When We Become Mothers

When We Become Mothers

Last update: 08 March, 2018

The long-awaited moment arrives. We finally have our baby in our arms and an eternal bond is forged. When we become mothers, our lives will have changed forever.

As soon as we get home with our newborn, we’ll have to take on a lot of basic tasks that require maternal skills to carry out.

When we become mothers, we’re faced with numerous responsibilities that are completely new to us, and we essentially form a new identity.

There are so many new things to think about that you probably go crazy simply by trying to figure out where to start.

Quite obviously, the first you thing you have to do is keep your baby safe and sound… Although this seems like a simple task, it will awaken many fears that you’ll have to work on.

when we become mothers

Our first days as mothers

The need to invigilate all of the events that occur normally is one of the most natural and primal feelings that mothers experience. Suddenly, with great tenderness, the awareness that your little one’s life depends on you arises. As mothers we have to lead them on their journeys.

Naturally, many other basic concerns begin to take root, eventually overwhelming us. That’s why, from the moment a mother is born, so is a woman who cares for her baby above everything else despite her fears and fatigue.

A mother’s job then becomes that of a guardian, friend, lawyer, accomplice and protector. The moment that we realize what we’ve become is very special and personal.

In fact, it is usually a feeling that suddenly appears in our consciousness. It can occur at any time or any place. (This connection can occur in the hospital, at home or a week later while walking down the street.)

The unstoppable desire to take care of our babies

That shocking feeling of connecting with our inner-protective mother can occur when we hold our babies in our arms and feel how small and vulnerable they are, when we’re breastfeeding them or watching them sleep.

In that moment we feel like our world and entire life has completely changed and from that moment on, our heat will live outside of our bodies forever…

When we  become mothers, many worries are born. For example, the universal concern that mothers have is worrying if their baby is breathing properly.

The impulse that leads us to verify if our child is okay is intense and very powerful. In fact, if you don’t pay attention to this feeling, it can lead to a severe anxiety crisis.

We also worry about our children feeling bad if they don’t receive the attention they need. Luckily these worries reduce over time. However, they’ll never completely disappear.

A mother with a two-year-old child will worry about electrical plugs, while a mother of a pre-teen will worry about kidnapers or car accidents.

when we become mothers

Help your baby grow and develop

Mothers develop along with their children, as they grow up and begin new life stages. A second group of concerns that mothers have is in regard to the baby’s growth and development.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise when decisions such as whether it’s better to breastfeed or bottle feed become very emotional matters.

We’re often overwhelmed with concerns about whether our child is too big or on the contrary, too small. We worry if they’re developing correctly, or whether they explore or don’t, etc.

For other people these might seem to be trivial concerns. For us it’s an internal debate that is full of reproaches about our aptitudes as mothers.

That’s why, when we become mothers, thousands of insecurities, uncertainties and extra worries come along.

These are things that can be difficult to tolerate, but over time we do learn how to manage them.

That’s how our own mothers lived. That’s how we’ll also raise our precious children and how future mothers will continue to take care of their little ones. Because even doubts and fears make sense when we’re talking about motherhood


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Bowlby, J. (1986). Vínculos afectivos: formación, desarrollo y pérdida. Madrid: Morata.
  • Bowlby, J. (1995). Teoría del apego. Lebovici, Weil-HalpernF.
  • Garrido-Rojas, L. (2006). Apego, emoción y regulación emocional. Implicaciones para la salud. Revista latinoamericana de psicología, 38(3), 493-507. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/805/80538304.pdf
  • Marrone, M., Diamond, N., Juri, L., & Bleichmar, H. (2001). La teoría del apego: un enfoque actual. Madrid: Psimática.
  • Moneta, M. (2003). El Apego. Aspectos clínicos y psicobiológicos de la díada madre-hijo. Santiago: Cuatro Vientos.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.