Hi, I’m Amy, an intern here at Dóchas in Spruce Grove, and I was married to my husband for about a year before we had our first boy. Previous to early motherhood, our social life was great; we had so much freedom and so little to worry about. Then boom, our baby changed all of that! 

What a transformative experience, from sleepless nights to first smiles to lessons in love, patience, and resilience. But who takes care of Mom?

Watch the video or read on to learn more!

Conflicting Emotions in Early Motherhood

The emotions of early motherhood can swing from overwhelming joy to deep anxiety.

I experienced severe postpartum anxiety after my second little boy was born, and it was a dark time for me. It is completely normal to feel a mix of elation and self-doubt during early motherhood. Hormonal changes coupled with the demands of little humans you’ve created can be overwhelming and exhausting.

How to Get Through Early Motherhood

Here are a few things that helped me out in those first few years of early motherhood!

1. Connecting with other mothers: Being open and honest about your feelings and sharing them with others who are probably feeling the same way! There is comfort in normalizing these emotions. 
2. Self care: We all hear it, preach it and say we do it… but in reality, it’s NOT easy to take care of yourself as a mom. Prioritizing the small things like taking a shower, drinking hot coffee, and reading a book (that is NOT about parenting!) are all ways we can start looking out for ourselves. 
3. Don’t be a hero: This doesn’t come easy to me, and I am sure others feel the same, but it is essential. Husbands, family members, and friends can’t read your mind! Tell someone if you are struggling and ask for help. Baby blues are a real thing, but if you experience feelings of baby blues past the 3-4 week mark, talk to your doctor.
4. Be flexible: The routines will come. Your baby won’t co-sleep forever, you won’t nurse/bottle feed forever. Soak in the feelings of early motherhood – it goes by quickly and you likely won’t even remember half of it. 
5. Trust your gut: Remove yourself from the social media ‘mom groups’. Trust your motherly instincts. When in doubt, ask your doctor, not a mom group.
6. Give yourself grace: You created a tiny human being from scratch and expelled it from your body… Recovery takes time – slow down and enjoy the ride, you got this! You are just meeting your baby for the first time, take the time to get to know them. 

Final Thoughts

Early motherhood is a beautiful – but challenging – chapter filled with growth and discovery.

Remember, every day is a step towards understanding your new baby and your role as their mother. If you’re struggling, please feel free to reach out to Dóchas at 780-446-0300 or info@dochaspsych.com. Book an in-person (Spruce Grove) or virtual (across Alberta) appointment with one of our therapists here.

About Dóchas Psychological

Dóchas Psychological Services is a well-established and trusted therapy clinic located in Spruce Grove, Alberta. At Dóchas we value the idea that everyone deserves a safe space. Through connection and education, our team works hard to build a trustworthy relationship with each of our clients. It is our goal to create a community for our clients to feel like they belong.

Disclaimer

Information provided through Dóchas Psychological Services blogs or vlogs is meant for educational purposes only. They are NOT medical or mental health advice. You can read more about our disclaimer here.