Tips for Coping With A New Baby

Coping with the first few weeks after arriving home from the hospital can present quite a challenge for a new mother. Finding a rhythm and schedule to make this transition healthy takes time, patience, love and realistic expectations. The first few weeks and months can present many speed bumps and potholes, but these problems are all normal and part of the challenging road to evolving into a family. Discovering the patience and perseverance to navigate these early emotional challenges will often make marriages stronger.

The following are some suggestions that may make this potentially stressful time somewhat easier:

• Seek out support groups, other mothers, information from books and/or the
internet to provide tips for dealing with newborns. Doctors offices, prenatal classes, and friends can also be sources of information prior to the birth of the baby. Get all of the information that you can and then sort through and find out what would seem to work for you.

• After the birth of the baby accept help from friends, family, neighbors, etc. Don’t be shy about accepting offers from others to let them take care of the baby, clean the house, cook the meals, and run errands for you.

• Take care of yourself and your spouse. It is quite easy to become so consumed in caring for the baby that you lose sight of your own health and well being. Take time to exercise, take naps and sleep when the baby sleeps, rent movies and read books. Spend some time alone communicating with your spouse about your marriage, the adjustments that need to be made in terms of time spent together, your sex life, your hopes for the future and the joys of being a family.

• Set up a budget. Review your finances frequently and pay attention to
the changes that occur with new expenses due to the baby.

• If there are other children in the family, be sure to set aside time to make them feel special and recognize their needs. Don’t let other children feel that the new baby deserves all of the limelight and special attention.

Remember that the first few weeks and months after the birth of a new baby are usually the most stressful but time and teamwork can smooth the road for many happy times in the future.