Being a new mom is one of the most stressful things that women experience in their lives.
As a first-time mom, you never know what to expect.
Listening to other stories and advice doesn’t make it real until you experience it for yourself.
It’s important to know that if anything has become so overwhelming to you that it’s okay to ask for help.
Every mom stressed and a lot of these don’t ever go away.
Here are some tips for new moms to manage stress.
1. Nonstop Crying
It is natural for your baby to cry.
That is their only form of communication and that is there way to tell you what they want. However, when your baby is nonstop crying all day, all night, there might be an issue.
Consulting your baby’s physician is important, it could be an easy fix like they are constipated or wanting more food than you are feeding them.
Colic is also an option and there are many options to work through with your physician to help soothe your crying baby.
If your baby is still crying a ton, make sure that you and your significant other are taking turns with the baby. Take a walk, play soothing music, drink some tea.
2. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep? What is that? Your new definition of sleep is whenever you can get some.
Advice like “sleep when your baby is sleeping” is not the answer. When will cooking, cleaning and laundry ever get done?
The best advice for trying to handle sleep in the first few months of your baby’s life is to take turns waking up with the baby.
No matter if your husband is working or not, you are still going to be the one home with the baby all day long. Just like going to a job, staying at home with a new baby all day is extremely tiring.
Every minute that you can get for sleep is imperative. Taking turns will allow you some extra moments of shut eye to give you a tiny bit more energy during the day.
3. Managing Everything
Moms like to manage everything. We feel like the little life we just brought into the world is our sole responsibility. Asking for help is not a weakness and if you try to manage everything, you will get burnt out quickly.
Between sleep deprivation, hormones, laundry, and a ridiculous amount of diaper changes, life can get tough quick. Stop trying to manage everything and ask for others to help you, especially your significant other.
They are fully capable of helping. Even if you must tell them exactly what to do, it can hopefully help you relax and take some of the stress away.
4. Feeling Resentful
Along with trying to manage everything, you might begin to feel resentful. If your husband is leaving to go to work everyday and you are home with the baby, you might feel like you are doing so much more than him.
Your friends might be going out and ask you, but you’re not able to go. This might cause resentment for your friends that they’re able to go out whenever they want.
Not being able to sleep or do things you want to do can cause resentment of your baby. The first couple of weeks after having a baby are the hardest on a new mom.
Hormones can take over your whole brain and cause you to feel completely different than normal. If these thoughts are getting away from you, speaking with your doctor can be helpful in a time of need.
5. Straining Your Relationship
New babies strain your relationship.
The last thing you might even want to think about is your husband and sex. During this time your husband might feel a little left out with the amount of time you spend worrying about and tending to the baby.
Scheduling in a date night in the first month is important for both you and your husband. Grandparents are great for watching children during a short date night.
6. Losing Baby Weight
Losing baby weight is just like losing normal weight.
Once you drop the initial few pounds from having a baby, the rest is not going to fly off like the baby books have said they would. Dieting and exercise should be a steady part of your post baby life.
When your extra baby weight doesn’t just start shedding, know that you are not alone. Being consistent is key.
Being a new mom is tough but know you will make it through the infant stages.
Once you have been a mom for a few months, it will all start falling into place. Or it might just get a tiny bit easier since you are now a pro.
Remember not to forget about taking care of yourself during this time because if you are not healthy, everyone else will feel the effects.
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