Let’s Celebrate New Mums!

So, you’ve made it through about nine months of pregnancy and hours of labor, maybe even days, or surgery, not to mention that annoying stay in the hospital immediately afterwards. They have finally stopped waking you up three times a night to check your blood pressure and now you’re home with the newborn baby. If you are feeling a bit lost, here’s some advice on how to keep both of you healthy and happy.

First thing’s first, don’t expect perfection from either yourself or the baby. The idea is to roll with the punches and just get through this tricky period of adjustment in the best way that you can. Keep in mind that ninety percent is an A. If you are managing to keep the baby fed and in clean diapers and you are staying alert to any medical necessities, you are doing great.

Multitasking is the order of the day and making things easy for yourself by keeping materials and supplies close by the places where you will be using them is more than a necessity.

This has always been said but it’s true. Make sure you sleep when the baby sleeps. It’s essential to avoid sleep deprivation so that you can remain alert when caring for the baby. Avoid the temptation to catch up on email while the baby is sleeping. You need to rest when the baby rests.

Some persons may feel that an extra dose of effort should be made to get on a schedule right away and others believe in letting a natural rhythm arise at its own pace. Your best bet is to ease into a schedule. Simply do what is most manageable for you without causing stress to the baby. For sure it will take some trial and error to find a good balance.

Be alert for signs of the postpartum blues or “baby blues”, especially if you have had a medicated, surgical or “assisted” delivery. Over 50% of women experience tearfulness, tiredness, sadness and difficulty in thinking clearly on the third or fourth day after delivery, probably caused by a sudden decrease of maternal hormones. Don’t ignore these symptoms and any feelings of sadness or guilt that result; talk about it with someone who’s close to you and don’t try to fake it if you’re really feeling down.

We know that you ate your way through nine months or so of pregnancy with the mindset of providing for two, but don’t expect to immediately go back to 1400 calories a day and the will power of a professional bodybuilder. You’ll need time to ease into a different diet. It may take a week or two for your habits to adjust. After your doctor or midwife gives you permission, start exercising again in small increments. If possible, join a gym.

Finally, remember to enjoy your baby. The first few days and weeks will be rough and you might be tempted to forget that you are in the midst of a miraculous and wonderful time. So even though you will be tired and sometimes stressed, do remember to soak in the joyful parts of the day. Cherish every minute, even when you are up at 2:00 a.m. giving the baby a feeding and you look out the window and all is dark except your house. These few months will pass quickly and believe it or not, you will miss it!