That first trip home after giving birth can feel like one of the most daunting. Being a new mother doesn’t always come naturally, and many feel intimidated by the responsibility of providing care to a newborn baby. However, it is perfectly normal to feel slightly overwhelmed. By talking to your doctor and seeking advice from fellow new parents, you can take steps to feeling at-home with your new-found motherhood, as well as all the medical curveballs this can throw at you.
Read up on breast-pumps
Breast pumps are incredibly useful for new mothers. Not only does this help you to delegate responsibility to your partner for night time feeds, but also to help ease with any pain you might be experiencing. These contraptions may seem a little intimidating at first, and you may already be aware that there are multiple types. However, they are truly not difficult to discern, and you will find yourself using them on a regular basis in no time. Reading and referring to a breast pump guide will help you to differentiate between which ones will be the most useful to you.
Prepare when you can
The truth is that, as a new parent, you are going to be exhausted. Late-night feedings and the overwhelming new experience of 24-hour responsibility will leave you somewhat drained. When you have moments wherein you are able to prepare for everyday life, seize these moments. Whether you are getting ready for your next feed, washing, making batch meals, or just catching up on work, these moments of organization could be invaluable to you.
Get to grips with the car seat
In terms of fatigue to both the body and the mind, you will have been through some of the worst of it. This means that when you slowly make your way out of the hospital with a new baby in your arms, even the simplest of tasks can seem impossible. Car seats for babies are often regarded as surprisingly complicated at the best of times, let alone when you’ve been through 24 hours of labor pains. Make sure both you and your partner or guardian are fully-educated before you head to the car park!
Get handy laundry bags
Anything that makes your life easier after you leave the hospital is quite frankly a God-send once you leave the hospital. Investing in mesh bags (as you would for your lingerie, for example) helps with small baby clothes. You won’t realize how fiddly and notorious for vanishing small baby socks and mittens are until you complete that first load of laundry.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Asking your own mother, grandparents, or friends who are parents for advice is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, you absolutely should ask those around you for tips and support. Those who have done this before will have a special kind of empathy for you, which might just be the most reassuring support you can find.
Being a new mother isn’t easy, but by preparing you can make that first trip home less daunting. Getting hacks and medical supplies at the ready will help you to be far less tired and overwhelmed with one of the most life-changing moments any woman can have.
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