Moms' Diaries: 10 Smart Tips To Make The First Month With Your Newborn Easier.

9 months no be joke, the baby is here. Congratulations! Welcome to motherhood! Welcome to parenthood!

The first month with a newborn is usually the hardest, after that everything falls into place. Looking back, I wonder how I could not have known that there are some things you can’t prepare for or practice until the baby arrives.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I attended ante-natal classes, bought baby stuff, arranged them over and over and got other necessary things on my list ready in anticipation of baby’s arrival. Thought I had all I needed, no one prepared me for the reality of having the little one under our roof, the sleep deprivation, the tiredness, baby blues and so on.

Every pregnancy, delivery and child has its own peculiarities, whether this is your first, fourth or number six child, it is important to ask questions on how best to care for your new baby and yourself.

To make your post- partum recovery easier, here are 10 tips (I learnt) to help you handle some of the challenges:

After delivery, start to breastfeed your baby as soon as possible; it helps the process of breastfeeding easier for you and your baby.

Make your health care practitioner your friend (be it your Pediatrician/Obstetrician, Midwife). You should get a phone number before you leave the hospital after delivery so you don’t have to rush to the hospital every time you think something is wrong with you or the baby.

My mom was like (on Labour) ,the baby will just pop out; all you do is close your eyes, breathe in hard, breathe out, open your eyes and meet the baby by your side. For where? Pregnancy, Labour and the demands of a newborn can be demanding and draining. The tiredness can sometimes leave you feeling anxious and even frustrated. I’ve learnt that this is very normal but don’t let it bother you that it makes you so so angry, just take one step at a time. Rest a lot, there will be a thousand and one things to do when you return home from the hospital, but just be calm and sleep when baby sleeps.  In time, you will regain your strength. 

Visitors in the house: You are going to have a lot of visitors especially if it’s your first baby. You and your baby do not need any unnecessary exposure.  Limit the people who carry your baby to close family members. Keep a hand sanitizer or ask them to wash their hands with soap and water before touching the baby. If you think this will offend visitors, you can get a small baby cot to put in your living room or baby’s room and make sure baby is always lying there. People will hardly lift a sleeping baby.

If you want your baby to eventually take a bottle (if you are a working mom going back to work soon or you want to pump in a bottle to allow other people feed your baby sometimes), introduce it as soon as breastfeeding is established like 3-4 weeks.

Resuming activities: Take it easy around the house (at least two weeks after vaginal delivery and six weeks after caesarian section) and accept help especially with the housework (not changing diaper o, that takes a couple of minutes). Do a little housework if you wish but most importantly, take care of yourself and the baby. Let someone help you with guests in the house you may need to attend to.

Get daddy involved from day one: Your husband will probably figure out things too just like you did or just tell him what you want him to help with. Whether to cuddle the baby or change diaper, get him involved to spend as much time as possible to bond with the baby from day one.

Reconnect: Even if it’s just for five minutes, let someone hold your baby, get outside on your own for some fresh air or steal sometime away in a room by yourself and relax.

A warm bath every morning and night before you sleep will soothe you.

You are certainly going to get a lot of advice from people, just like you are reading here, just try figure out what works for you and ignore confusing advice.

Remember that if other mums made it through, so will you. Relax, your baby will be fine. Congratulations again.

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All contents here are opinions only. Please seek advice from your own doctor or other health practitioners regarding any issues concerning your own health or health of others.