Caring For Yourself, Caring For Your Baby

Whether you are a first time parent or a fifth time parent, caring for your newborn requires much of you—physically, emotionally and psychologically. As your baby begins its life outside the womb, he/she depends on you to learn to read cues. Being able to do so—to learn a cry of hunger versus a cry of boredom, for example, requires you to be somewhat rested and calm. Most of the advice you will be receiving will not take into account that you are the expert on your baby.

If you are a first time parent, you may have had preconceived ideas about how you would behave as a parent; those ideas may not have taken into account the particular needs of your baby. Thus, being rested and calm is necessary for you to become comfortable with your baby’s cues, moods, and temperament.

For women, the physical pull toward your infant may come as a surprise to you. Women are biologically designed to respond to their infants' cries and needs, although we emotionally may be sometimes too exhausted to want to respond. For this reason, it is important to have a few other people in your life that you can trust to help you with the care of your newborn. Getting enough support, sleep and nutrition are important protectors from becoming too overwhelmed to learn about your baby. Sometimes, despite our earlier longings and hopes, we find parenting much more difficult than expected. This can be hard for mothers to accept, especially those who have had successful careers. If, beyond the first two weeks, you feel sad, you are unable to fall in love with or enjoy your infant, or if you have difficulty finding pleasure in activities you enjoyed in the past, please talk with your doctor. If your feelings continue, your doctor may suggest treatment for post-partum depression. If your doctor suggests help, we at ICF have trained, experienced and skilled professionals to help you with PPD. Seeking help quickly can prevent deeper feelings of despair and guilt from interfering in your relationship with your baby.