The question on every parent’s lips: when will my baby sleep through the night? It seems most other aspects of parenting are just about manageable if sleep is ok. But that takes time for some babies. Here, our readers share their baby sleep experiences…
the truth about motherhood
Family
“I’d love to tell you how wonderful it was to take home this tiny new human and nurture it through ‘the most natural thing in the world’, but breastfeeding for us was a bit of a disaster.” Leni White-Knight on a difficult start to motherhood…
Family
“The speed of my second son’s arrival really took me by surprise. With hindsight, it was a miracle he wasn’t born at the side of the road. I would advise others in the same position to call an ambulance.” Lizzie Woodman on childbirth, the early days and having kids young…
Family
“Childbirth didn’t pan out as I’d expected it to; it was very different to my ‘birth plan’. I’d wanted a natural water-birth in the birth centre but my son had other ideas.” Jessica Piani on her introduction to motherhood…
Family
“We have had some blazing rows, especially in the early days through tiredness and exhaustion. I’ve felt quite envious that he has the separation of work from home.” Natasha Morabito on her relationship in the early days of motherhood…
Family
“I have started noticing each and every nuance of other people’s behavior towards me, almost like I am judging them for how I presume they might be judging me,” says Jehanara Haider – a Muslim mother from Pakistan, who migrated to America…
Family
“In the early days, I remember my partner’s parents coming round with some gifts from their work colleagues and me bursting into tears. Those early days of hormonal rollercoasters were, in hindsight, hilarious.” Amy Benziane, on the ups and downs of parenthood…
Family
“The early days with my firstborn were full of worry and extreme tiredness. We were readmitted to hospital after three days, because he had lost so much weight. I then had to feed him every hour.” Ruth Cullen on motherhood, so far…
Family
“Soren’s birth was an incredible experience – both empowering and terrifying – and it totally changed my perspective on childbirth.” We hear from Scottish mum-of-four and writer Ali Millar about being a single mum, remarrying and the different stages of motherhood…
Family
“If I could go back in time, I’d invent the kind of social media that exists now to empower and enable mums to be awesome. I didn’t know what to do with myself some of the time.” Occupational therapist Jane Fforde on becoming a mum at 25 and feeling a bit lost and lonely…