Tracy, who lives in Chestermere with her family, teaches childbirth and parenting classes and also offers both birth and postpartum doula services. Tracy is also a Mom Boss, read more about her how and why HERE.
Having a baby is arguably one of the most monumental moments of our lives. And yet many are often unprepared for all the challenges it can bring. Planning often focuses on which theme to decorate the baby’s room with, which wall to put the crib on or analyzing what stroller to buy. Many families neglect some of the most important aspects of newborn care: how they will cope with having their life literally turned upside down.
How can we be better prepared to welcome this major disruption to our usual routines? What are some areas that we should focus and educate ourselves on?
- Learn about newborn care – most people instantly think about changing a diaper and while you will certainly change many of them, more importantly, learn how to identify newborn behaviour which will take so much of the guesswork out of why baby is crying. Are they hungry? Are they tired? What tricks can you use to calm a crying baby?
- Take a breastfeeding class if you intend to breastfeed. It is not as simple as we think it is! Learning how to properly latch a baby at the breast will be imperative to save your nipples and nourish your precious baby. Alternatively, if you will be bottle feeding, learn how to pace feed the baby to avoid overfeeding, spit-up and gas pains – the last of which is the number one complaint I hear from parents.
- Prepare your home – the baby will likely not even sleep in the nursery for a few months. Set up an area on your main floor for naps and diaper changes. Figure out where baby will sleep in your bedroom and in what. Maybe you’ll put up a temporary bed in the baby’s room instead, so your partner gets a decent night of sleep. Maybe they’ll sleep in the spare room for a few months! Stock up your freezer with pre-cooked meals, you will rarely have the time or energy for cooking for a few weeks.
- Most importantly, build your support network. We are not made to raise our children all on our own – it really does take a village! Having someone able to provide a few hours of help each day will be indispensable. Whether they simply watch the baby so you can take a decent nap, they entertain your toddler, throw in some laundry, prepare some food for you or tidy up the house, all of these will be a blessing for you while you try to recuperate from the major event of birth. Adjusting to sleep deprivation is likely one of the hardest parts of the newborn phase – experiencing only 1-2-hour increments of sleep at a time takes a major toll on your energy, coping skills and mental health.
Remember that no matter what restrictions may be in place, postpartum support is considered a necessity. Even our government acknowledges how sacred and important it is to support new parents during this crucial period. So, a support visit from grandma is not against the law (be smart and don’t abuse it)! For those without a network to call upon or those who prefer modern, evidence-based information, Maternal Instincts Childbirth Services offers postpartum doulas to come provide hands-on support. We also provide birth doulas, prenatal education (including breastfeeding classes) and babysitting services for your older child(ren) while you give birth to your newest addition.
Whether you are expecting your first baby or adding to your family, pregnancy, birth and those first days home with a newborn can be challenging. Hiring the experience and expertise of Maternal Instincts Childbirth Services to offer unconditional support during this time will help you feel more calm, relaxed and confident. You can rest easy knowing you have Tracy at your side!
 | Maternal Instincts Childbirth Services Email: info@maternalinstincts.ca Tel: (403) 801-4004 https://www.facebook.com/maternalinstincts/ https://www.instagram.com/maternalinstinctsdoula/ |
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