I really wish that somebody would have told me how hard it was going to be to be a new mom. You feel like you should be in a state of bliss with your cuddly, new baby; but the truth is, it is frustrating and exhausting and sometimes, you won't know why your baby is crying. It gets messy, and it doesn't make you a bad mom. Everyone says that it takes a village to raise a child, but unless you still live in one, you're going to have to ask for help from your partner, your friends, and your family, if they can offer to help. It's also important to know that baby blues are real. Sometimes it's three days after you bring your baby home, and sometimes it's not for six months. You really need to honor this feeling and ask for help. Give yourself the time to recuperate, emotionally and physically, from this tremendous experience. It's hard work, but it's very rewarding.