"I was overwhelmed and tired. I was worried about everything... Even as a developmental psychologist, I was woefully unprepared. I wish people would have told me how hard it would be… especially when you have to solve a bunch of new problems (how to do poopy laundry, etc.) with little mental resources."

"Both my husband and I were not at all prepared. We had the equipment you’re supposed to have, but no idea what to do with the actual baby. He was asleep in his carrier when we brought him in the house. We set the carrier down and asked each other what we were supposed to do now. Something else: it turned out I had pretty bad postpartum depression. Home with the baby all day, I was so isolated and had no idea how to meet other at-home moms, so spent the first four months crying all day… It wasn’t until two years later that I learned about postpartum depression and that there is help for it. I wish so much that I had known."

"We had not a clue what we were doing. We actually had the book open reading directions on how to give our daughter her first bath. My husband was working so I was by myself most of the time. Never took a nap when she did as I was rushing trying to perfect my OCD."

"Short answer is I couldn’t believe they just let us leave the hospital."

"I remember pulling up to the curb and thinking “wait, what the eff am I supposed to do now????” as I saw my wife in the wheelchair holding our daughter."

"When we brought home our first, I’ve never felt so unprepared for anything in my life. I had read books, asked people, watched videos, but nothing can prepare you for the reality of having this brand new life put into your hands. I was so worried that she would not be breathing. I wish people were more open with their fears and problems."

"I felt like the hospital gave us this massive responsibility with no rule book and no answers to all the unspoken questions. My first fear was when you wouldn’t hear or see them take breaths so you would wake up every hour to make sure they were breathing. I had to keep telling myself that us (as parents) and the baby are both learning a completely new world so it’s ok to screw up a little."

"I felt like I had no clue what I was doing…It would have been helpful to have been told babies are much more resilient, than freaking moms out about every little thing. "

"I thought I was prepared. I was not… A list of priorities would have been helpful. Like, if the baby is eating, pooping, and peeing, you’re fine. Get that down, then worry about other things."