How to Cope With the Stress of Being a New Parent

You thought that having a baby meant giggles, cuddles and endless photographic moments. While these happy times are frequent with a little one, many parents are blindsided by the unexpected stress and anxiety that comes with having a baby. Read on to learn how to cope with the stress of being a new parent.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Realize that nothing can prepare you for being a parent. No matter how many siblings you have, nieces or nephews who adore you, puppies you have reared or children you have babysat, having a child of your own can be an overwhelming experience. Those who say puppies prepare you for a child obviously don't have children of their own. If you approach parenthood with the mindset that you won't have all the answers, you will be prepared to better deal with its curve balls.
2. Set boundaries for family, friends and guests. If you are not comfortable being the "bad guy," enlist the help of your spouse or mother. Well-meaning visitors come in droves after the birth of a baby. If all you want to do is nap or attempt to get your house back in order when the baby goes to sleep, you may want to cry at the sound of the doorbell. Politely tell potential visitors that you will see them when the baby is a couple of weeks older, and leave a message on the answering machine to that effect.
3. Enlist the help of your family and friends when you are finally ready to face them. Take them up on offers to wash dishes, feed pets, go grocery shopping or to watch the baby while you shower, nap or just veg on the couch. Make peace with yourself about your tasks, but somehow just do not get accomplished. Some days changing out of your PJs will seem a monumental task.
4. Understand that all parents have at least one "What the heck have we done?" moment after the birth of their first baby. If you have this fleeting thought, it does not make you a bad parent--you are very normal. Keep repeating, "It will get better." Eventually it does.
5. Seek out other parents in your neighborhood and get their advice on everything from diapering to feeding to napping habits. Although your childless friends remain a very important part of your life, they may not understand some of the situations that inevitably spring up with a newborn. It is easier to make new "mom friends" or "dad friends" than you might think. New mothers and fathers naturally migrate toward each others' company. If you do not know any other new parents, join an online parenting message board.
6. Recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression. It is normal to feel sad, weepy and maladjusted for two or three weeks after a baby's birth. If you are still crying daily several weeks after your new arrival, however, you may need to see a doctor for postpartum depression evaluation. There is no shame in seeking help for your feelings, and there are a variety of anti-depressants that are safe to take while breastfeeding. If you have any suicidal thoughts or desires to hurt yourself or your baby, you need to see a doctor at once. No matter what Tom Cruise may say, postpartum depression is a serious condition that does not just go away on its own.