Coping With the Stresses of New Parenthood
Being a new parent is one of the single most rewarding things you can do. Nurturing new life that you have created is like a holy gift. You’ll fall in love, over and over again, as you simply gaze at your newborn. Yet with all this joy, new babies are also incredibly stressful. You will sometimes simply not know what to do, and you’ll feel at your wit’s end as you struggle to settle them, or feed them, or figure out what is making them cry. Lucky for you, we’ve put together this helpful article which will assist you to cope with the stresses of new parenthood.
Be Prepared
You want to have everything you need for you at home when you get back to the hospital. So hit up those baby stores before your due date. Be prepared and begin writing a checklist from the moment you know that you’re pregnant. Pram, bassinet, clothes, pacifiers, toys, bottles, and so on. That way you won’t have to make any trips to the shops because you’ve forgotten an essential item. Being prepared will save you a great deal of stress.
Set Up a Sleep Shift System With Your Partner
Face the reality – you’re going to be sleep-deprived for a good year or so. Your baby will need to feed at all hours, including the middle of the night. If you’re breastfeeding, consider expressing and keeping some milk on hand. That way, your partner can warm it up and feed the baby while you get some much-deserved sleep. Then next week it’s your turn. Taking turns like this will ease the stress on your relationship and mean that some weeks you get to sleep through the night.
Bulk Cook Before the Baby is Due
Everything is going to be quite chaotic when you bring your baby home. Figuring out what to cook for dinner each night amidst all this is a guaranteed way to stress you out. Imagine trying to prepare a meal while the newborn is crying and your partner is still not home from work. If you have enough freezer space, you could prepare bulk lots of pasta sauce, or curry, or other meals where you just need to prepare some pasta or rice to have a healthy meal. This will mean you can focus on your baby’s needs and relax.
Talk it Through
Being a new parent can be an isolating time, especially if you’re the first in your social group to become parents or the last. If no one around you is sharing the journey, it’s important to reach out and talk with your friends and family. Sometimes you just need to vent. So pick up the phone and talk it through with those close to you.
Find Time for Yourself
Finally, you need to find some time for yourself to enjoy the things you like. Let your partner care for the baby for a few hours while you go and pamper yourself. Or you might want to read a book, or catch up on Netflix, or play a video game. Whatever it is, you must carve out some time for yourself as a new parent. Your stress levels will reduce.
A Cradle Conclusion
Be prepared for when the baby comes home by purchasing everything you need before the due date. Sleep in shifts and take it in turns to do the midnight feeds. Bulk cook and fill your freezer before the baby comes, so you don’t have to worry about cooking. Pick up the phone and talk through your troubles with friends and family. And remember to find some time for yourself for your hobbies and interests. Do all this and you’ll greatly reduce the stress of being a new parent.
