4 Things to know as a new mother soon after the birth of your baby.

It’s certain that your life has completely changed after the birth of your baby. Every day feels like it’s passing in a blur and the only thing that will keep you occupied is when you have to attend to your baby’s needs. At 1 month old, babies still want to feed frequently and are unpredictable with their sleeping patterns. You as a new mother are still getting an idea of what this new phase of life feels like and we are here to help streamline all of it with this basic and helpful information.

Your emotions

You may find yourself feeling a bit weary and teary at this stage. Your initial energy reserves from the pregnancy are likely to have waned and there will be times when you feel very tired. The common advice of sleeping when your baby does is sound. Try not to see their sleep times as an opportunity to get a lot of jobs done. Doing this will only exhaust you and wear you out further.

Self-care

Try not to neglect the basics. Showering, changing into clean clothes, brushing your teeth and doing your hair will make you feel infinitely better. There may be times when you simply have to leave the baby to cry whilst you attend to your own needs. This is a fact of life for many mothers. No harm will come to your baby if you leave them for short periods in a safe place, such as their cot. Having a break and doing something for yourself can significantly change your perspective and give you renewed energy to invest into your baby.

Your sleep needs

Expect your overnight sleep to be broken as this is normal in early parenting.  So even if you’ve never really napped during the day, now is a good time to learn. Sleep isn’t necessarily the only thing you will need, but getting some rest, putting your feet up, reading a magazine or simply doing nothing conserves your energy and preps you to be a more tolerant and well-rested mother.

Your relationships

This is bound to be a busy time, leaving little opportunity to work on your relationship. Try to prioritise what is essential and avoid feeling guilty if you don’t have the time to invest with your partner or friends. Most reasonable adults understand that a baby absorbs an enormous amount of their parent’s focus and energy, so don’t be too harsh on yourself. This is a passing phase that cannot be ignored.