Hi all, I am a first time mum (due 9th May 2011) and am feeling very apprehensive.
It seems that I am alone in not feeling excited or maternal in any way. I just feel nervous, worried and slightly resentful that my freedom is/will be taken away and I feel really guilty about this.
I have a loving partner and family so I should be enjoying this time in our lives but I just feel worried. This is my first baby so everything is new.

I guess I am just looking for some reassurance from mothers who have 'been there and done that'.

Thank you for listening.

Yip its very normal to feel like this, i am exactly the same and this is my second baby. I dont even feel comfortable talking about the baby and quite a few friends and family still dont know. My son is nearly 6 so is becoming very independent now and i am scared how ill cope with a baby again x

Don't worry, I'm feeling the same panic as you. This is my first and I'm due on 6th May. Recently (over the last week), it seems to have hit me and I'm starting to panic because I have no control over what's happening to my body and everyone else seems so much more excited than me! xx

It is comforting to know that I am not alone, thank you ladies

You will all be fantastic mums believe that [= I to am a 1st time mummy to be, not knowing what to except, and as time goes on and EDD creeps up it's becoming more and more shocking that this time in April I will be a mother, we'll do out utter best though
XO

Well said!!!
If we werent human we wouldnt worry about how we will cope, how our bodies are changing and who we will become.
I def felt like that with my first and it took me and oh a long time to concieve her and I still had days like that

this will be my third one and im still worried! i wonder how on earth ill cope am i stupid to have another one when my youngest is so close to goin to school and il get my freedom back how am i goin to afford this baby? and a million other things its totally normal to feel that way its such a massive change in your life but in the end i promise its worth it x

Bless you

I felt alot like this in the first 10 weeks. Thinking I wasn't good enough or healthy enough and I couldn't do it. Things progressed and My insticts (sp) kicked in, now I am amazed how much love and protection you can feel for your baby so early on and it only gets more intense.

How far along are you ?

I'm a first time mummy to be too and I'm worrying about everything under the sun...How will I cope financially? How will feeding work (I want to breastfeed and OH works nights so I'll have to do all the night feeds)? When do I buy nappies and if I buy them before baby is born how do I know what size to get? Will I have the patients to deal with a fussy child?

The list goes on and on. I'm sure though that when little one is actually here. It'll all fall into place.

I think the main thing we need to remember is that we have people around us we can ask advise off.

My experience of being a first time Mum was much the same as you have all expressed. Scary, overwhelming and nothing can completely prepare you for it. Much like pregnancy in fact!

There were a couple of things that I found along the way that I can share... the first is that whilst some things are instinctive (and all women and children are different in how much and which things), you AND baby are learning a whole new set of skills together. Go at each others pace and you will work out just fine. A steep learning curve, undoubtedly, but so wonderful.

You need time together as a family unit. You, OH and LO need to be together in the early days to love and support each other. That time is completely invaluable and will really help with bonding. There are times (hospital stays, premies) when this isn't possible but I found that having time together in our own space was just what we needed, even if you do it at a later date.

Most important... no matter what, you know your baby better than anyone. You will know their moods, how well they are.. almost better than you know yourself. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, trust your instincts.

Doctors genuinely couldn't give a poo how many times you speak to them about your LO... better safe than sorry is their mantra.

Lastly... enjoy them! My 'baby' (she will still be my baby when she is old, wrinkley and gray) is going to High School this year. Time goes soooo fast