Feeling excited to welcome your baby to this world? Overjoyed to be a new mom and dad?
Congratulations.
This would be the greatest opportunity you’ve ever had to develop a valuable new skill –childcare.
While parenthood is full of sweet and cherished moments, it would still be a bit frightening. It’s like a long journey to a place where you don’t have any knowledge about it like how to go and what to do. You will always wonder if things are going right and you might also experience mixed emotions and a bunch of strange thoughts appears in your head.
“Nothing in life will ever make you as happy, as sad, as exhausted, or as incredibly proud as parenthood.”
Will I be able to handle the parenthood?
How your baby would be?
Would my partner support me?
These are some of the fears and thoughts most would-be parents feel before giving birth to a baby.
Well, you are not alone. Preparing your relationship for your new baby would alleviate all your fears and makes it easier to handle things and care for your baby effectively.
Below are some tips to help you prepare your relationship for your new baby.
Talk about your sleep needs with your partner
It’s a fact that every new parent is deprived of sleep.
A survey from Owlet Baby Care found that nearly half of all parents with new-born children get just one to three hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.
If you are someone who needs a lot of uninterrupted sleep, then you will have a tough time dealing with sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep results in mood swings and is one of the top contributors to mental health concerns in new parents.
People think of sleep as a luxury, but it’s an essential requirement for new parents during the first few months after labor.
How can I handle Sleep deprivation is one of the most asked questions by the new parents?
The best advice is to figure out a plan.
Talk with your partner about your sleep needs even before you bring the baby home. Have an open discussion about your ability to handle the lack of sleep.
Your body needs some relaxation after the greatest trauma you ever had, and you might feel exhausted with breastfeeding and other household chores. Don’t hesitate to accept any help you can get from your partner or family member or friends. Try to take shifts at night, so that both will get enough sleep.
Discuss the New Roles and Responsibilities
Generally, men and women respond differently to becoming parents, with women making their baby a priority and men thinking about the finances for the expanding family. But things have changed today. Women and Men are equally sharing the responsibility of taking care of the baby.
You love your baby and feel excited about your new family member. But it is not always as cinematic as it looks like. Parenting is the hardest thing you ever had experienced. This is the time where your patience and capacity to manage comes into the picture.
“Babies are always more trouble than you thought and more wonderful.” – Charles Osgood
You are the one who needs utmost care and time to relax, but at the same time care for your baby and does the household chores too. You probably will not be able to have a nap for 10 minutes because your baby needs you for the time. You will feel like you are nursing the baby round the clock.
But there is a way to get out of the stress and do you know what it is – Accept the reality and Take the help of your partner.
Prepare your partner and yourself. Remember that he can’t read your mind and hence don’t expect your partner to grasp your feelings.
Many dads aren’t sure what they can do to help. Communicate your responsibilities ahead of time and let them know what they could do and how they can help you. Ask them to take the responsibility of cooking and cleaning the house.
Split the duties, make a list of things to accomplish and delegate specific times of a day to take care of the baby, and don’t forget to give your partner a break.
Try to not fall into the trap of scorekeeping. After all, sharing is caring and even it is the hardest part, it is all for your new baby that you are working hard for. So, be ready to give and take the responsibilities. This makes your relationship with your partner stronger than ever.
Give Freedom to Your Partner
Don’t expect your partner do things in the same way as you do. Everyone has their way to get things done. Give freedom to your partner, trust them, and let them handle things in their way. Remember to appreciate one another and express the love for them. It acknowledges the hard work and increases the intimacy between you.
Encourage your partner to make the baby sleep or change the diapers. Initially, it will be a tough task, but this helps them understand the baby’s sleep timings, mood swings, and behavior which strengthens the bond between the baby and father.
Start preparing your relationship today.
The sooner you find a way to work together, the sooner you’ll feel more comfortable with your impending parenthood.
Wish you a great Parenthood.