Advice For New Moms

Advice For New Moms

Take Care of You!

The best advice for new moms--even before baby arrives--is to put a plan in place to take care of yourself. Rest. I mean, really rest. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. Decide now, before the added stress of caring for your baby becomes part of every day, to learn what will relax you and revive your spirit.

Do something nice for yourself every day - take a bubble bath, order take-out, read your favorite magazine or book for 15 minutes or watch a favorite movie.

Other things you can do to help you relax:

Schedule time for phone calls to people you enjoy.
Have lunch once a week with a special friend.
Plan a special time to be with your child's father.
Walk or do aerobics.
Get or give a backrub.
Listen to calming music.

The key to your baby’s having a sunny disposition can begin in the womb. Music, such as classical Mozart, has a direct affect on the baby. The best advice to new Moms, or soon to be Moms, is to keep a positive frame of mind during and after your baby is born. Whether or not a child inherits moms disposition is debatable, but certainly there are studies which are ongoing to determine of the two are directly related.

In the meantime, while you are pregnant, try to be as happy and calm as you can be. Though there will be moments when you are stressed or tired and frustrated, try not to let it affect you to such a degree that your baby senses the angst within. A baby’s disposition from birth can determine how the baby responds to you and the way that the baby wants to interact with you.

Advice For New Moms After Baby Arrives

Your frame of mind can affect your newborn’s disposition. Did you know a mother’s mood plays a part in a newborn’s disposition? If you’ve already had your child, think back to right after you had the baby. Do you remember how you felt? Did the feeling affect the baby in any way? How can you determine when Mom’s frame of mind can affect her newborn’s disposition?

Babies are super-sensitive to their mom's moods and feelings. I recently saw a documentary in which experiments with newborns were conducted. In it, the mom brought her baby into a quiet room, and upon direction from the researcher was asked to exhibit specific facial expressions to determine how the baby might react. When mom smiled, the baby smiled. When mom laughed, the baby giggled. But when mom frowned, the baby sensed something was wrong and his entire demeanor changed. He became upset and often cried. When mom sat expressionless, the baby moved his arms and legs, trying to attract attention. This study concluded that a mom’s disposition does, in some manner, affect the baby’s disposition.

Another expert suggests that massaging, caressing, and touching your baby brings about better mind-body communication. Intellectual and language development may be enhanced. Not unlike adult human beings, babies also experience stress. Massage produces deep relaxation, increasing the baby’s ability to self-console and release tension. Soothing techniques aid the child's self-regulation. Improved sleep patterns means that the baby's disposition tends to be better when awake.

Advice For New Moms About Nursing

Be patient with breastfeeding - it gets easier.

Put your feet up during feedings.

Drink, drink, drink. If you notice frequent headaches, you could be dehydrated and in need of more fluid. Good rule of thumb: each time you sit down to a feeding, grab a glass of water.

Don't be surprised if you get pregnant while nursing. It happens a lot!

Advice For New Moms About Dad

If your hubby offers to do anything let him, let him, let him. True, it may not get done exactly as you would like (diapering, feeding, bathing, trips to the store, etc.) but it will be one less thing for you to do.