The First Year of Parenthood

First-time parenting can be a shock. Going through the process of childbirth triggers different reactions that might make adjusting to parenthood a complicated process. People manage this differently. There is no “how-to-manual” but here are a few tips that can be of help during this time.

MANAGING SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Managing sleep deprivation might be a real task, particularly when the mothers find it hard to nap during the day – a big advantage. The common advice is to quickly get sleep when the baby finally sleeps, but that might not work with everyone. Getting more sleep while having someone look after the baby, can significantly shoot up your energy levels. Sleep also helps against postpartum depression in mothers.
It can be a source of worry for new moms when the child cries all the time. Crying is baby's only way of communicating discomfort. With time and as you develop a routine, you would be able to interpret your baby's cry language.

BABIES ARE UNIQUE
Each child is unique. Please do not get drawn into the web of comparing babies and when they reach certain milestones. Pay attention to your child and address all issues as best fit. Many people seem to have an opinion on your baby and they want to advice. While this might be well-intended, it’s best to take caution and only allow tailored measures for your child.

MANAGING THE ‘NEW’ WEIGHT
Exhaustion is not uncommon after leaving the hospital – or place of birth – for mothers. They are physically drained by the whole process most times, and then there is the need to constantly feed the child. Subsequently, some mothers start going through the stress of losing all the ‘baby weight’ gained.
One of the effective ways to manage the stress of losing weight is to make small changes to eating habits. In addition to this, exercise can be very effective but should be done in a way that will not add stress to the new mother, hence, instead of struggling to find a lump workout time, breaking the process into 10-15 minutes spread throughout the day (e.g. while the baby is taking a nap) will be more helpful. Exercise routines at home, a brisk walk or jog are convenient types of exercise. Engaging in these can also help with ‘baby blues.’

COMMUNICATING EARLY AND OFTEN
This is actually one of the biggest tips anyone can share with you. Regular communication in a safe haven can help new parents with their desires and expectations, and even relationship issues.
When you feel frustrated, know that asking for help does not make you incompetent. Communicating your needs early and as often as possible can be the difference. When these needs are met, remember to express gratitude.

Always remember that this is a phase, and it too shall pass. Proper planning ahead of the baby’s arrival, having patience when frustrations set in, and good time management would help you in these times. Leverage on information from experienced hands, care professionals and medical professionals.

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