The process of becoming a mother is filled with emotions that can range from great joy and happiness to high stress and sadness. Fitting a new baby into your life along with all the happiness, expense, and change, is not easy. Every parent needs help, especially with newborns.
Every new mother need rest while adjusting to physical changes, breastfeeding, and developing a routine with her newborn. It is ideal for her partner or family and friends to help substantially with chores and meals for the first couple of weeks after childbirth so she can adequately attend to the infant’s needs. Whether or not help is available, it takes time for everyone to adjust to having a new baby at the home. If it seems like the adjustment is becoming too difficult to manage, talk to your midwife, your doctor, or your child’s pediatrician.
Crying is one of the ways babies communicate. Crying, including prolonged bouts where your baby may seem inconsolable, is normal developmental behavior in babies. Taking care of a crying infant is a lot of work, and feeling frustrated, drained and a little desperate is a normal reaction to a hard situation. Keeping your emotions in check - staying calm is important for your own sake, for also for your baby.
If your baby starts fussing and you don't know what to do, try mimicking the womb by swaddling your baby. Gently rock your baby while you hold them in their swaddle and play some soft music to try to calm them down. If that doesn't work, you can try going for a walk or turn on a calming sound like a vacuum cleaner or white noise machine. Remember to never shake your baby, even if you are frustrated. If you need to, place your baby on their back in a crib or bassinet, and take a moment to breathe and regroup. Check out this website for more information on how to calm a crying baby.