So now you’re home and the feelings of anxiety are starting to set in as you and your partner are the sole caretakers of this tiny person, so helpless, and looking to you for all its needs.

Relax…You will be tired and there may be times you feel like giving up from the exhaustion, but I’m here to tell you that the joys of taking care of a newborn baby will outweigh any negatives ten-fold. Here are some of my top pointers when it comes to bringing home a newborn baby.

• As any experienced mother will tell you, sleep when the baby sleeps. An invaluable piece of information yet completely ignored most of the time. There is no societal rule that states you must wake at 6am, stay up all day, and then be in bed by 10pm when you bring a baby home. Allow your body and yourself to wake and sleep with the baby’s pattern for the first one to two weeks. In time, the sleeping pattern will adjust to a normal day and night routine and you’ll start to feel less like a zombie and more like a glowing new mom.

• The feeding schedule of a baby is really no different than any other newborn. Expect to breastfeed or bottle feed your baby as often as every two to three hours and sometimes as frequently as every hour. Your baby will tell you how often he wants to eat. And yes, you will feel like your entire day and night is spent feeding your baby but it’s a wonderful time to bond with your baby and you will realize just how worthy you are to be taking care of this special person in your life.

• You may see lots of new mothers out in public literally days after they’ve given birth, toting their babies around to stores and going shopping, but when you have a newborn baby, the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to take it easy and enjoy the comforts of your home while you and your baby are getting acquainted and adjusted. Sure, it’s a nice feeling to have complete strangers congratulate you down every aisle and want a peek at your new addition, but don’t feel like you have to run your errands or make public appearances with a new baby. Do what feels right for you but don’t bend to any pressures. Allow family and friends to shop for you.

• Here’s one for the little boys. If you have found yourself in the debate with your partner over whether to circumcise your newborn boy, then you are not alone. This is not an easy decision for everyone. There are many debates as to whether this is beneficial for the baby’s health in the long term. Others will say it’s simply cosmetic. The decision you make most likely will not be based on just one or two factors alone so do the research and feel good about the decision you make.

• Lastly of all, having a baby is emotional, tiring, and joyous all at the same time. Whether you’ve watched hundreds of TV shows or known many other women who’ve had babies and appeared like the 3 C’s (calm, cool, and collected) after they brought their baby home, please know that crying is normal, feeling like you want to give up is normal, and experiencing emotional train wrecks is all very normal. The hormones that regulate these feelings are running wildly through your body after you give birth so don’t deny yourself the ability to acknowledge these feelings. Talk to your doctor or partner for support and remember…you’re never alone.

I hope you will find these tips to be helpful when you bring your new baby home. Spend your time focusing on enjoying every little waking minute with your baby as he grows and melts your heart with every smile, finger squeeze, and giggle. Congratulations to every new mom out there!

Tags: baby, parenting, new mom, bringing home a baby, new mother’s experince

If you're new here, please subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!