5 Tips For Coping With The First Week Of Parenting

5 Tips For Coping With The First Week Of Parenting : Our survival guide for new mums aims to help you find your feet during those early weeks of parenting. With our five important tips to cope as a new parent, you can focus on making the most of this special time with your newborn.

Nourish Yourself

It’s super important for new mothers to stay well-nourished, especially if they are breastfeeding. Finding time to cook while caring for a newborn baby is difficult, so boost your freezer stash in advance with some nutritious meals. If you can, ask family and friends to bring round home-cooked meals to help you in those first few weeks. Smoothies and soups are a good way to get added fruit and veg in your system and supplements can also help you replenish your body. Eating well and staying hydrated helps your body to repair and recover during those early days and nights.
Be Mindful of Your Mood

Most new mothers feel tired and overwhelmed in the first week, as well as feelings of relief, joy and happiness. The ‘baby blues’ are common around days 3-5 when your milk comes in and your hormones are unsettled, but this often only lasts a few days. It’s important to talk to your partner about how you’re feeling and understand that the rollercoaster of emotions is totally normal. If your low mood continues for more than a few days, it can be helpful to talk to your midwife if you need additional support for your mental health.
Rest and Reset

Sleep deprivation is one of the toughest challenges that new parents face. A top tip is always to sleep when the baby sleeps but this isn’t always possible, particularly when your body clock is still adjusting. Get support from your partner and try to rest while one of you isn’t feeding your baby. Your newborn alternating between being with you and your partner also means that you both get valuable bonding time while getting some rest in between. Single parenting during the early weeks can be especially tough so ask for support from friends and family if you find yourself struggling.
Pain Management

Women often continue to experience some pain after giving birth. Whether you had a vaginal birth or a caesarean section, your body will still be recovering during those first few weeks. If you had a tear or underwent surgery, pain can often be managed with over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. Nipple soreness from breastfeeding is also common, so check with your midwife or health visitor for help with position, latch and attachment when breastfeeding. Look out for products that can help soothe and comfort you as a new mum.
Bonding Time

Bonding time with your baby includes some of the most rewarding and incredible moments you can experience as a new mum. Those pre-baby days of sleeping through the night might seem like a distant dream, but the feeling of skin-to-skin with your little one can help put things into perspective. Make the most of bonding time with your baby by putting away electronic devices to give you interrupted quality cuddles.

Conclusion

Our top five survival tips for new mums include getting proper nourishment, staying mindful of your mood, resting whenever possible, soothing sore nipples or any discomfort, and bonding with your baby. We hope this guide helps you to feel confident at the start of your parenting journey!

Author:

My Expert Midwife was founded in 2017 to help with the physical recovery challenges that women face during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. Working with in-house expert midwives, they have developed a range of award-winning products designed especially for new and expectant mums and new babies. Their midwife-developed products come glowingly recommended by thousands of mums.