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As a new mom, it can feel like there’s only so much energy to go around. You have your baby and all of their needs, plus you’ve still got your own stuff going on — work, family obligations and other responsibilities that don’t just disappear when you become a parent.
It’s not easy trying to balance all of this stuff at once when you’re sleep-deprived and feeling anxious about everything from whether or not you’ll be able to breastfeed without pain (yes) to how long it’ll take for things to get back to normal with help from family members or friends (it really varies).
But here’s the thing: You needn’t worry because there are ways to feel confident as a new parent anyway!
Focus on your strengths
You are a good mother. You are a good person. You have many strengths and many things to be proud of, and you should definitely focus on those! If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious about being a new mom, it’s important to remind yourself of these things often.
There will always be times where the stress of taking care of your baby becomes too much, especially when you’re sleep deprived or feel like you’re doing it all wrong. The key is to not let those feelings take over – instead, keep reminding yourself that everything will work out as long as everyone stays healthy and safe (and don’t forget: there’s no shame in asking for help).
Connect with other moms
- Find a mom group. Finding other moms to talk to can be difficult, but there are ways you can make it easier. Look for a local playgroup or join the ones on Facebook. If you don’t have time for that, look up “mom groups” in your area and see if anyone is forming one right now.
- Talk to other moms about what you’re going through—especially older moms who’ve been through it all before! If you don’t know any older moms personally, try using social media as an outlet by connecting with other mothers online using groups like MomZette or BabyCenter’s community forums where there’s no shortage of helpful advice from those who have been there before (and if they haven’t been there before themselves then they’ll still give great advice because they’ll know exactly what questions need answering).
- Find an old friend who’s had kids so she can tell stories about her own experiences raising her kids at various stages in their lives–and also share some tips along the way too! This way she won’t just be talking about herself but helping out another new mom like yourself (by offering advice whenever possible).
Take care of yourself
You’ve got a lot going on right now, but it’s important to take care of yourself too. It’s not selfish or vain; it’s necessary! You’ll be better able to handle all the changes in your life if you’re well rested, have exercised recently and eaten something other than pizza in the last 24 hours.
If time allows, try getting a haircut or facial to feel more confident about how you look as well as boosting your self-esteem (and if you can’t make time for that, at least make sure someone else is cutting the hair around your neckline). If possible (and convenient), schedule time for exercise into each week—even just an hour once a week is enough to make a difference in how good you feel about yourself.
If possible (and practical), take some “me” time every day—even if it’s just 10 minutes spent reading through social media feeds or watching that show everyone else seems to love but which makes no sense whatsoever.
Be honest with your baby’s father, family and friends about what you need and what you don’t
- Be honest with your baby’s father, family and friends about what you need and what you don’t.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’re going to need it.
- Don’t be afraid to say no. It’s okay if people aren’t 100% on board with what you’re doing, especially when it comes to your parenting style, but don’t let them push their ideas on you if they are not in line with yours or make you feel bad about yourself as a new mom because of these differences!
- Don’t be afraid to say yes! This one is more like “fear less”, but still important nonetheless! Especially when it comes down to making decisions about how much time we spend with others versus how much time we spend alone as couples/parents—the most important thing is doing what feels right for YOUR FAMILY at that moment in time; not necessarily someone else’s idea of what’s best for everyone else’s kids at their house across town!
Ask for help
Asking for help is a good thing, and it’s okay to ask for help. You’re not just doing this all on your own. Asking for help will keep you sane and allow you to rest when needed.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your family and friends, who may be eager to come visit with the baby or bring dinner over.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your partner, who may want more of an active role in caring for the baby than he or she would have had before the birth—or might just want some time off!
- Don’t be afraid to ask your mother (if she lives close by) or any other relatives or friends who have already raised kids (or even grandkids) what they do with their own children so that their advice can guide whatever choice you make about child care once he starts crawling around on his own two feet!
Educate yourself
As the new mom, you may have a lot of questions about what to expect when caring for your baby. The first year of your baby’s life is an exciting time because it’s filled with so many new things and experiences. It can also be overwhelming at times, but by educating yourself on common issues that new parents face and what the best practices are, you can feel confident in your skills as a caretaker and make positive changes to help improve your family’s health.
- Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is recommended by doctors because it provides babies with nutrients they need until they’re able to eat solid foods—and even then, breast milk is still beneficial! If you’ve decided weaning isn’t right for you two, there are ways that both mommy and baby can feel comfortable while nursing:
- Have someone watch your little one while he/she eats (or breastfeed in private).
- Ask if there are any areas where milk might drip down onto clothing or furniture before putting on a shirt—this way nothing will get soaked through!
- Bathing: Bathing with newborns shouldn’t be difficult–they only require warm water! However, making sure their skin stays clear of irritation due to chemicals used during bathtime will help prevent acne flareups later in life (and save some tears along the way too!). To ensure this doesn’t happen:
Develop a daily routine
A routine will give you the structure you need to feel confident as a new mom. Whether it’s going to the gym, taking walks in the park, or reading a book, having something to look forward to can help keep your spirits up.
If possible, schedule time for yourself each day—even if just an hour—and make sure that this time is dedicated solely to your needs and preferences. It might be hard at first because of all of the other things on your plate, but try not to let anything detract from this special time for yourself!
Have realistic expectations
- Don’t compare yourself to other parents. We all have different things going on in our lives, and it’s impossible for any one person to be supermom or dad. Be kind to yourself during this time of transition, and know that the path you’re on is your own—there’s no right or wrong way to be a parent.
- Don’t expect perfection from yourself or your baby. In fact, expect imperfection from both of you! It takes time to learn how to raise a human being (and even longer if that human being has curly hair), so don’t stress too much about getting everything right at first—focus on doing what works best for both of you and enjoying the ride instead!
Get some exercise
Exercise can be a great way to boost your confidence, even if you don’t feel like it. Taking the time for yourself to exercise will help you sleep better at night, feel more in control of your body as well as less isolated. When you’re feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, taking time out for yourself is one of the best things that you can do!
Exercising releases endorphins which make us happy. It also helps us sleep better because exercise causes us to release tension from our muscles which allows us to relax and fall asleep faster. The more we exercise, the more our bodies will respond positively by releasing endorphins quicker when we need them most!
Don’t worry about the small stuff
- Don’t worry about what other people think.
- Don’t worry about things you can’t control.
- Don’t worry about things you can’t change.
- Don’t worry about things that don’t matter.
You’re going to be a better mom if you take care of yourself, too
With a newborn in the house, it can be easy to forget that you need to take care of yourself too. After all, your body has just gone through what is arguably one of the most intense physical and emotional experiences a human can face — so you’re allowed to feel tired or overwhelmed (or both). But what’s important isn’t how you feel at any given moment; it’s making sure that as much as possible, your health and mental well-being are maintained throughout this new stage of your life.
- Make sure you’re eating right and getting enough sleep—this is especially important during those first few weeks when breastfeeding is still an adjustment period for both mom and baby.
- Take time for yourself—a bath or shower can be a great way to relax after feeding the baby or whenever they nap. And while they’re napping? You’ve got time! Read something fun! Watch some Netflix (but no horror movies). Call up friends who have had babies recently too: they’ll help put things into perspective when you start worrying about every little thing going wrong with your baby… because believe me: it won’t go perfectly smoothly every day by any means! I promise this will pass soon enough—and even if it doesn’t pass now? Well at least there are plenty of frozen dinners waiting in your freezer just waiting for home delivery from Amazon Prime Now today!
- Take care of your mental health—you don’t have to do everything on your own anymore (thanks again, Amazon Prime Now!). Talk with loved ones about how they feel about having another child around; ask them if there’s anything specific they’d like done around the house so YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALL ON YOUR OWN ANYMORE!! And most importantly: talk with someone about feeling stressed out sometimes; we all get stressed out sometimes but talking through those feelings can help us cope better when things aren’t going our way…
Conclusion
We know that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when you’re a new mom. But this is a time for celebration! So here’s our last tip: don’t forget to have fun with your little one and enjoy every moment. You’ll be surprised at how quickly they grow up (and how much better you feel).
