by Robin Tidwell

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: July 15, 2009

Bringing your new baby home from the hospital is an exciting time - and exhausting. New moms often assume that, since the pregnancy is finally over, their energy and enthusiasm will be limitless. This is not usually the case.

Childbirth is hard work - as you have no doubt heard, this is why it's called labor. So plenty of rest, healthy food and, of course, time to take care of and adore your baby is imperative. However, you can only do so much baby care and worship, or even sleeping, and since your energy may be flagging, boredom can easily become quite common.

Once the excitement has passed, the visitors have slowed to a trickle, and thank-you notes are written, everyday life has a way of hitting full force.

Newborns sleep most of the time, at least for the first month or two. They wake up to eat, which of course is when they will also be changed, talked to, played with, and cuddled. This will occur repeatedly, 'round the clock, about every three hours. Initially, when Baby sleeps, a new mom should also sleep.

After a few days or a couple of weeks, Mom will be all caught up on missed sleep and looking for some entertainment. Be aware that physical exertion may still be an issue and, of course, follow doctor's orders before engaging in any exercise - the body will tell you when to stop or slow down, so please listen to it.

Television, cable TV movies, movies-on-demand, a Netflix subscription, or catching up on TiVo-ed shows are good ways to pass the time; likewise, a book or series one has been planning to read can be another time-filler. The Internet, too, is crammed full of entertainment, nearly anything one can imagine.

Crafts or needlework, if one's interest lies there, can be accomplished without too much interruption. Or one can learn a new hobby, like scrapbooking for the new baby, or learning to knit or crochet. Low-impact sorting and organizing, such as photo albums, or planning a bedroom makeover can also be done easily.

It could also be a good time to clear out computer files or tune-up your machine, or research financial planning or a new accounting system. Naturally, one's mind is on the baby a lot, so don't be surprised if it's hard, initially, to focus on anything else. Have a variety of projects available in case you become restless or frustrated with one in particular.

This is a fine time to send birth announcements, or just get back in touch with old friends. If you're planning to return to work

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