Love and Life Post Baby

It’s inevitable at some point after bringing home a new baby that you realise your relationship is not quite what it was. Depending on how your baby sleeps, and how much support you have, the first few months, or even the first year or two, can be lost in a haze of exhaustion. Your new baby, naturally, takes centre stage. Romance is probably the last thing on your mind, but be patient. Once your baby starts to sleep better and you start to feel human once more, you’ll have much more time to enjoy your baby, your partner, and the start of a whole new stage in your relationship.

One positive that comes from the loss of self new mums tend to experience for a while, is that when you get back on track you can get a whole new burst of energy. It’s vital to look after your health during this time as it can sometimes be a challenge to be a parent and have a relationship if you’re exhausted or ill. Once you start getting your sleep back, have a look at your general health. Many woman find they can keep fit by running around after their children, but if you have put on weight, or are just feeling not as good as you used to, try to introduce some exercise into your day. Walking is one of the best options as it’s also one of the easiest and most beneficial. Babies and toddlers love to get out and see the world, so a walk will keep them happy and get you fit.

It’s important to try to eat well. It can be easy to slip into bad habits when you first bring a baby home. Attending to a bub means you generally don’t have time to make yourself lunch, let alone cook a great dinner. It’s easy to start eating biscuits or other readily available food that’s not nutritious. Take a look at your diet now and think about where you could make improvements. With a little practice, it is possible to make healthy meals, quickly and easily.

When you’re feeling physically better, you’re much more likely to be ready for romance. Any quality time with your partner will probably involve some planning (it’s a little difficult to be spontaneous with a child) but that doesn’t mean it can’t be wonderful. Call on family and friends to babysit, spend time together when your little one sleeps, or just give yourself a dedicated night to dine and watch a movie together.

As parents you are now sharing a new, wonderful and intimate, phase of your relationship. Be patient and your relationship can be as good, if not better, than it has ever been.

While the greatest effort has been invested to ensure the validity of this information, the advice therein is set as a ‘general’ guide only, and your individual needs may require a different method to the one shown. Little Innoscents would like to encourage you to see your regular healthcare professional, should you be concerned for you or your baby’s wellbeing.