What to Expect When Your Baby is Born

Giving birth is one of the most life-altering experiences on this planet. Irrespective of the type of birth you choose to have, a tiny glimpse of your newborn will make you forget all the pain and stress you’ve just endured. All those months of anticipation and anxiety pale in comparison to the joy of holding your baby.

Parenting: The Real Picture

After the initial euphoria and excitement, the reality of parenting sets in, and you realize it isn’t going to be a cakewalk. On the one hand, you have to adjust your lifestyle and routine according to the baby’s needs. Between feeding, burping, diapering, and swaddling, it’s easy to lose sight of the charm of parenting.

On the other hand, your body will be going through a plethora of physiological and hormonal changes. This, in turn, can take a toll on your mental health and make it difficult to bond with the baby. Worse still, your mind could be flooded with feelings of guilt, self-doubt, and self-blame.

The good news is that there are ways to make the early days of parenting less stressful and more enjoyable. In this blog, we’ve outlined a few simple tips to help you ease into parenthood and cherish the transition. Let’s take a look.

Getting Sleep

One of the most challenging components of raising a newborn baby is the disruption of your regular sleep patterns. Investing in a course like 7 Day Sleep Training will help you regain that precious rest. It’ll ensure that both your baby enjoys a good night’s sleep and develops healthy sleep habits from an early age.

The week-long course helps you outline and implement a personalized sleeping plan for your infant. You’ll learn to identify their needs and habits and create a safe environment that’s conducive to sleep.

It is, however, worth remembering that the type of sleep training you should select depends on the baby’s age. Make sure you consult your pediatrician before trying any new sleep training technique.

Establishing Boundaries

Apart from the surge of various hormones, you’ll also be flooded with home remedies and life hacks from every corner. Don’t be surprised if you start receiving messages containing parenting tips from distant relatives and acquaintances.

From your best friend’s mom to your partner’s coworker – everyone will have an opinion about the right way to feel, swaddle, and sleep train your baby. Despite their best intentions, conflicting advice from different people will only add to your confusion.

That’s why it is essential for you to choose your source of information wisely. As a ground rule, make sure you only talk to qualified experts, such as your pediatrician, OB-GYN, midwife, or lactation consultant, whenever you have any queries related to infant care.

If anyone else tries to bombard you with unsolicited information, politely let them know that you’re doing what has been advised by the experts. Also, it’s worth mentioning that you’ll have plenty of eager relatives and friends who can’t wait to come over and hold your baby.

However, you shouldn’t rush into meeting anyone until you feel emotionally stable. Don’t hesitate to let them know you aren’t ready to entertain house guests just yet. 

Feeding Your Baby

Irrespective of what society dictates, you should choose to feed your baby the way you feel comfortable. While breastfeeding offers various benefits, you might struggle to feed the baby due to latching issues or nipple abnormalities. In such a scenario, you could try pumping and freezing the breast milk in bottles.

Alternatively, some women may not be able to breastfeed due to pre-existing medical conditions. In such cases, you should talk to your pediatrician and explore the right way to get your baby started on formula. Also, you need to outline a tentative feeding schedule for them. The key is to ensure that your infant’s nutritional requirements are met.

Prioritizing Mental Health

Postpartum depression is a reality for new mothers across the world. There is the stress and exhaustion of looking after your baby. Moreover, your body experiences a diverse array of hormonal changes due to childbirth and breastfeeding. This, in turn, can affect your mental health, causing you to feel detached from the baby.

Alternatively, you might end up feeling overprotective and fearful about your baby’s wellbeing. Also, you’ll notice various physical changes in your body’s appearance. All these factors can further aggravate your depression.

It’s important to remember that feeling depressed, anxious, or just low is normal during postpartum. If you think it’s interfering with your ability to care for the baby, you should consider seeking help from a therapist.

Lastly, you must keep in mind that every parenting journey is going to be different. You must observe and understand the unique needs of your baby and provide them with the right care. Instead of obsessing over the minute details, focus on bonding with the baby and enjoying these moments.