A New Baby!
Its a lovely time for all concerned – a new baby. Its what you have waited nine months for and have very recently gone through a difficult time, to give birth to this wonderful new human being.
Now you need to fill your mind with new baby ideas so that you can do your best as a parent. You have this tiny bundle in your arms and cannot wait to get home from the hospital, and start to be a real family. Chances are, you will find that however much you wanted to get out of the hospital – as soon as you are home, the only place you want to be is back in the hospital!! Hospital is where the nurses and midwives are and people who know what they are doing. Home is where you, your partner and the baby are and no one has a clue what to do.
Do not panic though, as everyone says, it will come naturally – soon you will be feeding, changing, winding etc. like you have had 15 children before this.
Think of the joyous moments to come:-
- The first smile
- When they sit up by themselves – with you hovering anxiously should they topple
- The first time they put their arms up for a cuddle
- Watching them asleep – it never gets boring to watch a sleeping baby – why is that?
Every step of a new baby’s life is an adventure for both him and you – ensure you enjoy every minute.
Of course, there will be difficult times. Crying for no reason, sleepless nights, illness and just plain old worry that you are not doing the right thing. Just take them all in your stride and you will be fine.
Whilst you will probably want to show off your new baby to the world, keep an eye on the number of visitors you have. Even if you had an easy birth you may feel out of sorts afterwards and need some time with just your new baby and your partner. Stagger visits from family (grandparents may be more difficult – especially if its the first one !) and do not be afraid to ask them for help. Small things like hanging up some clothes or making the beds can really help in those first few weeks.
Also, do not forget the joys of shopping. Prepare a list of stuff a new baby needs and get buying. Its also a good idea to have this list handy if someone asks what they can buy as a present for the new baby. Another option is to ask for Vouchers from a baby store. You can then buy things as you need them, or invest in some toys for the new baby as he gets older.
Above all – enjoy it – the baby years fly past so make the most of them.
