“What to Expect When You’re Expecting” – Win a Baby Magic Prize Pack

With Hollywood turning its attention to the joys and surprises of expectant moms in the new movie, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting, ” Baby Magic conducted a survey of moms that reveals that the reality of motherhood is very different than the expectation.

The survey asked moms to compare and contrast their pre-birth preparations with their post-birth life.  The overwhelming majority (93%) attempted to arm themselves with information through at least one of these three sources:

  • Getting personal – Family, friends and other one-on-one connections (90%)
  • By the book – Authors and other advice experts (82%)
  • Going online – Blogs, social media and web sites (61%)

Almost two in five (37%) found the amount of advice to be overwhelming, while one-third (33%) found themselves confused or scared prior to having their baby.

Great Expectations Meet the Reality of Motherhood

Regardless of how prepared moms were for motherhood, more than half (51%) still found themselves in surprising situations they hadn’t anticipated. Despite their best efforts to envision what motherhood entails, nearly four in five (79%) found post-baby life to be more chaotic than expected.  And 51% admitted that being a mom is more work than they ever imagined.

Unexpected curveballs and situations provided the biggest surprises (and embarrassments!).  The moms surveyed had no shortage of examples, including:

  • Water, water everywhere – all over the bathroom floor  (57%)
  • A poop explosion covering baby’s clothes (42%)
  • “Unidentified” diaper smells  (34%)
  • It’s bathtime – get mom a raincoat!  (37%)
  • Baby spit up – on someone other than mom!  (30%)
  • More food “on” baby than “in” baby (30%)
  • Baby “passed wind” in a crowded public space (20%)
  • Baby went to the bathroom — on someone!  (16%)

Thank Heavens For Dad

Mom is not afraid to ask for assistance, especially from her spouse. The survey showed that while moms appreciate their one-on-one time with their babies, dads often lend a hand in lightening the load.  Among those fathers who play an active role in their baby’s life, three in five assisted in diaper changing (60%), while nearly half took on meal (49%), bath (49%), and bed (47%) time duties.

Would Mom Change A Thing?

Despite the gap between post-baby expectations and reality, as well as  all of the ups and downs that come with parenthood, when it comes to their babies new moms wouldn’t change a thing.  Nearly four in five still found magic in the everyday moments with their baby (79%) and would not trade their experiences for anything in the world (79%).  In addition, 54% thought that their baby’s first laugh or steps were their most memorable moments.

Please share your thoughts for a chance to win a Baby Magic Bath Caddy. To enter the contest, answer the following question in the comments section:

How did your pre-baby expectations align with your post-baby reality?

Additional Entries

After you have submitted your mandatory entry, you can receive additional entries by doing any or all of the following things:

Mommy to the Max’s “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” – Win a Baby Magic Prize Pack Contest” starts on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 and ends Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 11:59 a.m. (CST), and is open to all Mommy to the Max viewers, subscribers, and/or fans in the continental U.S. No purchase required. Relatives and employees of Mocha Dad Media are not eligible to win. You are also ineligible if you’ve won a prize from this blog within the past 60 days. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. You must leave your contact information to collect your prize. If a winner does not respond within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received compensation and/or one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. All opinions are my own.

  • KimKMc

    It was a lot more work than I expected.  It’s not just all fun times! 

  • KimKMc

    I ‘like’ Baby Magic on Facebook.  1

  • KimKMc

    I ‘like’ Baby Magic on Facebook.  2

  • KimKMc

    I ‘like’ Mommy to the Max on Facebook.  1

  • KimKMc

    I ‘like’ Mommy to the Max on facebook.  2

  • Kim

    I always thought it would be easy until I actually had my baby! LOL! But man is it worth it!

  • Valerie Taylor Mabrey

    about the same but was not expecting to worry so much
    vmkids3 at msn dot com

  • Tonya H

     I though I would have the baby that never showed out in public. Two boys later I am eating my words!

  • Tonya H

    Like Baby Magic on Facebook as Tonya Extine Hopkins

    #1

  • Tonya H

     Like Baby Magic on Facebook as Tonya Extine Hopkins

    #2

  • Tonya H

     Like Mommy to the Max as Tonya Extine Hopkins

    #1

  • Tonya H

     Like Mommy to the Max as Tonya Extine Hopkins

    #1

  • Tonya H

      Like Mommy to the Max as Tonya Extine Hopkins

    #1

  • Alisha L.

    I thought I would be able to get much much more sleep, those first few months are brutal.

    bakergurl02 (at) yahoo (dot) com

  • Alisha L.

    #3 Baby Magic FB Fan: ALisha Lesage
    bakergurl02 (at) yahoo (dot) com 

  • Alisha L.

    #1 Baby Magic Twitter Follower: Xizelle

    bakergurl02 (at) yahoo (dot) com  

  • renee

    Surprisingly, my expectations and reality matched up fairly well! I hope my next baby is as good or better than my first :)

  • Jill L

    Well I really didn’t realize how much my love would continue to grow with each child.  I didn’t realize it was possible to love #2, #3, #4 as much as #1.

  • Jill L

     ‘Like’ Baby Magic on Facebook  -   Jill Lear  #1

  • Jill L

      ‘Like’ Baby Magic on Facebook  -   Jill Lear  #2

  • Jill L

      ‘Like’ Baby Magic on Facebook  -   Jill Lear  #3

  • allibrary

    Pre-baby, I expected babies to be cleaner, quieter, less fussy, less expensive, and sleepier than a real baby actually was!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

  • allibrary

    #1
    Like Baby Magic on FB

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

  • allibrary

    # 2
    Like Baby Magic on FB

    Nancy

    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

  • Laurie Emerson

    They were almost completely the opposite. I had been hearing how you instinctively know what to do but I have to admit that I panicked more than once! I put a diaper on wrong more and when she slept I was so worried about how quiet she was I would gently touch her cheek and ended up waking her up instead!
    lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

  • Laurie Emerson

    I like Baby Magic on Facebook.
    Laurie Emerson
    lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

  • Laurie Emerson

    I like Mommy to the Max on Facebook.
    Laurie Emerson
    lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

  • Laurie Emerson

    I am following Baby Magic on twitter.
    laurallee56
    lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

  • Laurie Emerson

    I tweeted.
    https://twitter.com/laurallee56/status/207300558846046209
    lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

  • http://twitter.com/tamarsw Tamar

    well, i thought the second would be easier but my 16 day old eats every 2 hours :(

  • http://profiles.google.com/htalfor Harriett Daniel

    I never realized how little sleep I could operate on. When they sleep, u sleep! 
    htalfor @ gmail.com

  • http://profiles.google.com/htalfor Harriett Daniel

    I Like’ Baby Magic on Facebook (Harriett Talford Daniel)
    Entry 1

  • Khulsey79

    I only use Baby Magic!!

  • Daisy May

    I like baby magic on facebook 

  • Lsueswimmer0908

    I used baby magic with my first child and I wouldn’t use anything else with our baby girl!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/Brandon.and.Deanna.Byrd Brandon-Deanna Byrd

    my pre baby expectation was just to go with the flow. I read all the books, researched online, and talked to family and friends. I have older step children so I knew a little of what to expect. Babies are unpredictible, so i’ve had some curve balls, but expecting the unexpected has been going pretty good for me! lol :-) ~Deanna~

  • jodidawson

    I had no idea how much work it would be to have a baby or how much little sleep I would get.  I didn’t realize how much my life would change!   However, being a mom is the most rewarding thing in the world!!!

  • jodidawson

    I like Baby Magic on facebook.  Entry 1 

    jodidawson at hotmail dot com 

  • http://www.facebook.com/Brandon.and.Deanna.Byrd Brandon-Deanna Byrd

    I “liked” baby magic and mommy to the max on facebook, and I shared a post from mommy to the max on my facebook!! So that’s an extra 7 entries!! I don’t tweet on twitter so I’m out on that. :-) Hope I win!!

  • Crystal Young

    I like Mommy to the Max on Facebook.

  • Crystal Young

    I Like’ Baby Magic on Facebook

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000109644979 Shannon Orton

    I thought it was going to be horrible, but my husband is so great he helps a lot so it is not bad at all!

  • Blarneykiss

    I didn’t know how wonderful life would be before the baby was born.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000109644979 Shannon Orton

    liked baby magic on FB

  • Ashley Sifers

    Didn’t know I would be soooooo tired taking care of a newborn!

  • Crystal Young

    I am following Baby Magic on twitter.@Crystal60370579:twitter 

  • Ashley Sifers

    Like Baby Magic on FB #1

  • Angela Zimba

    I never realized how much time I would be sitting on the couch nursing my baby.

  • Ashley Sifers

    Like Baby Magic on FB #2

  • Angel_n_hicks

    I knew I wouldnt be allowed to sleep but when the baby came it just became very real! I also figured out its OK to ask for help. 

  • Ashley Sifers

    Like Baby Magic on FB #3

  • Crystal Young

    I shared on  twitter.
    What to Expect When You’re Expecting” – Win a Baby Magic Prize Pack – http://goo.gl/EMPkg 

  • Crystal Young

    I shared on Facebook.

  • lyndsie7

    I had a picture in my head of it being pretty easy. Lucky for me, I had a very easy baby. He’s 9 months now and still always happy and really easy. The lack of sleep shocked me in the beginning but is much easier now. I never knew I could love so deeply!!
     

  • Angel_n_hicks

    I liked both baby magic and mommy to the max on facebook!!!!

  • Xobriannaxolynnxo

    My assumption was totally wrong, I prepared myself mentally for the worst, I thought what if my daught was cholic or wht if she had thrush! I thought she was going to be one of those babies who got her nights and days mixed up! But it’s still tiring! And thank god for her daddy!

  • Nobsje

    I like baby magic on Facebook: nobsje@yahoo:disqus .com

    I follow them on twitter: nativedreams3

    I also like mommy to the max on Facebook same email as above. :]

  • http://www.facebook.com/mirroredview Niomi Lallo

    I was expecting it to be a lot harder but it was suprisingly easy being a mom.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mirroredview Niomi Lallo

    I like baby magic on facebook

  • http://www.facebook.com/mirroredview Niomi Lallo

    I like mommy to the max on facebook

  • Reedtl

    This is my second. I never used baby magic with my first. Somebody gave me some baby magic and I got to smell it. I love it. Will use with this baby.

  • V.gascoigne

    While being prego, I could only have happy thoughts and couldn’t wait to see what the little one growing inside me was going to look like and who she would take after, that was the easy part, the worst part, being told 3 weeks before my due date getting the phone call that I needed to get to the hospital ASAP because the ultrasound showed no fluid and there was no fetal movement. After they lost my daughter during delivery, she was brought back and is now almost 8 months and happy an healthy! Couldn’t ask for anything more. :)

  • Littletnme

    I didnt expect or predict much at all pre-baby. So post baby was absolutely amazing, he didnt cry much and he was always happy even during a little spat with RSV. I couldnt be a happier mommy!

  • http://www.facebook.com/wendy.weems Wendy Redford Weems

    I have 17 year old twins, and an 11 month old baby girl. After trying so hard for so long for my daughter, I found out I was pregnant when my identical biys were 15.It was then that I realized how much of my boys lives had slipped past. I had missed so much waiting for the next event. “Can’t wait ’til they walk, ’til they talk, ’til they go to school…” I got wrapped up in everyday trivalities, and missed the little things. When I found out I was pregnant, I mad a concious decision to treasure each and every day. Most people do not get a second chance. While I wish I could do it all over again and pay more attention to the boys everydays, I know that is not possible. Instead, I decided to share everyday with them from now on. Including the everydays of our little sunshine. Even the pregnancy was better, not anticipating the next day but enjoying the one I am in now.

  • Eileen Weech

    First baby I was surprised at how calm he was. He was a very happy, laid-back baby :) . My daughter was the opposite!! She was needy and cried alot and very colic. She’s doing much better after a few changes. The big surprise is too see how baby #3 is :D

  • Charlsie

    I have twins and I am always being asked if it is harder than one. I know no diffrent but I have to think that twice the water on the floor and twice as many messes, and twice as many baths. has to be twice as hard.

  • http://laciejay.wordpress.com/ laciejay

    I never realized that the cute babies that everyone had were just for show, babies do not stay clean for long.  They are alot messier than I would have ever imagined. My son was always covered from head to toe with food, and so were my walls and floors. lol. 

    liked both on facebook, 
    followed on twitter
    tweeted contest
    shared post on facebook, stumbleupon, and tumblr
    reblogged on my blog over at http://wp.me/p1Y5zN-et

  • Ellicat2000

    they did not it was harder than i expected

  • Kim

    I had no idea what to expect but it all just fell into place afterwards.

  • Kim

    Liked Baby Magic on FB

  • Clarissaljones

    Didn’t realize how much chaos would be in the delivery room at the time of birth. No books or advice prepared me for it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ginoy.ramos Ginoy Caro Ramos

     like baby magic on facebook

  • http://www.facebook.com/ginoy.ramos Ginoy Caro Ramos

    I like mommy to the max on facebook

  • http://www.facebook.com/ginoy.ramos Ginoy Caro Ramos

    I used baby magic with my first child and I wouldn’t use anything else with our baby girl!!! i love this products

  • Drakprincess

    I never realized how much i was going to have to give up but over all i endes up having a wonderful baby boy and still to this day its so amazing to think i did that he is mine and i wouldnt xhange a thing even tho i do miss being able to go out and see freinds its all worth it

  • Rwingsfan9065

    ive watched other mothers do things and said “id never do that” but now that im in the throws of motherhood ive found that you do what works for you even if its not socially acceptable.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1226168753 Alfa Centaury

    I liked both baby magic and mommy to the max on facebook!!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1226168753 Alfa Centaury

    I liked both baby magic and mommy to the max on facebook!!!!

  • Atownmama

    This is the third time around for us and yet it is ALWAYS completely different. Granted this time we have our first boy – but even his likes and dislikes are so unique compared to his sister. Its amazing how even with the same input – each output is truly unique and full of surprises.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1313842162 Veronica Darden Gregory

    It’s one of my favorite lotions, I used it on my first son, now it’s my next son’s turn, love the smell of a clean baby.