Parenting for New Moms

All Parents (single or married) are charged with the responsibility of raising children, but we know that this is not always an easy task. These are some tips to help you on the wonderful journey of motherhood!

Spiritual & Emotional:

First things first – you won’t find time to spend with God. You will need to make time – do it!! His patience, love and strength will help in transforming you to be the mother you (and He) want you to be.

Mommy Care:

Rest. I mean, really rest. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. I wish someone had been kind enough to tell me this when my children were babies. It would have saved me painful back aches and endless trips to the doctors.

Put your feet up during feedings. Take some deep breaths. When the baby sleeps, take a nap or lie down. The first few weeks are a huge time of healing for your body. Don’t push it. Allow other people to pamper you. And if someone offers to help, actually give them something little to do.

Do something nice for yourself everyday – take a bubble bath, order takeaway, read your favourite magazine or book for 15 minutes or so, and of course, sleep when the baby sleeps.

Don’t get dressed to go anywhere until AFTER you’ve fed, burped and changed baby. I’m sure you’re carrying an extra outfit or two for baby, but why don’t you pack one for yourself to keep in the car? I can still remember this vividly, I was sitting at the back of the church when my baby, who I was trying to nurse discreetly, had a blowout poop and leaked through his nappy ( we didn’t use diapers back then) to my outfit, and right onto me!

Baby Care:

When baby poops from head to toe (and they will!), don’t freak out – grab the camera and laugh it away. One thing I did that worked which I always remember and give myself a pat on the back – gave my baby a bath and baby lotion massage at night. It relaxed both of us and she/he smelled wonderful.

Get a baby sitter, friend or relative to look after baby whiles you spoil yourself. Remember you were a woman, wife and friend before the baby came and you will be long after they leave!) and b) there are PLENTY of women who would love to hold and cuddle a baby for a couple hours while you get a much-needed break – so use them! True, it may not get done exactly as you would like but it will be one less thing for you to do.

 

Nursing:

Be patient with breastfeeding – it gets easier. If you’re nursing – drink, drink, and drink. If you notice frequent headaches, you could be dehydrated and in need of more fluid. Good rule of thumb: each time you sit down to a feeding, grab a glass of water. It used to work during our times!!

Being a new mom can quickly sap your strength and keep you wandering aimlessly in a land of not-enough-sleep. Happy parents make good parents, so take a healthy dose of these hilarious sayings and get smiling again!

  • No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behaviour, and I’m not talking about the kids.~ Bill Cosby,
  • Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell, the name will carry.~ Bill Cosby
  • Adam and Eve had many advantages, but the principal one was that they escaped teething. ~ Mark Twain
  • A baby is an angel whose wings decrease while his legs increase.~ Anonymous
  • People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.~ Leo J. Burke
  • When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.~ Erma Bombeck
  • Ma-ma does everything for the baby, who responds by saying Da-da first.~ Mignon McLaughlin
  • Having a baby changes the way you view your in-laws. I love it when they come to visit. They hold the baby and I go out.~ Anonymous
  • Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.~ John Wilmo

Now that these hilarious short quotes have caused you to wipe away tears or merely just smile, you’ve taken the first step in banishing the new parent grumps.

Psalm 127:3 “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him”

Happy motherhood!