16/06/2022
BOUNDARIES...
I know everyone is excited to meet the new baby, but....
These first few days in hospital and first few weeks at home are so vital to mother and baby connection, family unit connection, getting to know one another and navigating how to care for a baby, spending lots of time half naked doing skin to skin to establish breastfeeding and getting to know their babies cues.
They are transitioning into this new season of life as parents, scared, questioning their every move, are they doing right by their baby, processing their birth, whilst the women is managing further more body changes, swollen va**na, bleeding, leaking b***s, post operative pain if surgery was required whilst trying to care for a tiny human who needs her to be there as a feeding milking machine.
What women and their partners are met with is eager family members wanting to visit the baby, hold the baby, take pictures of the baby, opinions on what to do, how to parent, what not to do, they feel judged and confused about all the conflicting information they are given and the baby is an hour old. The couple themselves haven’t had time to process what has happened.
Family and friends if you want to visit the baby I get it, your excited but..
The mama needs you too and she might need you to keep your opinions to yourself, hold space for her to feel heard when she is struggling, she doesn’t need you to fix it, she just needs you to listen, she might need food and coffee (set up a food train of support), she might need you to clean and do laundry, she might need you to let her get a sleep (then you can get all the hugs), she might need you to keep your distance for the first few weeks so check in with her and see what she needs from you or what they need from you as a new family.
Mama’s and partners don’t be scared to hold some new boundaries during this new season of life, get clear on what you need and don’t need, say it aloud and do what’s best for you 🙏🏻
Words: Leanne
