Transitioning To Parenthood: The 4 Things You Need To Know
Here are 4 things that all parents would benefit from knowing before their baby arrives.
1 . Help after birth
New parent sleep deprivation is no joke! Try and think about what your support system will look like once your baby is born. For those who have family close by that can be easier to do but for those who don’t (and for the many who do but maybe those family members are unavailable, problematic emotionally or simply unhelpful), try and think more broadly about who you know who you could enlist for support. A retired caring neighbour, or a teenage one who you can pay to be a ‘mama’s helper’ for example.
2. Know the signs of postpartum depression
Depression in new moms can look like:
Feeling hopeless or helpless
Sleep disturbances (unexplained by baby’s sleep)
Eating disturbances (losing your appetite or feeling you can’t stop eating- unexplained by breastfeeding)
Challenges making decisions
Irritability, rage or anxiety (sometimes in the form of intrusive scary thoughts)*
New parent depression (and I say new parent because dads too can be affected by postpartum depression- paternal postpartum depression) can rob you of the enjoyment of this time in your life. It is important to know that if you are struggling with these symptoms, to seek help. Postpartum depression responds very well to treatment; for some therapy alone and for others, therapy plus medication, but it is treatable.*
3. You may experience an increase in anxiety
New parent anxiety is very common. It is normal for most people to experience some increased worry in the postpartum period this is a major life transition and there are so many new things to consider and so much to learn about. For most people, having to care for a fragile new human brings along new considerations and new worries as they learn to care for this new life.
While some increase in worry is normal in the postpartum period, if anxiety is chronic, feels all-consuming and disruptive to daily life functions and enjoyment, then it is important to speak to a health professional to assess for postpartum anxiety.
4. Have a plan around feeding your newborn
This does not mean you need to decide in advance if you will breastfeed or bottlefeed. Yes, some women feel certain of it before their baby is born but you do not need to and even those with a plan sometimes find they need to change course. Having a sense of what your postpartum plan is can be helpful but flexibility is key. Many wonderful mothers who were intent on breastfeeding exclusively find they need to supplement or switch to formula and having a flexible attitude around feeding in advance can make that transition much smoother. I have seen many women tell themselves that they need to breastfeed at all costs that they end up beating themselves up over transitioning to a bottle or supplementing. Like most things in life, having a flexible mindset will set you up for success.
*This information is not therapeutic advice and is the opinion of these authors and is not in lieu of mental health support from a licensed clinician in your area. If you are struggling, please reach out to a licensed mental health worker in your area.