Hello baby, you are cute!
Welcoming a baby into your family is a wonderful experience! They smell like baby, have teeny tiny feet and love snuggling. Babies are also a lot of work and bringing one home is life-changing. So, Why is it so hard?
What happened to my sleep?
The sleep deprivation is extreme! A newborn will wake every 2- 3 hours to nurse or feed for about 20 minutes and get a diaper change. Many have their days and nights flipped and are more active at night. That can mean months of less than 4 hours of sleep a night.
This is harder than I expected
Babies do not come with instruction manuals. Most of us do not spend much time with young children before becoming parents. Most new parents have to learn how to take care of a newborn
There is too much information out there! Everyone around you has advice and there are endless blogs, forums and websites with advice, opinions, and information. Sorting through the noise is work! Talking to an experienced professional is a much easier way to get good information
Dishes, laundry, dust, and other chores pile up. There is more to do and less time to do it. It is hard to catch up so the to do list grows every day
I could use a helping hand
The village is gone and social media is not a substitute. Globally, many cultures expect new moms to rest and recover while others cook, clean and tend to the baby. Generations ago, this was the norm in the US as well. Today, most women in the US are expected to ‘recover’ in 6-8 weeks or less. Many parents do not have enough emotional or physical support as they transition into parenthood.
Doctors, midwifes, and nurses are very important but they are not your village. Your Obstetrician/Gynecologist, midwife, and nurses are there to help you manage your fertility and make sure you have a safe pregnancy and delivery. They also check in shortly after delivery to make sure you are recovering. They play a very important role but are not there to support you in your daily preparation and recovery.
The blues are real
Mood disorders are more common than you think. The CDC estimates 11-20% of new moms get Postpartum Depression (PPD) each year. Only 15% get treatment according to Postpartum Progress
Great Infographic Explaining PPD and its impact
Postpartum Support International
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