Baby's First Six Weeks - Tips on How to Survive

Every new Mum says it "the first six weeks are the hardest"

. By no means after this it is a breeze but for some reason once you can get through the first six weeks there seems to be a turning point and things slowly become easier.However, like all other new mums, I made it through and remember taking my baby for her six week check-up feeling very proud of myself that I had 'survived' this far and my little girl according to the health professionals was doing great and progressing nicely.Although, every new Mum has different experiences with a new baby during the first six weeks, below are some tips which I'd like to share with you and hope you find beneficial:Tip 1 - Try to Venture Outdoors Every DayThis at least means you have to get yourself and baby dressed. You don't need to plan a big trip, just a walk to the local shops or park for half an hour or call to a friend. This will help clear your head, give you some fresh air and stop the cabin fever!Tip 2 - Sleep When the Baby SleepsI know this is preached to all new Mums but unfortunately for me it was something I never practiced and wish I had done. I have never been a nap in the day kind of person so for me it didn't seem right to go to sleep but eventually the sleep deprivation catches up on you. A nap for as little as 40 minutes can do you the power of good and restore your energy levels.Tip 3 - Find a Breastfeeding / Local Mothers GroupThere are lots of them out there and the Breastfeeding Group I joined was great. I went along after about week 3 and it was just great to be out and amongst other new mothers. You get a great sense of satisfaction and achievement from going, some practical helpful tips and advice and the confidence to know you are not doing a bad job at being a mum. You also get to know some local people who you may become friends with. The groups usually meet once a week so it is not a big commitment and the more you go, the more you will get out of it.Tip 4 - Accept Help from Friends and FamilyLiving away from my own immediate family, but close to by husbands I was the reluctant daughter/sister-in-law who wanted to try and do it all myself. I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my new baby and thought no-one knew her as well as I did. This is probably true but in hindsight it wouldn't have hurt the odd time to have had a couple of hours free for some sleep or personal time for me or even some time with my husband. Accept offers of help, dinner etc, they won't be offered for too long and believe me as soon as your child gets older these offers start to dwindle so make the most of them!Tip 5 - Give Yourself Some PraiseThe steep learning curve you endure with a new baby is extremely hard. There are so many new tasks to master and you can often become so overwhelmed with everything you have to do. Try to break things down and praise yourself each day for things you have done well. Too often we tend to focus on the negative but write down three things you did well each day and soon things will begin to fall into place.Tip 6 - Remember to Take Care of YourselfWhen a new baby arrives you somehow seem to lose your sense of identity and suddenly become known to others as "Sally's mum". You, yourself find you use this phrase more frequently instead of your own name when you meet new people! You are the main carer of your baby and it is important to remember this. It is important to look after yourself so you can look after your baby properly. A happy Mum usually means a happy baby so every day try and take a little personal time out for you. The important thing is do to this on a daily basis and not just every once in a while. Thirty minutes reading your favourite magazine, phoning a friend, watching a tv programme or eating your favourite food will help you regain some normality.Tip 7 - Enjoy Your BabyThe first six weeks, although tough will fly by. Some important milestones may happen during this time, such as your baby's first smile so make sure you can enjoy these special moments. I know it's a clich but you will never get this time back. Enjoy singing to your baby, feeding your baby, bathing your baby and playtime. The rewards received are priceless and these special times will help you bond with your baby and make for an easier time down the road.Hopefully, these tips will help you survive the first six weeks. As you begin to know and understand your baby better, each day will get easier. Eventually, your baby will sleep through the night and you will start to feel relatively normal. You'll get back to wearing pre-pregnancy clothes and exercising and your new life as a new Mum will go from strength to strength.

Baby's First Six Weeks - Tips on How to Survive

By: Jane O'Neill

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