So you are all excited and ready to ‘pop’ so that you can finally meet your new bundle of joy. You have attended all the pre-natal classes that have somehow prepared you for what is yet to come. From experience and as a contented Mum of two kids, let me know tell you that being a mum is the toughest job out there. If only we could get paid for being a full time mum.
Having a baby is a blessing but it requires a lot of time, patience and energy. Giving birth which is similar to running a marathon as my midwife once told me is a miracle. So what should you expect after bringing home baby for the first time?
1. Expect to be on call every two to three hours for feeding your baby, and hence have interrupted sleep until your baby decides to sleep through the night.
2. Understand that each baby is different so do not try to compare your baby’s weight gain with another.
3. It is normal to feel tiered, try to rest as much as you can. You know you may not have postnatal depression (PND) but feeling unmotivated is completely normal in the first few weeks. Rest up, cuddle your baby and give yourself a break!
4. Understand that you have a new baby to care for 24/7. Try to establish a routine for night feeds and if you really need some rest; try expressing your milk if you are exclusively breastfeeding or let your partner give a bottle of your expressed milk or formula during night feeds. As you can probably tell, I am pro-breastfeeding!
5. Accept any form of help from friends or family with house chores for example with cooking, cleaning or washing up. Don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help especially when you don’t have any family around to help you, like me.
6. Use your time wisely, and by that I don’t mean cleaning the bathroom or kitchen floor. Enjoy the time you have now with your little one. Read a book, go and get that DVD you have always wanted to watch but never had the time. Maternity leave is the best time to think of new ideas or even to start a business venture.
7. Spend quality time with your other half. Set a ‘date night’ every week when your baby is asleep. You don’t need to hire a babysitter for that. Cook a nice dinner for both of you to enjoy or just watch a DVD and really appreciate time together.
8. Go on holiday! What? Holiday? That maybe the last thing on your mind right now...but yes I did say holiday because from experience when they are babies the only thing you have to worry about is feeding your baby. If you are breastfeeding then you don’t have to worry about taking bottles, and sterilising. Just make sure you have all the essentials for you and your baby. All your baby needs are warm clothes, clean nappies, lots of love and tender care.
9. Once you are up and ready to leave the house and face the world, go to your children’s library, attend a baby massage class or just have a stroll in the park. It will do you and your baby wonders. Meeting other mums is vital so that you don’t feel alone in a haze of milky delight. There is lots of support groups created for Mums by Mums in the area. Your Health Visitor is there for the welfare of you and your baby and they have a bucket of knowledge to support you in whatever way they can.
10. Last but not least, enjoy motherhood and the time you have with your bubu and put the mmmm into motherhood. Always remember that they are only tiny for a short while.
Kensington Mums organises outings for you and your baby in tow, including meet ups, talks, and museum outings. By registering to the newsletter, you will be kept up to date with the local scoop. For more information, visit the website.
Dina
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