| The moment that you have waited for has finally | | | | likely will be feeling a lack of sleep. You should be |
| arrived: the day you bring your newborn baby | | | | patient with yourself, understand that all these |
| home from the hospital. Like all other expectant | | | | feelings are normal, and that in a couple of weeks |
| parents you will have spent the last nine months | | | | things will feel better for you. |
| preparing for this day. You will have a baby room | | | | If you find that you are feeling more and more |
| full of everything a newborn could possibly want. | | | | depressed, and find it difficult to care for yourself |
| You will have read book after book on a wide | | | | and your family, you should consult your doctor |
| magnitude of baby topics from what to name | | | | so that he/she can determine if you are suffering |
| your baby to when you can expect those first | | | | from a condition called postpartum depression. |
| words. You will have walked and paced the length | | | | While not serious, postpartum depression can |
| of babys room, imagining your little bundle sleeping | | | | leave a new mother despondent, tired, and |
| peacefully in her crib. Now the moment has | | | | subject to emotional swings and loss of appetite. |
| arrived. In the crib lies your sleeping baby and the | | | | The effects of giving birth, hormone changes and |
| most exciting adventure of life is about to begin. | | | | the lifestyle changes of having a newborn (not |
| The first few days home from the hospital are | | | | sleeping, being indoors a lot, responsibilities of |
| just as important to you as they are to your | | | | caring for a baby) can lead to a bout of the baby |
| baby. As new parents you will have gone through | | | | blues. Baby blues are usually short lived and go |
| an exciting birth that will have left you breathless | | | | away without treatment. |
| and exhilarated. | | | | During the first few days at home your family will |
| During your first days at home it may be wise to | | | | be adjusting to the additional member of your |
| limit the amount of visitors that you welcome into | | | | family. If you have other children at home you |
| your home. You need time to recuperate and | | | | may be dealing with feelings of jealousy as the |
| settle into the routine that a sleeping, feeding, and | | | | new baby takes center stage. Make sure that |
| often crying baby brings into your life. | | | | you include your other children in the day-to-day |
| As a new mother you will need to pay particular | | | | activities that are part of the new baby's routine. |
| attention to the way that you are feeling so that | | | | Let older children help with diaper changing, |
| those 'baby blues' don't creep up and surprise you | | | | feeding, and just sitting and holding the new baby |
| unexpectedly. It is normal to feel a bit out of | | | | if they are old enough to do so. |
| sorts and sad for the first couple of weeks after | | | | This is your time to adjust to the changes in your |
| giving birth. Your body is going through some | | | | life and settle into a comfortable routine - at least |
| major physical changes after the birth of your | | | | for the moment! |
| baby. Your hormones will be changing and you | | | | |