Taking Care of You After Baby's Born

When you first have a baby, it's easy to make her the center of your world. After all, your baby needs you to take care of all of her needs. A newborn can't do anything for herself, so being there for her is very important. But it's also important to remember that you have a life of your own. Sure your priorities have changed drastically since you gave birth to that beautiful baby, but don't forget all about your other relationships. They are still important, too.

It's easy to neglect other people when you have a new baby to take care of. You might not do it on purpose, you just have your hands so full with the baby that you forget there is another life you used to have, just waiting to be picked back up. Usually the first person to feel neglect is your husband or partner. If you have a baby that cries a lot, your husband might not even notice that you are neglecting him at first. After all, he is probably sleep deprived, too. And most likely he is already back to work after only a few days.

When your baby is a few weeks old, your partner will eventually begin to notice you aren't spending as much time with him. If that's the way he feels, it's important that you sit down together and talk about it. It seems like it is usually harder for men to understand everything you are going through, especially if you are staying home with baby instead of working at an outside job. Explain to him that you are just so busy with baby, that sometimes you forget you need to do stuff with him. Tell him you will start spending more time with him. Mean it when you say it.

Set a time every week that you will do something fun with your husband. It can be something where you find a babysitter and go out, or it can be something simple that you can do at home. If you want to do something at home, maybe on Friday he can stop and rent a movie on his way home from work. After baby is all settled down for the night, you can fix some popcorn and cuddle on the couch and watch the movie. Maybe there's a show you both like to watch on TV that you can watch together every week. If it's not possible to watch it when it's on, you can record it and watch it together when you have the time. Or maybe you even just want to sit together and talk for a couple of hours. It doesn't really matter what you choose to do, as long as you do it together.

Now that you are working on your relationship with your husband, don't forget about your other relationships. Call your sister when baby is napping, just to talk. Invite your best friend and her small child over one afternoon. Ask hubby to watch the baby on a weekend, or get a babysitter so you can go out with the girls. Do whatever it is that you enjoy doing with your friends. This will help tremendously, especially if you are a stay at home. It will give you adult contact with someone besides your husband.

Also, don't forget to find time for yourself. Sure you like spending time with other people, but sometimes a person just needs a few minutes of time all to herself. Find a few minutes every day, or at least once or twice a week, to do something that you enjoy doing alone. If it's something you can do at home, like a bath or reading, you can try it while baby is asleep. If you prefer something like taking a walk or shopping, do it when your husband can watch baby for a while, or hire a sitter.

Don't forget how portable baby is. Infants can go a lot of places with you if you want to take them. Most babies love to be strapped in the stroller or put in a baby carrier so you can take a walk or do your shopping. Don't feel like you are trapped at home just because you have a baby.

As long as you take good care of yourself and your own needs, it will be much easier to take care of baby's.