“Congratulations, you are a mom now”-Sounds so soothing, but that is the moment you sign up for the front seat of a roller-coaster, wohoo! We mean making a baby is probably the easiest part of parenthood. The hard part comes in raising one.
Hello, new mommies and daddies! Well, seeing that little munchkin in your bed sure makes you go gaga over its cuteness but when it wails at night, you do have nightmares. Is it because the baby is hungry? Or is it the poop-alert? Is it because the diaper is wet? Or is there some other rocket science involved? Well, well. Staring at each other, being clueless about the reason is pretty normal. YOU DO NOT have to know it all. Sometimes, you can enjoy the confusion and discover answers TOGETHER!
According to a leading website’s research on the happiness index of moms, it was found that a helpful dad leads to a happy mom. Dear men, a woman post-delivery is battling physical, mental and emotional confusion and it is the time when you have to have your wife’s back, after all, always together through thick and thin never goes old.
Here’s mentioning things that new mommies expect from you, the new daddies the most:
- Patience: Due to a surge of hormones and responsibilities, a new mother is overwhelmed. The reality of the fact that she is a mom now can be hard to digest. The excruciating delivery and the following bodily changes take a toll on her emotional and mental well-being. She may have mood-swings, may get tired or angry easily, and snap back at you over stupidest issues (like even if you crack harmless jokes which were pretty normal previously in your relationship, they might backfire. Ouch?). So when she is freaking out, you have to be as cool as a cucumber. Go easy on her as she is already processing a lot. Make those puppy eyes, use sweet words and CALM-HER-DOWN.
- Take care of her: With the entry of a new member in the family, she has additional load. She needs you to be her helping hand and second in command when it comes to taking care of the baby. Be it diaper changing duties, singing lullabies, bathing the baby or feeding it with pumps, washing or sterilizing bottles and nipples, take turns to do it with your partner. While she rests, make sure you have taken over the responsibilities of your child and home efficiently so that she gets up feeling fresh. Utilize her nap time to bond with your baby. Going grocery shopping, assisting her in household chores, making food, taking care of her by allowing her some me time etc. can ease her exhaustion. Of course, dads cannot take up all motherly roles but they can sure pitch in as required.
- Emotional support: At times, she might feel let down due to her post-partum body and size which can take a toll on her self-confidence. Use some magical words to make her feel comfortable in her skin. Compliment her more often for the little wonder she gave to you, that she is beautiful in all sizes and shapes and for her little gestures that she does for you and the baby. A little praise and pride can definitely lift her mood up and you can earn quick brownie points!
Parenthood is like a great big adventure. You don't really know what you're about to stumble upon. Hence, this is not an exhaustive list and you might have to do more or less depending upon what your partner needs. Trust us, few changes in your ways can really make your wife, the new mother, be at peace and strengthen your marital relationship. Because when she smiles, you smile.
After all, you are partners in everything!