by Julie Spaur

Created on: July 29, 2011

You’ve waited at least nine months, and finally your new baby is here.  Congratulations, you are a parent.  Your life is forever changed.  You have created life and now this tiny creature is depending on you for virtually everything.  

Exciting? Yes.  Overwhelming? Extremely so. 

There is no owner’s manual that comes with a baby.  There is no mandatory background check or interview process to be deemed eligible to have one.  Whether you had planned for it or not, here it is. Welcome to parenthood. 

More than likely, soon after the birth, while you are still in the hospital, there will be nurses flitting about, visitors coming in and out, congratulations passed around and a constant buzz of activity.  It may seem as though this parent thing isn’t so bad.  Nurses and family members are more than happy to give advice on how to do things for the baby.  Everybody wants to hold the newborn and there is a lot of support. 

Once you’re home from the hospital, however, the reality of the situation sets in. Unless you have made arrangements for someone to come help you with the transition, it is suddenly just exhausted, overwhelmed parents and new baby.   No matter how many parenting manuals you’ve read and no matter how many classes you have attended, the reality is always much different.  If you have been a couple together during the pregnancy, you are now a family. Your relationship with each other will change. If you were single during the pregnancy, you are now a single parent.  Relationships with peers and family members will change.  Try to realize this is a normal transition and deal with the transition in the most positive way you can.  Believe in yourself and be the best person you can be.

As a new parent, it is important to have a support system. You will have questions about the baby, and questions about other things.  You may just need some time away from the baby, and it is expected and normal to feel that way.  You are a parent now and responsible for your child, but you are still a person and need some time away from parenthood to be the best person and best parent you can be.  Couples who are new parents often have trouble in their relationship after a baby arrives.  The dynamic has changed, and typically, mom is more focused on the baby now, which often leaves dad feeling left out and even jealous of the

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