5 Ways to Gently Adjust to Life as A New Mom

Being a new parent of any kind is hard, but being a brand new mom can feel like an absolute challenge. Whether you are surrounded by other brand new moms who are making it look easy as pie or you feel like you’re the only new mom in your friend group and all you want is a little bit of help, being a new mom comes with so much uncharted territory. Although the adjustment might not feel like the most familiar place, you have the power to thrive in your new mom life.

Each family, parent and child have their own individual needs. And while you are living in your own unique experience, leaning on the support of those around you while you navigate this new chapter of your life is all about noticing the beauty of parenthood while you do the best job you can at shaping your baby’s future. No part of parenting is ever completely easy, but being a brand new mom is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Whether you are having some trouble adjusting or you just want to find a few extra tips, here are a few ways that you can make the most out of your adjustment to life as a new mom.

1.   Allow Yourself to Feel

Being a new mom means you might feel like there’s a lot on your plate, and even though you might not want to welcome in every emotion, it can actually do you a lot of good. Emotional processing is a part of every big life event, especially one that changes your situation as much as becoming a parent. There’s enough pressure to make you feel like you should only be happy and ecstatic, but the truth is, there are so many emotions that can come into play when you enter motherhood. You might even feel sad or angry or frustrated sometimes, but recognizing those emotions and allowing them to pass in a productive way it’s so much better than pushing them down beneath the surface.

2.   Prep Beforehand

While there is only so much you can do based on your due date and not actually having the baby with you, you can still lay out a few preparations to make your transition into life as a new mom a bit easier. Everything from gathering the supplies you need to arranging care and support to lend a helping hand can be extremely helpful. That way, your routines might feel a little bit smoother.

3.   Ask for Help

Family, friends and loved ones will become a brand new pillar of support for you during this time. While of course, your partner can do a lot of the heavy lifting with you, the transition into parenthood is a transition for both of you. It’s absolutely okay to ask for the help that you need from your support system. The people around you want to support you and see you succeed in this transition, and they will probably do anything to help you as long as you ask. Whether all you need is a hot meal, a 15-minute babysitting session while you take a shower or a listening ear to vent your frustrations, you would be surprised at how ready and willing people are to offer their help

4.   Revamp Familiar Routines

One of the most jarring parts of the transition into life as a new mom is changing some of the daily routines that have become second nature to you. From bedtime to your daily work out, being a mom can switch a lot of things up. However, one of the best ways to feel like yourself in this transition is to simply continue with your routines and adjust as necessary. If you like to read before bed, why not read your baby a bedtime story first? If you love to get in a workout in the afternoons, why not try out some baby lifts or stretching together? It can actually be a ton of fun to take a look at all of the possibilities.

5.   Give Yourself Rest

It can be really easy to fall into the mindset that you need to be on the move every second of the day in order to be a productive mom. The truth is, you can only offer somebody else what you’ve already given yourself. That means that you need to give yourself care in order to offer the best possible care to your little one. Finding moments to rest can be difficult in new mom life, but it’s important to remember that you deserve to rest as well. When you do, you might find a whole new sense of balance in your life and your routines.

Life as a New Mom

Transitioning into any big life change can be difficult, and that includes parenthood. Whether you are a single mom raising your child with the help of the village around you, or you have your partner by your side supporting you every step of the way, adjusting to life as a new mom can be a bit crazy. But no matter what, you can take on whatever life throws at you.

Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine. Mom and step mom living her best life while managing anxiety and normalizing blended families. She enjoys pilates, podcasts, and a nice pinot grigio.