The arrival of a baby changes our lives permanently and irrevocably. The initial period with a newborn is undoubtedly a challenge.
However, the right mindset will allow us to adapt better psychologically, helping us navigate the early period with our newborn more smoothly and fully enjoy this wonderful new stage!
The following tips will help us do just that:
1. Give Yourself Time
Especially in the very early days, when, besides caring for a newborn, we are also dealing with the physical and mental exhaustion of pregnancy and childbirth, we need to be gentle with ourselves and avoid setting high expectations. It’s perfectly fine if the house isn’t spotless or we don’t look our best. The most important thing is to take the time we need to recover and bond with the new family member, setting aside anything that can wait.
2. Adopt a Flexible Attitude
Unexpected events and setbacks are 100% part of life with a newborn. So, instead of trying to stick to how we imagined or planned each day, it helps to stay flexible and tell ourselves, “So what?” when things don’t go as expected.
3. Accept That There Will Be Good and Bad Days
Unfortunately, life isn’t a Hollywood movie where the new mom is blissfully happy 24/7, with a cute baby dressed in lovely outfits sleeping angelically. Some days will indeed be dreamy, but there will also be others where everything seems to go wrong, and we might feel overwhelmed and desperate. This is completely normal and expected. It helps to remind ourselves that a bad day is just that—a bad day—and that this early phase doesn’t last forever.
4. Don’t Try to Maintain Life as Before
We often advise new moms not to leave their lives behind after having a baby, and this is true to some extent. However, trying to maintain our pre-baby life and schedules 100% is unrealistic and can be very stressful. It may be better to accept that, at least initially, our lives will be different, and that’s perfectly okay!
5. Do Things Your Own Way
When we have our first child, one thing is certain: parenting advice from relatives and friends will be plentiful! Some of this advice may be helpful, while others may not resonate with us. It’s good to remain open-minded, but ultimately, we should do things in a way that suits us best, without succumbing to external pressures.
Myrto Kogeivina, MSc.
Psychologist-Psychotherapist
Email: myrtokogevina@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myrto.kogevina.336
