Before having a baby, I only heard that parenting was difficult as a joke. I didn't fully grasp what people meant when they said, "It's most comfortable when the baby is still in your belly." But the moment our baby came into the world, I immediately realized that it wasn't a joke at all.
Newborns need to be fed formula or breast milk every 2-3 hours. There was practically no distinction between day, night, and dawn. The cycle of waking up, eating, and falling back asleep repeated endlessly. The younger the newborn, the shorter the cycle, and it gradually lengthens as they get older. We're told that to get a full night's sleep, at least 100 days—or more—are needed. This is likely why we have phrases like 'The Miracle of 100 Days' and 'The Fainting Spell of 100 Days'.
Uncertainty and Anxiety: A baby's only way to communicate is by crying, making it very difficult to figure out what they need. Is the baby hungry? Is the diaper uncomfortable? Are they in pain? The inability to know can lead to great frustration and anxiety. This uncertainty can cause a lot of worry over every little reaction and leave new parents feeling unconfident.
Drastic Change in Lifestyle: A baby's arrival completely changes a couple's life. Spontaneous outings become difficult, and everything has to be planned around the baby's schedule. Personal time virtually disappears, and even during brief moments of rest, it's hard to fully relax due to the constant worry about when the baby will cry next.
But our baby started sleeping well at night after 100 days, so both mom and dad could also sleep soundly at night.After this period, I felt an even deeper bond with our baby.
The time was exhausting and tiring, but looking back, perhaps the memories have become idealized. Since the baby slept a lot during that period, it felt relatively less difficult, and it was even a precious time when we could enjoy brief moments of calm. That first hurdle of parenting remains a cherished memory that, despite the hardship, helped me realize an even deeper love.