Mama to be, Polly, chose our Navy Elephant Hospital Cuddle Box to bring her first baby home. She was kind enough to share the gorgeous photography from her hospital shoot by Heather Hackney, and they were so cute, we needed to get all the deets of what her first ever delivery was like...

Q: What was the best baby-related advice you received before your baby was born?
A: In the beginning to expect the routine to be messed up, sleep deprivation is a real thing! But eventually things will slowly go back into their places!

Q: What were you most excited about before the birth?
A: I couldn’t stop imagine having my baby with us doing our family stuff together! Simple things like waking up and having breakfast together would make me smile, indeed we have a lot of fun in the mornings! 

Q: Did you have a birth plan—why or why not?
A: I left the things go the way they were meant to be, so I left my body to follow its nature’s path.

Q: Did you find out the genders ahead of time? Or was it a surprise?
A: I found out the gender during my prenatal ultrasound.

Q: What surprised you most about the birth? Tell us one moment from the birth experience that sticks out in your mind.
A: Definitely the timing. Baby was in a rush to meet the world, so labor and delivery were quicker than I expected. Baby came out after 3ish minutes of active labor!

Q: What has surprised you most about new motherhood?
A: Everything is new, so everyday there’s something new to learn about. All of a sudden, my life is about caring for one more little being, it’s not only about me anymore. Sometimes it can be super overwhelming, but in the end it’s all worth it.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew before your baby was born that you know now.
A: To not compare your baby with other babies. Every baby is different, so don’t be so hard on yourself if your baby has different sleeping patterns than the other, or if your baby eats more or less than the other, or if your baby cries more of less than the others. They will develop on their own pace.

Q: What is your greatest wish for your baby's future?
A: As a mother, of course I want the best for my baby. And I will always do my best to make him happy and healthy. I want him to be grateful for his life and for everything he will eventually have in his life.

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to moms about to experience birth for the first time, what would it be?
A: Focus on your breathing. That’s the key for an effective delivery, listen to your body. 

Be sure to check out our signature Navy Elephant collection for your newborn!