You May Find Yourself on an Emotional Rollercoaster

I remember after my husband and I brought our newborn twins home and they were sitting in their car seats on the table. We thought we would have a sandwich before we picked up our four and two year old sons from the neighbors. One of the babies started wiggling around and waking up and I just burst into tears. As happy and relieved as I was that they were both healthy, I had a flurry of thoughts running through my mind; how are we going to manage four kids under four? How will we let each child know they are loved? How are we going to afford it? Through the hugs and tears it was then that we decided we would take it moment by moment, day by day. Our sons are now teens and we are still taking it one crazy day at a time.

Falling in Love with Your Baby Takes Time

It is natural to be protective of your new baby, but it can take time to feel those overwhelming feelings of love. Give you and baby time to get to know one another.

Everything Doesn't Have to be Perfect

When I was expecting my first son; I had this vision of him and me sitting in the rocking chair. My house would be spotless, I would be in a lovely nightgown, my hair and make-up perfect and Zachary would be smiling up at me?and did I mention the white curtains softly blowing behind me? I thought back to this vision as I was rocking a very fussy baby surrounded by baskets of laundry. I was wearing yesterday's sweats and praying that I would get a shower today. Once I realized that it was quite natural to have rough days like this, I quit stressing about it (so much). I have made home visits to moms who looked exactly like my perfect vision but I often wonder what it cost them.

When People Say...Call Me if I Can Help

Take them up on it. Request casseroles, have someone come to fold laundry or to let you get a shower or nap. Friends will treasure the opportunity to hold your baby.

When Your Mother(in-law) Offers Outdated Advice

Realize it is offered in love. She may also need to validate her own mothering experience and for you to know that she did the best she could with what she knew at that time. I realized this when my mother would say things like'Is he nursing again? Maybe you aren't making enough milk. Maybe if you gave him a little cereal he will sleep longer. Once I updated my mom (with love) she became a wonderful supporter of breastfeeding.Dad Wants to Help, He May Not Know How

You may have read every parenting book, but Dad may not have had a chance. Encourage him to hold, snuggle and yes, even change some diapers. Praise him even if you find his first tries upside down or backwards on baby...he will soon become a professional. If you are nursing, Dad can bring baby to you and rock him/her back to sleep after feeding time. This will give Dad and baby time to bond.

You Can't Spoil a Newborn?The More You Hold Your Baby and Respond to Their Needs the More Secure He/She Will Be

The first parenting book I received eighteen years ago stated that young babies need to learn how to comfort themselves and required strict schedules. After the first night of letting my baby ?cry it out? (as I was also crying) we realized this couldn't possibly be the right thing to do. We trusted our instincts and followed his cues, we held him and fed him when he needed it and eventually he developed his own routine. As I continued my work in the Maternal/Child field I had found that we did the right thing. There is a great deal of research that shows exactly what we figured out on our own. There are good parenting books out there but just remember--- you are the expert on your own baby.

There are Great Resources for Parents

It is more than okay to ask for help. There is assistance for breastfeeding difficulties, financial problems, and postpartum depression just to name a few.

There are no Perfect Parents

Each day prepares you for the next, and as parents we all make mistakes. Some days everything goes great, some days you find that whatever was working yeserday, isn't anymore and you have to go back to the drawing board. Forgive yourself and do the best that you can and most importantly?enjoy your baby, it's true what they say, ?They don't stay little for long?.