Burden with New Baby

March 4th, 2011 franktibss 0 Comments

Share the Burden with New Baby-Supermoms Need Not Apply

Faster than a speeding bullet. Able to leap baby walkers and baby toys in a single bound. Effortlessly handles all household chores without breaking a sweat. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Supermom! Feel like you can’t compete? Don’t worry, you are no alone. Rest assured that Supermom is a purely fictitious character.

Most new mothers feel the need to be able to handle every aspect of their baby’s care along with their normal household responsibilities, without ever having to ask for a little help. This can often lead to postpartum depression and a great deal of stress. Asking for help after having a new baby is not a bad thing, and sharing the burden of responsibilities can help make life a lot easier.

Being a new mother is a tiresome job. You should in no way feel guilty or ashamed of the fact that you need to share the burden of this job with someone else. Ideally, your spouse or partner should be more than willing to help share the responsibilities entailed with raising a baby and taking care of the household. Even if your spouse or partner works outside of the home, which is more than likely the case, there are still many things that they can help do once they are home.

Feedings, diaper changes and baths are the three most important things that your spouse or partner can help you with. You will inevitably need a break from baby once in a while. And there is nothing wrong with you admitting that. By having someone to help you with the basic care of the baby, you will relieve a great deal of the burden and stress that you may be feeling. Basic household responsibilities such as cleaning, cooking and laundry are other things that should be split up and shared.

Of course, it may also be a case of you not wanting to share the burden of these responsibilities. You may still however, still be feeling the strain. Many new mothers become nervous that other people, including their spouse or partner, cannot care for their baby adequately enough. This is when you need to step back, take a deep breath, and relax. Your spouse is perfectly capable of taking care of the basic needs of your child. Even if you are breast feeding, you can consider the option of using a breast pump and storing your breast milk in the refrigerator and having your spouse feed with a bottle. If you prefer keeping the child exclusively on the breast, then you spouse or partner can help with diaper changing, bathing and housework, to help to give you a break.

Often times, new mothers will have others offering to help them, but will be compelled to say no, for fear that others may think that they are inadequate in their mothering. Do not be afraid to accept the assistance they are offering you. People are not offering to help you because they feel you are incapable of performing your motherly duties, they offer assistance because they know how stressful a time this can be. They offer assistance because they care, and want to help make this time a little easier for you.

No one expects a mother to be Supermom. Also remember, that there is no such thing as a perfect mother. Do not be afraid to ask for help, or to accept the assistance that your loved ones offer. By sharing some of the burden of your responsibilities with those that want to help you will be less stressed and be able to thoroughly enjoy your new baby and motherhood.

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