Dear New Mum: An Open Letter from Someone Who’s Been There

Dear New Mum,

I see you.

Right now, you’re probably sitting in a quiet room that was anything but quiet five minutes ago. Maybe your baby is finally asleep on your chest and you’re afraid to move a muscle. Maybe you’re reading this one-handed, while the other is buried deep in a nappy bag trying to find that one dummy that was just there a second ago.

Or maybe, just maybe, you’re sitting in the dark wondering if you’re doing any of this right.

Let me tell you something, mama—you are.

I’ve been there too. In the middle of the night, trying to figure out if it’s colic or wind or maybe just a baby being a baby. I’ve cried over spilled milk (literally). I’ve googled things like “is baby supposed to breathe like a tiny dinosaur?” and “can you survive on 2 hours of broken sleep?”

I’ve felt the weight of the world in my arms and on my shoulders. But also the kind of love that knocks the breath out of your chest. A love so big and wild and consuming, you wonder how your heart ever managed without it.

Here’s what I want you to know:

💛 You’re not alone. Even when it feels like the world is moving on without you, there are thousands of mums quietly walking this same messy, beautiful path—some just a few steps ahead, some right beside you.

💛 You don’t have to love every second. It’s okay if you’re not “enjoying every moment.” Some moments are raw and hard and feel endless. It doesn’t mean you love your baby any less. It means you’re human.

💛 You are enough. Even on the days you don’t feel like it. Especially on the days you don’t feel like it. Your baby doesn’t need perfection—they need you. Sleep-deprived, messy-bunned, coffee-fuelled you.

💛 It gets easier. Not all at once, and not in a straight line—but you’ll find your rhythm. One day you’ll realise you haven’t cried in a while. That you laughed today. That your baby smiled, and it felt like sunshine after rain.

So take a deep breath, beautiful mama.

You’re doing the most important job in the world. And you’re doing it with a heart that loves fiercely, even when it’s tired.

One day, you’ll look back on this wild chapter and miss it (well, some of it). The midnight cuddles, the newborn smell, the way your baby fits perfectly in the crook of your arm.

But for now, just know this: You are strong. You are brave. And you’re doing an amazing job—even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

With love,

Another Mum Who Gets It x