23 Oct New Parent Alert! How to Build Confidence as a New Parent
Being a new mother is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences any woman can go through. It is also one of the most difficult. More new moms than ever are struggling to have the confidence they need and deserve to help them through the trials and tribulations of being a new mom. It’s time for new parents from all over learn how to have more confidence during this important time in their lives.
In a Time magazine article on the topic of “mom guilt,” the publication noted a SurveyMonkey survey they conducted of 913 mothers—and half of them had experienced feelings of shame, guilt, regret or anger as new mothers. Most of this had to do with unexpected hurdles or a lack of support from others. One of the sources of pressure according to the survey? Simply, “society in general.”
That is a lot of pressure in society today about what it means to be the “right type of mom.” Whether it’s breastfeeding vs. formula, epidurals vs. natural births or staying at home vs. having a work/life balance, there are so many different opinions out there on motherhood. Being a new mom is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing and at a time when women should have nothing but support from those around them, many feel judged, ridiculed and overwhelmed.
It can seem nearly impossible to feel confident in this environment. However, there are ways that parents can gather the confidence they need to be the best moms and dads they can be, even if they don’t have the support from society they wish they had. Here are some tips to getting started:
Trust The Voice in Your Head
So many parents make themselves sick by listening to every story, old wives tale and piece of advice about parenting that they receive from other parents out there. That doesn’t even include the unsolicited advice many new parents tend to receive. The best thing you can do is to trust your own feelings and follow your gut about what is right for you and your baby.
Give Yourself Time
You’re not going to know your baby right away, you need time to get to know them. There is a common misconception out there assuming that parents instantly have such a deep connection with their child that they know them inside and out. You just met your new baby, give it time. How long did it take to get to know your significant other? It’s not going to happen overnight.
Don’t Believe Everything You Read
There is a lot of information on the internet. Some of it is well-researched, others are not. Trust sources that have the research and reputation behind them and if something you are reading doesn’t align with what your gut is telling you—trust your gut. Of course, if you ever have questions about the validity of what you read online you can always ask your pediatrician. Healthychildren.org is a website written by a pediatrician for parents. Bookmark it, and search within it rather than just googling a question or topic in your web browser.
Listen to Your New Parent Instincts
One of the things that surprises so many new parents is the new instincts they start to develop as a parent. They may be difficult to explain, but they are real and you should listen to them. For example, in our offices we see a lot of babies come in that are diagnosed with ear infections. Babies typically don’t come in because they are pulling on their ears, they come in because their parent just knew something wasn’t right.
Parents have the ability to be more in tune with their baby than anyone else. It can happen when babies are infants and it can happen when they are 12-years-old getting bullied at school. There is such thing as a maternal, and paternal instinct—so have the confidence to follow it.
If you have additional questions about your baby and how to build confidence as a new parent, you can schedule an appointment with our office by calling 817-617-8600 or scheduling online at https://continuumtx.com/contact.