The first week with the newborn baby can be quite
taxing for new moms. While they have not still recuperated from the
tiring and painful labor experience, the chores of the newborn are
burdened on them. Add to it the constant stream of friends and
relatives, who come in to see the new child and congratulate the
parents. Rather than being happy, the need to feel dressed, while
entertaining them and the shyness in feeding the baby in front of them,
can only lead to baby blues for many couples. In such a scenario,
support from partner or spouse and other friends and family can relieve
the stress on the mother to a great extent and leave her free to enjoy
the bliss of motherhood.
Help From Husband
For the first week, husband should try to take as much leave from his
work as possible and encourage and motivate the mum by praising her and
telling her how well she is managing everything. Don't feel jealous of
your child, steering attention of your wife away from you. Instead, look
at it as a family-bonding phase. Dad and child bonding is as important
as mom-child relationship, so be ready, to do your share of work for the
newborn including changing diapers and bottle feeding the baby.
You may also help the new mother with chores such as cleaning the room,
cooking, attending visitors and telephone calls. Remember, you should be
supportive of your wife's feelings. Know that she may be susceptible to
mood swings temporarily. If you need to go to the office, once you are
back, let your wife take rest, while you take up the responsibility of
taking care of the baby. Remember, you would need to make sacrifice on
your sleep as well. Wake up after every few hours, to ensure that the
baby is sleeping tight.
Help From Family & Friends
Instead, of advising a new mom, be supportive. She would like if you
actually come forward and offer help, instead of heaping her with
advice. One of the easiest things to do would be to pay an empathetic
ear to the new mom. There are a lot of changes that happen to a new mom,
be it physically, emotionally or spiritually. All you need to do is let
her give vent to her feelings. A small reassurance by you can make much
of a difference in the life of the new mother.
If the new mom has older children take them out for a while. This would
solve dual purpose - while the mother would be relieved off the tension
about her elder child, the child, on the other hand, would also feel
nice. If the newborn baby is a wakeful one, take him/her for a stroll,
so that the mother can rest. Help the new mother make a chart of what
are the things that need to be done, so that when people come over, they
can pick a job and complete it. Small chores like cleaning a cupboard or
paying off the telephone bill will make much of a difference in the life
of the new mom.
