Motherhood
Bonding with your baby
Some parents bond with their babies straight away, while some may not find an instant connection, and this is 'normal' and not something you should worry about, bonding happens gradually over days and weeks as you get to know your baby. There are many factors that can slow down the bonding process like 'baby blues', birth trauma, lack of support, breast feeding difficulties or feeling overwhelmed. The fourth trimester can be a challenging time for many reasons as you settle into your new role as a mother and get to know your baby. As you begin to settle into life with your new born you should begin to feel that sense of connection grow.
The importance of Mum Friends
Making mum friends can be really beneficial for your postnatal mental health. It is really helpful to have other mums to chat to who are experiencing some of the same things as you and helps you to feel less isolated.
You may have already made some connections at antenatal classes, but if you didn't attend these then postnatal groups and coffee mornings are a great place to meet other new mums. Many postnatal groups are support based such as breast feeding groups, these are normally free to attend and as well as being a great place to meet mama friends, you can get get valuable advice too.
motherhood burnout
Typically, we think of motherhood burnout as something that mums of newborns experience, mainly because of sleep deprivation. But motherhood burnout can happen at any time if a mother isn't getting enough rest. Ask most mums who comes first in their house and they will say it's the baby/kids. Maternal exhaustion has become the norm, with mums simply 'doing' too much and 'expecting' too much of themselves
self care For Mums
Finding time for self care as a mum can seem an impossible task when there is a family and home to look after. If your also a working mum then time to yourself goes even further down your list of priorities. However trying to carve out some time for yourself is really important for your mental and physical wellbeing. Exhaustion, burnout, and stress can all take its toll, particularly when you aren't getting time to recharge your batteries.
GOING BACK TO WORK
Returning to work after having a baby can feel a little daunting and emotional. After being with your baby constantly and attending to their every need, it can feel strange to suddenly be without them. It can take some adjustment, particularly during the early days as you juggle mum guilt and often little sleep. Its important to be gentle with yourself to avoid burning out. Make sure you use your lunch break to actually take a 'break' from work and DON'T' feel guilty about it. Maybe go for a walk or sit and read a book.