Tips for Thriving during the First Year of Parenthood!
Your beautiful baby has arrived! And now you are getting used to the new normal at home. This can be a huge shift in lifestyle for both those who are new to parenting and those who have other children at home.
St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital’s Know My Midwife (KMM) program may relieve some of the uncertainty and anxiety around what happens when you return home with your newborn.
Know My Midwife gives our parents an increased level of access to our midwives during the antenatal and postnatal period. This gives the parents a great opportunity to ask some of those questions you may not have asked our obstetrician because you are focussing on the pregnancy during those visits, the KMM appointments can be tailored to discuss a wide range of topics that are important to you.
In the meantime, see below for some quick tips for thriving during the first year of parenthood:
- Prioritise Sleep! This will be hard but it is so important that you get regular good quality sleep. This may mean sleeping when the baby sleeps, and allowing yourself to not feel guilty about using that time to catch up on chores.
- Ask for help. You don’t have to do this on your own. You’re friends and family are there to support you. We also have the Well Baby Clinic that can be an additional support resource in the postnatal period.
- You will be overwhelmed by well-meaning advice from your family and friends, don’t be afraid to step back, take a breath and remember what is important to you when parenting your child. There is no one size fits all when it comes to parenting.
- Being a parent is only a part of who you are, remember to try and set aside sometime for you to enjoy the things that bring you joy and ignite your passion
Enjoy the small moments and remember that the team at St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Hospital is here to support you every step of the way.
For more information on our Maternity Services and The Know My Midwife program head to www.standrewsipswich.com.au.
