Two lines emerged on your pregnancy test, and you are now overcome with a variety of feelings – fear, shock, excitement, unbelievable joy? Congratulations, and welcome to the nine-month journey that will undoubtedly be challenging, especially if this is your first pregnancy.
Only mothers understand how tough the early stages of parenting can be, especially when you have just given birth to your first kid and haven’t yet gotten used to your new role. Along with the delightful motherly moments, there will be restless nights, endless sobbing, filthy diapers, and so much more. Here’s how to get through it with minimal stress.
Conduct your research
Caring for a child, and for yourself as a future mother, begins not from the moment of birth, but with the establishment of pregnancy. Your shift to parenthood occurs while you are still pregnant. This refers to the emotional changes you are experiencing, which we may refer to as the awakening of maternal instincts. Although there are no rules, these changes often occur during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The second trimester of pregnancy is often simpler for many women than the first. After nausea and other symptoms have subsided, it is time to get informed, begin preparing, and take care of your own and your baby’s health. Take care of your diet, get enough sleep, and try not to neglect physical activity. Find out what happens during the pregnancy trimesters you will go through and visit your doctor regularly.
Don’t get worked up over little things
Many new moms often compare themselves to other moms, which may lead to unnecessary stress and bad feelings, which are definitely not good for either mom or baby. Every child and every mother is different, which implies that everyone’s experience will be unique as well.
Therefore, stop comparing and getting agitated about trivial and insignificant issues. So what if your baby didn’t sleep through the night or if you haven’t washed your hair in a week? The most important thing is to be patient with yourself and the baby, and washing your hair can wait since there are more essential things to focus on, such as proper rest and enjoying motherhood.
Eat healthily and plan your meals
Moms are sometimes too preoccupied with their newborns to take care of themselves. Quality nutrition, just like sleep, is essential for the new mother’s health. It improves their physical and mental well-being, which is particularly necessary for nursing moms.
So, if someone offers to make lunch or dinner for you, accept it without hesitation! Furthermore, as always, proper organization is half the battle. Create a strategy to make your kitchen time as practical and efficient as possible. You can always create a weekly meal plan or cook more food and freeze a few portions for days when you won’t have time.
Find time for physical activity
This tip may be difficult to follow, but if you can find time for physical exercise, you will feel terrific and have a much easier time adjusting to your new position as a mom. Exercise not only keeps you in shape, but it also releases endorphins, a hormone that makes you feel happy and euphoric. That means that physical activity can be considered an antidepressant.
Whether you choose to exercise at home with a workout video, at the gym, or by running in nature, you will not be disappointed, even if it is only for 15 minutes every day.
Maintain a simple and fun approach to baby care
Parenting might appear to be a minefield of fresh experiences and problems that no book can entirely prepare you for. Moms juggle a million things when learning to care for a newborn, often doubting themselves and their abilities, experiencing guilt and panic.
All you need is a way to help you with your confusion and the race you feel in your new role as a mom. Since we live in the age of technology, there are numerous apps you can download to your smartphone that will assist and make life easier for new mothers.
Don’t let household chores and responsibilities overwhelm you
It’s totally natural to forget what day of the week it is or whether or not you paid a certain bill when you’re a new parent. Even simple household chores sometimes seem like a mountain that you don’t have time to climb.
But don’t be alarmed. Determine which ones are your top priorities and strive to keep them. For example, while clean clothing and diapers for newborns are essential, a clean floor every day and freshly prepared lunch and dinner are not!
To summarize, parenting is both the most challenging and the most wonderful job in the world. So try to cherish every moment, be present, and not allow small issues to get in your way. Keep in mind that this is a beautiful time in your life that you will never forget. Enjoy, dear mothers!
About the author:
Peter is a fashion stylist and a writer from Brisbane, Australia. After graduating from Australian Institute of Creative Design he worked as a fashion stylist for few local fashion events. Beside fashion and styling, he enjoys traveling around exotic destinations and discovering new vintage stores. He’s future plans are in creating his personal styling business.