How To Overcome Stress Caring For Newborn

Motherhood with caring for newborns means excitement with a whirlwind of activities, accompanied with a lot of fatigue and stress. A newborn’s care could just turn a mother’s life upside down. Following a few valuable tips can help overcome stress caring for the newborn.

Valuable tips to overcome stress caring for newborn:

1) A mother should care for herself: This means having a healthy diet, plenty of water, some fresh air and avoiding the urge to have caffeine very often as a substitute for sleep. Mothers should sleep when the baby does and work out a nighttime schedule with fathers where both get rest and care for the baby. Mothers should do something enjoyable everyday either with or without the baby. They would help maintain energy to care for the newborn if they follow good habits.

2) Avoid scheduling lot of activities: This is because with the newborn you would need plenty of time for nursing sessions, naps and crying spells; you would also need extra time when going out to pack up your supplies and change the inevitable dirty diaper.

3) Establish visiting rules: Let your friends and loved ones know when they can visit the newborn and for how much time. Do not care much for social graces and insist that they wash their hands before handling the newborn; insist that sick ones do not visit. You could allow a trusted visitor care for the baby while you get some much needed rest.

4) Relax your standards: When you are tired postpone the need to dust and clean; you could also clean the bathroom with a fresh diaper wipe. Serve leftovers or cold cereal and peanut butter toast for dinner when you are too tired to cook a whole meal.

5) Expect and face the roller coaster of emotions: As a mother you could face a mixture of emotions from adoring and marveling the newborn to one of grieving your loss of independence and ability to care for the newborn; your spouse could also be facing similar emotions. It helps to talk over your emotions with each other; a shared laugh could lighten the mood and also decrease the tiredness and anxiety. 

6) Enjoy the moment: The newborn days will not last long, so just enjoy each moment in the midst of chaos.

7) Get out of the house: Go for a walk with or without the newborn when you find it real stressful caring for a fussy newborn. 

8) Accept a helping hand: Accept the fact that you are not alone; accept the help of friends and loved ones to run errands hold the baby or fold laundry.  

9) Nurture other relationships also: Though your newborn needs all the love and care, your other relationships like spouse, other children and friends need it too; set aside one to one time with each one to do things you enjoy doing together.

10) Seek additional help when necessary: Motherhood can be overwhelming; learn to handle it to enjoy the riches it offers. If you are depressed seek the help of a mental health provider.  

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