subject: How To Get Ready For Lifestyle Changes That Come With A Newborn [print this page] The impact of a baby on a new parent can be astonishing. Suddenly, everything about your life changes. You no longer have the time to be irresponsible and the carefree days of being childless are over. The changes can be drastic, and it is important for you to be ready for them.
Some stresses are to be expected. Newborns will always cry in the middle of the night and wake up their parents, leading to little or no sleep and lots of cups of coffee. Sometimes, a diaper has to be changed a few hours before an important meeting in the morning. Such is the life of parenting.
Sleep deprivation can make parents irritable, leading to them taking their frustrations out on each other and straining their relationship. It is not impossible to overcome; it just take patience and communication.
Socially, babies can have a pretty big impact. People are always going to want to see the baby, including relatives who live far away yet still expect you to make the time to visit.
Some friendships suffer with the arrival of a baby. A new parent just does not have the time they used to have anymore, and friends who don't have kids will most likely not understand how stressful your life has become. On the bright side, this is an opportunity to see who your real friends are.
The primal instincts that come along with having offspring also manifest themselves. The maternal protective instinct is especially strong in new moms; they may find themselves worried all the time about their child's safety.
Men also get protective of their children, feeling the responsibility and rising to the occasion.
But, most relevant of all, the dynamics of life change. A parent can no longer simply look out for themselves when they have children; the needs of number one are no longer paramount. That one difference is often the most powerful, leading some to flee from their responsibilities and transforming others into model parents.
The changes that come with being a parent are numerous and drastic; no one should face them unprepared. With the support of your partner behind you, you can face it head-on.
