Relationships

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Birth - with Babies, Partner, Family and Friends

 

After you bring your baby home, relationships with your partner, friends and family are likely to change. These changes happen because so much of your energy and time will be spent caring for your baby. To help everyone get used to the new situation, and keep your relationships strong, be patient and understanding with yourself and the important people in your life.

Tips on Building Relationships with Babies

  • Understand how important you are to your baby. Your baby needs to feel connected, comforted and protected by you. To communicate these things to your baby and help her/him develop do the following everyday:
    • Hold your child close and talk warmly, softly and often to your child about what are doing.
    • Give your baby lots of hugs, kisses and make eye contact.
    • Sing and tell stories to your child with lots of expression in your voice.
    • Play games like peek-a-boo with your baby.

Keeping Relationships with Partners Working

After you have your baby, most of your time will be spent caring for your baby and developing a relationship with her/him. Even though your new relationship with the baby is important, it is just as important to take some time each day to be with your partner. This can be hard if you are tired from giving the baby so much care and attention, and if your partner is tired from working all day. One of the best things you can do to make sure you and your sweetie stay connected is to schedule time to be with each other. This will mean finding a babysitter so that you can do things other than being a parent.

Tips to Help Partners Adjust to Parenthood

  • Communicate! Talk to your partner about the changes that are coming and explore different ways to handle them.
  • Ask a trusted friend or family member to watch the baby for an hour or two while you and your partner go for a walk, have dinner or have a cuddle alone.
  • Talk about and do stuff together that you both like doing that is not related to being parents.
  • Put the baby down to sleep at a regular time each day so that you and your partner can be alone together for a couple of hours before bed.
  • Simplify your life during that first year of parenthood. Don't expect to keep up all the commitments you did before the baby came. This way you can focus on the relationship with your baby and your partner.
  • Get together with other parents and talk about their experiences. Learning from others can help you to figure out relationship issues.
  • Take time for yourself alone and allow your partner to do the same. This can help you to cope with all the new demands on your time.

Relationships with Family and Friends

Having your baby will be an important event for you and your family members and friends. It may mean that the role they play in your life changes. Your parents will become grandparents and your friends may become honorary aunties and uncles.

Tips to Help Friends and Family Adjust to your New Role as a Parent

  • Encourage your family members and friends to bond with your baby and take part in caring for and raising him/her.
  • Let family and friends cuddle and sit with your baby.
  • Let family and friends support you in by helping out with household duties and errands.
  • Discuss your new responsibilities with your friends. Explain how these commitments change the amount of time and energy you have to spend with them.
  • Ask for help if you need it. Some of your friends might need information on how to take care of your little one so show them how to hold, change and feed your baby.

For more information on relationship with babies, partners, family members and/or friends visit the website below.

The Hospital for Sick Children
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Pregnancy/Relationship-Stress-After-Having-a-Baby.aspx?
articleID=6688&categoryID=PG-nh4-09b

BC Health Files
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile92a.stm#E46E05

Family Relationships.com
http://life.familyeducation.com/marriage/relationships/45605.html

 

 

Sources:

The Hospital for Sick children
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Pregnancy/Relationship-Stress-After-Having-a-Baby.aspx?
articleID=6688&categoryID=PG-nh4-09b
BC Health Files. Becoming a Parent. Child Development Series – HealthFile #92a, November 2004.http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile92a.stm#E46E05
Family Relationships.com: Do Outside Relationships Change After Baby? http://life.familyeducation.com/marriage/relationships/45605.html