Top Common Challenges New Moms Face

If you are pregnant or a new mom, you are probably already aware that raising a new baby is a demanding task. Here are some of the top challenges new moms need to overcome.

Too Much Unwanted Advice Can Be Overwhelming

During pregnancy and after, people will give you unsolicited advice, whether it be strangers on the street or well-meaning loved ones. You may find it hard to handle these situations with grace when tired and overwhelmed. While many people are probably trying to be helpful, you most likely have done your learning and have a doctor who can help guide you on what is best for you and your child. If you need answers to questions you have, doing your own investigating on tips for new parents can help give you back some agency over your life, and it's okay to tell people that you have done your research. Generally, you will not be entering pregnancy and the post-partum period completely unaware, so having many people telling you what to do can be frustrating.

Luckily, this isn't an uncommon situation, and there is a wealth of advice from other new moms on handling advice-givers out there. You may consider telling loved ones, gently if needed, that you will ask for help and advice when you need it, but otherwise, you'll be following your doctor's orders.

Finding Time for Yourself Is Important

Caring for an infant involves around-the-clock care, so finding time to feed yourself and tend to your own needs can seem impossible. If you have a partner, talk to them about how you will be sharing your child-care duties to ensure that you both have time to decompress and take showers.

Asking for help can be challenging for many people, but you should know that seeking assistance when needed is healthy and helps reaffirm bonds with your loved ones. Usually, the people in your life want to help during this critical transitional time, but they may not know how to help you. During pregnancy is a good time to start soliciting the assistance you think you will need, whether it be a sign-up sheet for meal deliveries or asking someone to come over once a week to help you clean up. They say it takes a village to raise a child, so don't be shy about leaning on your community to help you. You need to make sure that you reach out with good intentions and not take advantage of your friends and family.

Getting Enough Rest Is Going to Be Hard

During pregnancy, sleep can be difficult, and unfortunately, it may not get better for some time after your baby is born. Infants need to be tended to in the middle of the night, so you are most likely not going to be getting the recommended eight hours of sleep. If you have a partner, splitting up nightly care duties evenly, so someone is getting regular sleep can help you feel more alert during the day, but that scenario doesn't work for everyone.

The truth is, you should get rest when you can, even if it means napping during the day while your baby sleeps or taking it easy for portions of your day to conserve energy. Making rest a priority during the early months can help you be more patient and loving with your child, but it's not always feasible. Do your best and reach out for help if you need it, even if it means having someone come to watch your baby while you nap.

Life with a newborn is full of challenges, but people have done it for all of history, and you, too, can make it through the most challenging part by overcoming these adversities.