Having a baby is undoubtedly an exciting time in anyone’s life that brings with it unbridled joy and happiness. However exciting new little bundle of joy can also bring with it a lot of added stress. You will suddenly be facing stresses, strain or pressure different to anything else you have before and it can feel overwhelming for new mums.
If you are finding those early days of having a newborn intense or even stressful you are certainly not alone. Here are some of the common stresses experienced by new mums;
- Is my baby feeding correctly and are they feeding enough?
- Why isn’t my baby sleeping?
- Is my baby gaining enough weight?
- Why is my baby crying so much? Do they have colic? Are they in pain?
- Am I doing it right?
- My house is a mess.
- My relationships with my partner, friends and family are suffering
The list could go on, and on. Although no one may be able to take these worries and stresses away with the wave of a magic wand there are things you can do to help look after yourself and reduce the impact of these worries. Here are some ways to help keep that new mum stress to a minimum.
Sleep
You have no doubt been told to ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ and you have been told it for a reason. It really is sage advice. You will be sleep deprived in the early stages of motherhood and everything always feels harder when you have not had enough sleep. So it really is imperative that you make time to catch up on your sleep when you have the chance.
Be prepared
You know your baby is coming so there are a few things you can be in advance of their arrival to smooth the transition. Prepare your baby’s nursery before they arrive, buy all the furniture you think you will need and stock up on nappies and wipes as you will get through a lot and popping out to the shop will no longer be the easy outing it once was. A top tip is to buy baby girl clothes (or boy clothes assuming you know what sex you are having) from newborn to 1 year. This will save you panic buying when your newborn no longer fits their newborn sleepsuit and ensure you always have something to dress them in when you notice they are starting to outgrow their clothes.
Accept help
One thing many new mums struggle with is accepting help and relinquishing control. You might feel uncomfortable a the prospect of someone else caring for your baby, feeding them or even helping out around the house. That said it is important to remember that you are not superwoman, you are tired and have a raft of hormones surging through your body. If someone offers to help out then take them up on it.
Emotions are normal
In the aftermath of giving birth, you will ride a wave of emotions, it is perfectly normal, so much so you should expect it. The lack of sleep, the added stress and an intense level of hormonal change will take their toll on your emotions. Commonly many new mums report experiencing this dramatic change in emotions around days 3 -5 postpartum. Accept that these feelings are normal and more often than not will pass. That said, if you are struggling or find that your mood is perpetually low do not be afraid to seek professional advice.
Have visiting times
Naturally, you can expect to have many visitors who are dying to meet your new arrival however this can also be an added stress on you. You may worry about disturbing routines, nap times or even whether your house is presentable. To make this easier on yourself schedule visiting times that work for you and your baby and don’t be tempted to work around others. You may even want to hold off from having any visitors for the first few weeks while you adjust to your new way of life. The decision is yours and you do not need to justify it to anyone.
Do what works for you
Remember, when it comes to parenting what works for you may not work for another but that doesn’t mean either of you are wrong. Having a baby is a new experience and you have to feel your way through it in the best way for you and your baby. Don’t get hung up on the opinions or experiences of others, if you and baby are happy and healthy then that should tell you all you need to know.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
