How sad will I be when the baby is "out"?

I've been more hormonal over the past 2 weeks than in my entire life combined. I can *feel* the hormones - I'm usually extremely stable, emotionally, and lately I have been crying at the drop of a hat (or a pencil - frustrating to try to bend over to pick up a damn pencil these days!)

Lately, I've been thinking about the baby, and it's making me cry to realize that once she is born, she's not going to be with me 24/7. I really love feeling her kick, knowing that she is safe inside of my body. I am really, really going to miss that, and I'm crying now just to think that after this, I'm never going to feel her do that again.

Does this feeling automatically go away once you see your baby's beautiful face? Will I be so happy to hold her in my arms that this feeling, of nostalgia and wanting to hold onto things the "way they are", will disappear?

I love her so much already, and I fear how much I will miss her the second we are separated. Is that weird? Am I going to be a strangely overprotective or overdependent mom?

Completely Normal.

Read over my last few posts from before I popped. I was an emotional wreck. Anxious to death and crying over nothing.

Im not the best one to ask though because Ive now got PPD So I dont want to scare you off or anything. They say every woman gets baby blues for a few days somewhere between a week old and a month old. But mines been four weeks long now unfortunately. Im also predisposed to it.

Seeing your baby for the first time..

When i heard him cry as soon as he was born, I KNEW HIS CRY. I dont know how. I cant explain it. BUT I KNEW IT. I had somehow "heard it before" or something.. very strange. There was an instant pull to hold him.. very very strong. I reccomend as soon as they cut the cord for them to put her on your belly or chest, and have hubby or a nurse help you try to nurse her for a couple min. It is said to help immensely with the bond. Thats what I did. It was amazing. For me he latched on RIGHT away with no help, but dont expect that lol. Sometimes they need some assistance with getting on right. And some dont want to eat for as long as 24 hours after - thats ok, just let her snooze or lay with you before they take her to be weighed and poked and bathed and such.

Does your hospital support rooming in? I would if you could. Itll help to have her near. I only left him in the bassinette for one night then I slept in bed with him. I still sleep with him in my bed lol.

Oh and, check out the LLL forum for GREAT tips on lots of things, not just breastfeeding. Im on there, and theres a ton of lovely ladies that can answer everything from feeding to pooping to sleeping to just chatting questions.

http://forums.lalecheleague.org/index.php

(((((((((LMo))))))))
Once you see your baby you probably wont be sad that she's not inside you anymore, it's an amazing moment when babies are born. You will probably still be hormonal for a while, it takes time for those to get back to normal, I think it took mine about a week.

After having given birth to three precious babies myself...... I would have to say that all insecurities / sadness will disappear within you when you see that precious little face for the first time and those ten tiny little toes....... not to mention the JOY you will be filled with when you hear your son make his first sound when he enters this world.