed my discharge papers as soon as they said 36 hours was the minimum. I wish I could go back and hug that version of me.

The moment we got in the car, every single bump on the road felt like my stomach was splitting open. My husband and I still laugh about how we were probably doing 10km/hr but it felt like 100.

Then we got home, and it hit — the chaos, the physical pain, the reality. While my husband ran out to get medications, I stayed home with our baby and dozed for a bit. When I stood up, I realized how badly I had to pee — and I completely flooded my adult diaper. Like, all over the floor. It was a whole toddler potty-training moment.

Still reeling, I went to sit in our brand-new rocking chair — which, of course, wasn’t against a wall. It flipped back so fast I thought I’d torn my stitches open. I bawled. From pain. From exhaustion. From finally letting myself feel it all.

👉 What helped:

• Having extra PJs, adult diapers, and waterproof pads ready

• Letting the tears come — no shame, no filter

• Saying: “I need help.” Even if just to sit beside me

3. Babies Are Noisy Sleepers (and You Might Not Sleep Anyway)

Newborns grunt, squeak, whimper, and snore in their sleep — and that monitor will have you watching every breath like it’s your full-time job.

The whole “sleep when the baby sleeps” thing? Adorable. But I was wired. I had full-blown anxiety about nightfall. Every night at 11PM, I’d feel dread sink in — like the whole night was one long obstacle course I had to survive.

Eventually, we started saving our favorite shows — Shameless and Yellowstone — just for those long, dark hours. It gave us something to look forward to and made the nights feel a little less lonely.

👉 What helped:

• Creating soothing nighttime rituals (even if they were chaotic)

• Watching feel-good shows to lighten the mood

• Letting go of sleep goals and embracing rest instead

4. You Might Question Everything (Especially Feeding)

I questioned everything. Especially breastfeeding.

We had no access to in-person support because the city was still shut down during the pandemic. No lactation groups, no drop-ins. Just me and my Google searches and a crying baby.

At one point, I called public health at 11PM in tears. The nurse gently said the lactation consultant was really backed up, but that it would be okay to give Myles a spoonful of formula for now.

So… we did.

Then at 2AM, the lactation nurse finally called. Her first words?
“I hope you didn’t feed him formula — that can mess everything up.”
And I just broke down. I felt like I’d already failed.

Eventually, we ended up taking Myles to a newborn walk-in clinic just to get answers. I remember thinking, Why does this feel so hard when it’s supposed to be natural?

👉 What helped:

• Limiting the number of opinions I consumed

• Remembering that fed is always best

• Knowing I was learning right alongside my baby

5. You Deserve to Be Cared For, Too

So many people show up for the baby. But you just went through something huge. And you deserve care, too.

I’ve always struggled to ask for help. Like… deeply. Even when I needed it most, I worried about being a burden.

But motherhood cracked me open. Not just physically, but emotionally. It forced me to receive. To be soft. To say, “I can’t do this alone.”

And once I did? Things started to shift.

👉 What helped:

• Making a soft postpartum plan — for meals, therapy, rest

• Saying yes to help that felt supportive, and no to anything that didn’t

• Letting others hold me for once

If You’re Still in That First Week…

You’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong.

If you’re in the thick of it — tired, tender, and questioning everything — I see you. Truly. I’ve been there. And it does get easier, day by day.

These stories don’t always make it onto the baby shower cards. But they’re real. And they matter. You matter. And you were never meant to figure this out alone.

Need a Little Extra Love?

Our “Baby’s Here! Now What?” guidebook was made for this exact season.
It’s gentle, evidence-informed, and built for the messy middle.

🧡 Click here to learn more — because even in the hard parts, we’ve got you.