I'm Unsure About How to Care for My Baby and Manage My Responsibilities

The quality of interactions between parents and their infants impacts the infant’s development of secure attachment and influences the emotional, social, and physical development of the child. Although bonding can be immediate for some people, bonding is a process and sometimes takes time. As you care for your new baby, you may find that your attachment grows.  

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.  

• Prepare meals before the baby comes and pop them in the freezer. 
• Avoid crowds for the first few weeks or until your pediatrician says it’s safe to do so.
• Sleep or nap when the baby sleeps. 
• Ask family and friends for help! 
• Try to establish a routine for you and your baby. 
• Don’t stress about the housework. 
• You might experience highs and lows, but this is a big change – be gracious to yourself! Talk to your pediatrician or your doctor if you’re feeling down or sad.
• Enjoy this time with your new baby. 
• Check in with your midwife or doctor. 

Fewer than 1 in 4 babies are exclusively breastfed at the 6-month mark. Even when breastfeeding is going well, it still takes time and supplies. When it isn’t going well, it may require working with a lactation consultant. Check out our lactation services to connect with a lactation specialist

In the U.S., Black parents still face the greatest barriers to breastfeeding: while nearly 70% of Black parents start breastfeeding, most stop before they’re 7 weeks postpartum. Some of the obstacles reported by people of color include lack of social, work, and cultural support, as well as lack of access to information that supports breastfeeding.

But, while you may choose to stop breastfeeding early for many reasons (and that’s okay!), you shouldn’t be forced to stop due to a lack of support, particularly in the workplace.  How quickly you return to work can range from months to just days after giving birth. And if you choose to breastfeed, workplace lactation protections are critical for continuing to feed you baby after you return.  

Break time for Nursing Mothers Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Protections to Pump at Work is a federal law that requires employers to provide reasonable breaktime for an employee to express breast milk for one year after birth. It also gives employees the right to a private place to pump at work, other than a bathroom. 

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.