Akron Children’s offers a variety of mother and baby resources to help you transition from pregnancy to parenthood.
Bringing your newborn baby home is a major life change that’s a mix of excitement and exhaustion. Planning and getting support are essential to making your transition from pregnancy to parenthood smoother. Dr. Laura Hlavaty, pediatric psychologist in Akron Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center, offers these five tips.
Choose your roles
It’s not unusual for mom to take charge of all or most of the responsibilities when it comes to baby, especially if you’re breastfeeding. But, it’s important that your partner shares the duties in order to bond with the baby and give you a well-deserved break.
- Before the baby arrives, think through the added responsibilities. Decide with your partner what each of your roles will be in caring for the baby and your other kids, if applicable.
- Beyond baby care, divide your household chores. Determine who will handle the cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and pet care.
“It can be hard to think clearly and make these decisions when you’re stressed, especially if you’re sleep deprived after the baby arrives,” said Dr. Hlavaty. “Having this conversation before delivery can be helpful.”
It’s important your partner shares in the duties so he can bond with baby, too — and you can get a well-deserved break.
Build a support system
Extra help is essential to getting through those first few weeks after the baby is born.
- Line up loved ones ahead of time to help you care for your newborn in the early days. Just be sure to discuss what that looks like – such as the duration of their stay.
- Accept help from family and friends with errands, grocery shopping and household chores once baby is born.
- Look into infant classes, breastfeeding groups and other support programs to attend once your baby arrives. Connecting with others who are in a similar situation is a great way to get your questions answered and ease your stress.
“Social help is one of the biggest ways parents get through this challenging, overwhelming time,” Dr. Hlavaty offered. “The saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ is so true and will help the transition go much smoother.”
Line up medical care for your baby – and yourself
As you keep track of your baby’s doctor visits, remember to take care of yourself, too. Your body is still healing after birth, your hormones are changing and you’re providing 24-hour care for baby.
- Have your first checkup within three weeks of giving birth.
- Your doctor will make sure you are healing well and talk with you about how you’re feeling, physically and emotionally.
Schedule time with your partner
It’s easy for parents to lose themselves in their newborns.
- After your baby is a month or two old, plan a date with your partner to reconnect.
- Even though it may be hard to leave your baby with another caregiver, it’s important to restore balance in your life and invest in the relationship with your partner.
Taking a few minutes for self-care – such as showering, napping or enjoying a healthy snack – will allow you to be your very best to care for your new baby.
Prioritize self-care
After your baby is born, it’s completely normal for self-care to look a little different. Maybe you’re not sleeping eight hours at a time or showering daily, but prioritizing these things is still important.
- Try to nap while your baby is sleeping.
- If you’re not sitting down to meals, eat several healthy snacks throughout the day.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Shower as often as you can. Leaking breast milk, baby’s spit-up and postpartum sweating can make you feel sticky. A few minutes of quiet time in a warm shower helps your mental health, too.
“New parents often find it’s hard to figure out how to balance the needs of themselves and their baby’s,” Dr. Hlavaty explained. “Some parents wind up in survival mode and go without sleep or proper nutrition. Taking time to recharge will allow you to be your very best to care for your baby.”
Looking for a pediatrician for your baby? Choose one of our Akron Children’s Pediatrics providers.
