Becoming a parent is one of the most difficult jobs someone can take on. There’s added stress, lack of sleep, and inability to find a balance in taking care of yourself.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most new mothers feel the weight of this during those first few months.
Here are some helpful ways to manage the stress and help you stay sane as a new mom.
- Get Help With Breastfeeding
A lot of new moms struggle with breastfeeding. Whether it’s the inability to latch or tenderness in the breasts, it can sometimes feel defeating.
Rather than trying to navigate these issues alone, there is someone out there who can help. A lactation consultant specializes in providing support and breastfeeding tips for new mothers.
- Join a Class
Classes for new moms offer a variety of benefits, regardless of your child’s age. You don’t necessarily have to join a fitness class if your newborn isn’t old enough to be in daycare.
There are plenty of other options like Mommy and Me Yoga or reading time at your local library.
- Participate In Mommy Groups
Sometimes all we need is a sense of community. Mommy groups are a great way to meet other parents with newborns and children who are in search of the same thing.
You can find great meetups by doing a simple search online or looking in local Facebook groups. It’s a great way to get connected with other new parents so you don’t feel so alone.
- Consider Seeing A Therapist
Having a newborn in your life can feel like everything you do is catered to another person, leaving little time for yourself. When the stress becomes too difficult to handle the challenges as a new mom, it’s okay to seek professional help.
Seeing a therapist gives you an hour each week to focus on you. Since the pandemic, there are now a plethora of virtual opportunities to see a therapist without having to leave your house.
- Make Cooking Easy
The idea of cooking can seem like far too much work. But there’s no need to put the added task on your to-do list. Instead, try to make cooking easy for yourself by having pre-made meals.
This can be anything from taking time to meal prep, ordering meal subscriptions, or buying frozen dinners at the grocery store. There are dozens of healthy options available to help make life easier.
- Sleep When You Can
After multiple nights without sleep, both your physical and mental state will be the areas of your life that pay the price. While you can’t guarantee your child will sleep through the night successfully, it’s important to get sleep when you can.
Take advantage of the time when your child is napping and catch some additional shut-eye.
- Be Open With Your Partner
Moms often feel like the weight of caring for their newborn child is on their shoulders. But that doesn’t have to be the case. When you’re in a relationship, it’s critical to maintain good communication. Be open with your partner about your needs.
If you feel like too much of the responsibility is on you, be candid about it so they know the areas in which they can provide more help. Remember, it’s a team effort and they’re probably more willing to help than you might realize.
- Be Compassionate With Yourself
Let’s face it: When it comes to compassion, we usually have it for other people but struggle to have it for ourselves. But you deserve to give yourself grace and compassion just as much as anyone else.
Having a newborn is a hard, yet rewarding job. You might not feel like you’re getting everything right. But the more you can speak kindly to yourself, the more you can enjoy the experience of being a new mom.
Summary
There’s no way around it. Having a baby will always add additional stress for a new mother. But the most important things to remember when keeping yourself sane is to find community, ask for help, find ways to set yourself up for success and always be kind to yourself through the process.
