Courtesy: Jessica Pankratz and reproduced under Creative Commons Bringing a new baby home is filled with excitement, and it has the potential to be one of your most cherished times with your little one. The time you spend with your newborn only happens once, and they will go from being your newborn to being your baby much too quickly. Read on for some tips of how to make your postpartum time the best it can be.
Be realistic
Know that your whole life will change, and there will be sleepless nights and crying episodes. If this is your first baby, know that your routine will change completely. Life with a newborn can be tough, but it is also the sweetest time. Prepare for the challenges that will come with a new baby, and you won't be as frazzled.
Ask for help
Hopefully you have some friends and family who want to help. When people offer you help, take it! Tell them some specific ways they can help like bringing dinner over or washing some dishes. Most people are more than happy to help. But i if you don't have a strong support network, having family over will cause more stress than help, you have another option. Consider asking for postpartum doula care at your baby shower. Postpartum doulas provide emotional and practical support to you and your family. They are also experts at breastfeeding assistance.
Prepare as much as you can
Make some healthy freezer meals you can take out later, and set up a phone list of people you can call for specific things. Like, who can you call if you just need a good cry, or who can you call for last minute babysitting, or who would be happy to bring you Chinese take out food? We all have these people in our lives. Take the time to write down who would be great at what now, before you have to do too much legwork when baby comes.
Protect and heal yourself
Know that there might be some people who think they know a better way to parent than you do. It's okay to decline visits from people who are negative in this way. Maybe assign your partner or another friend to be a go-between if people want to visit. Don't feel like you have to say yes to every visit, especially if your guests make you stressed. It is also important to take it easy for the first month or so. Many cultures forbid a new mom from doing housework etc. for the first 40 days after a baby is born. Imagine how different our newborn care would be if we recognized this custom!
Sleep and self care
It's okay to stay in your pj's all day, and not brush your teeth until noon. We've all heard sleep when baby sleeps, and there's a reason this old adage is still around. The first few weeks with your newborn are precious, and you owe it to yourself to make self care and breastfeeding your highest priorities.
Moms, what else have you done to rock your postpartum time?
Be realistic
Know that your whole life will change, and there will be sleepless nights and crying episodes. If this is your first baby, know that your routine will change completely. Life with a newborn can be tough, but it is also the sweetest time. Prepare for the challenges that will come with a new baby, and you won't be as frazzled.
Ask for help
Hopefully you have some friends and family who want to help. When people offer you help, take it! Tell them some specific ways they can help like bringing dinner over or washing some dishes. Most people are more than happy to help. But i if you don't have a strong support network, having family over will cause more stress than help, you have another option. Consider asking for postpartum doula care at your baby shower. Postpartum doulas provide emotional and practical support to you and your family. They are also experts at breastfeeding assistance.
Prepare as much as you can
Make some healthy freezer meals you can take out later, and set up a phone list of people you can call for specific things. Like, who can you call if you just need a good cry, or who can you call for last minute babysitting, or who would be happy to bring you Chinese take out food? We all have these people in our lives. Take the time to write down who would be great at what now, before you have to do too much legwork when baby comes.
Protect and heal yourself
Know that there might be some people who think they know a better way to parent than you do. It's okay to decline visits from people who are negative in this way. Maybe assign your partner or another friend to be a go-between if people want to visit. Don't feel like you have to say yes to every visit, especially if your guests make you stressed. It is also important to take it easy for the first month or so. Many cultures forbid a new mom from doing housework etc. for the first 40 days after a baby is born. Imagine how different our newborn care would be if we recognized this custom!
Sleep and self care
It's okay to stay in your pj's all day, and not brush your teeth until noon. We've all heard sleep when baby sleeps, and there's a reason this old adage is still around. The first few weeks with your newborn are precious, and you owe it to yourself to make self care and breastfeeding your highest priorities.
Moms, what else have you done to rock your postpartum time?
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