Becoming a new mum is certainly a dramatic, albeit steep, learning curve. New mums will need to quickly learn how to take care of their infant, while simultaneously dealing with their own changing body, tiredness, new household dynamics and a whole new schedule. This doesn’t mean that being a new mother is easy. In fact, it can be one of the most difficult jobs on earth! A lot of us struggle throughout their pregnancy and breastfeeding, and then go through a long period of exhaustion as a new baby arrives.
Becoming a new mother is also one of the most expensive times in a person’s life. While most women tend to consider becoming a mother their second home, it can be financially draining. It is recommended that new mums start paying for child care as soon as possible, as child care prices are bound to increase as you get older and your little one gets bigger. Even if you do not opt for child care, you will still need to plan your financial costs of caring for your new baby.
Some new mums may decide to stay at home with their baby, or in other words, they may want to stay home with the baby. This is entirely up to the individual mum and her family, however most parents prefer to be hands-on while caring for their child. For those who choose not to be there for their child, or for whom taking care of a baby is simply not an option, then becoming a mum means additional responsibilities. This could include anything from looking after sick baby, to being a full time employment opportunity (some moms work from home while their husband works a full-time job, some work full-time and some just stay at home with the baby).
Becoming a mother means also that new mums will be socialising more with other women. As they will have a lot more housework to do, much will need to find a way of socialising with other women so that their child does not become too far behind in school. In addition to socialising, much will need to learn how to cook for their little one, look after their child’s everyday needs such as feeding, bathing, nappies etc. Then when they do become a mum, they will be responsible for finding and buying baby clothes (often buying their own clothes, as they will be much cheaper than shops), looking after their child’s general well being and ensuring that their child receives any vaccinations.
All of this requires a massive amount of determination and motivation. New mums will often find themselves feeling a little under pressure as all of this responsibility comes their way almost overnight. The best advice for new mums going into their second trimester is to just relax and take it easy. Relaxing and taking baby blues won’t really help you, but just doing things like watching TV or hanging out with friends will really help your mood. If you are unable to do these things yourself then you may wish to look into something that can help you cope, such as reading books to yourself, listening to music or even going out for a walk.
New mums should always discuss any changes that they may experience with their partner before going into labour, especially if this is the first time that they have given birth. This can help both us and partners to bond with each other and get to know each other’s feelings towards their newborn baby. In some cases, new mums may find themselves worrying about breastfeeding, this is totally normal. Breastfeeding is a great way for new mums to bond with their baby and for the mum-to-be to bond with her preemie. It is also something that can help ease any frustrations that you may feel about your pregnancy.
