Well, Am I Exhausted

Ethan has been very handful for both me n yvonne for these past weeks... n so many aunties said "it's normal wan... newborn mar. Summore u r 1st time daddy n mummy" Maan...are we tired n exhausted...

So what am i doing now? Not sleeping, of coz. (gotto work mar... hehehe)

I m actually now searching thru the net to find ways n tips that can 'help' us to "survive" this early weeks (psst... psst... dun tell my boss im surfing in the office hur...) so that we can hv some sleep hahaha

So. What hv i got here? 10 tips! Not more. Not less. (i start to wonder whether they'll help I guess it's more for mummy... not for this 'poor ol' daddy )

Your baby's crying to communicate. The only way our baby is trying to communicate with daddy n mummy is thru his cry. Hunger, wet diapers, thirsty, tummy ache, etc. And in order to build a trustworthy and reliable place for your baby, there may be times when nothing seems to help and you may just need to stay close, relaxed and supportive until your baby is done crying.

Go slow. Babies move on a very different pace, as do we, parents. Give yourself permission to move on baby time.

Rejuvenate yourself. You are putting an enormous amount of energy while taking care of your newborn. It is important to recharge your batteries. A hot bath, a short read or walk. These could really help to rejuvenate you. Think about two or three things you could do in less than an hour to nurture yourself and make it happen.

Sleep whenever you can. This is what all my relatives have been saying, "When Ethan is sleeping, U go to sleep" Try to rest whenever baby is asleep or being cared for by someone else. Rest can sometimes feel like a waste of time when there is so much to do, but keeping yourself as refreshed as possible will make everything else easier.

Get together with other new parents and Ask for help. It is hard being a new parent. Especially when you feel that you are all alone out there without anyone for you to fall back on. You may be confused, overwhelmed and even exhausted. Worry no more! There are many new mummy n daddy out there. Look for new parent support group and it can be very supportive to spend time with other new parents. If you do now know where to start looking, you can start by asking your hospital, care giver, or even your friends. Many people around you might be interested in helping, but may not know how or what to offer. You can gently inquire if they would be interested.

Expect to feel vulnerable. Bringing a new baby into your life changes you forever. Your feelings are simultaneously deepened and closer to the surface. You might find yourself wet with tears or spontaneously elated at a moment’s notice. If you know that this rich emotional life is a natural part of being a new parent, you may be able to relax, tolerate and even relish these new feelings.

Keep your expectations to a minimum. Many parents who work outside the home before they have a baby expect that being home with baby will afford them many opportunities to get things done around the house. If you can keep your expectations to a minimum, you may feel less overwhelmed and unsuccessful. Figure out which projects can wait.