'The one thing no one told me about having a baby. But they really should have.'

Thanks to our brand partner, Be RSV Aware with Pfizer Australia

There are exactly 1,398,652 things no one told me about having a baby.

And that number grows by the hour with every moment I spend with my squishy little girl, Bobbie. So, I decided to jot down my thoughts and experiences — but a pre-warning, I'm no expert in mumship, so take it as you will.

This read (much like motherhood) is a bit like one of those chocolate bars stuffed with random lollies — a little weird, often surprising, sometimes brilliant, sometimes not quite right. But hey, it's still chocolate. So it's always a win.

Growing the baby.

Let's start with growing the baby — where you suddenly develop one very specific talent: counting only in weeks. Ta-dah!

It's not the most useful skill, but it definitely confuses your non-pregnant colleagues. Figuring out how long 23 weeks is in months? Weirdly tricky.

You also get to know your healthcare providers really well, which is a blessing given the endless questions you'll have. I took every chance to ask about what's happening now and what to expect once bub arrives.

Since I was having a baby heading into winter, my doctor warned me about cold and flu season — and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a highly contagious infection. While most little ones make a full recovery with rest at home, RSV can cause serious illness and breathing difficulties in some newborns.

That's why it's handy to know the simple, practical ways to help prevent its spread to babies, like washing hands, avoiding close contact with sick people and cleaning surfaces — just to name a few.

My healthcare team eased my mind, answering thousands of questions and sharing tips to keep bub healthy and happy during the colder months. 

And another thing, when you're growing a baby, it's all about you — for better or worse.

Towards the end, when I was a waddly mess (artist's own description), my lovely team at work kept showering me with compliments. I'm sure they were genuine (I hope), but I felt like a walrus in a muumuu dress, so even the nicest comments didn't land well.

But I was wrong. Soak it up. I'll explain why later.

When the baby arrives.

In the lead up to Bobbie's timely arrival, I asked my mum about her three births and the only comment she had to offer was "you'll forget the pain when the baby arrives". 

She was lying. 

The memory of the pain will never leave me. People told me it would hurt, but I couldn't explain how much it hurt. I've never had more respect for anyone who's birthed a baby naturally. You're epic. 

And midwives are just the best. In those first few days in the hospital I would've swapped my partner for them. They're so caring, have so much knowledge and so much patience for first time mums and our quick-fire questions. 

What happens next.

You will cry a lot.

Before Bobbie, I was a big-time cryer, once a day on average, mostly happy (seeing a cute dog), sometimes ridiculous (seeing a cute dog being walked by an old man) and frankly, I didn't think I could cry more.

Turns out I can, and boy I did. Week three was peak crying, so expect tears and lots of them.

I can't kiss her cheeks enough. Everyone told me babies were the biggest time-wasters, but I disagree here. I'm a typical type A person, but right now all of that admin and cleaning can wait for a cuddle or sniff.

But don't let me get all doe-eyed on you, the first four weeks are messed up.

This time period is variable for everyone, but for me the first four weeks were hard graft. I grieved the life I lost and couldn't quite see the new shiny, lovely life quite yet. I hated contact naps, my nipples hurt and I was tired (duh).

But it's a period, and it passed for me. Now it's not rosy all the time, but it's very, very shiny. 

As I mentioned earlier, the moment your baby arrives, everything shifts — it's suddenly all about them. The way everyone's focus moves from you to your baby can feel a bit jarring.

My beautiful sister-in-law highlighted this for me: You spend nine months with everyone making sure you're safe and sound, and then you need to share this attention when the baby comes along.

I found this lack of attention when I was still adjusting both physically and emotionally very strange. But to contrast this, Bobbie's attention is all on me, I'm her girl and she needs me.

And finally, you've made yourself a built-in little mate.

Taking the baby out on coffee dates, rhyme time, pilates with creches, mother's group, brunches or even the pub feels exciting and different.

Yes, all of these outings come with a dollop of sleep deprivation and anxiety, but also a lovely little baby that has no choice but to come along on any adventure in sometimes slightly ridiculous outfits. 

Feature Image: Supplied.

Just moments after birth, your newborn will take their first breath, as air fills their little lungs. In the following days and months, your baby's lungs will continue developing rapidly. But it's important to note that those developing lungs are also most vulnerable to RSV during the first six months. So don't let RSV spoil those special moments. Talk to your healthcare provider today and learn more at: rsvaware.com.au