As against a pre-delivery responsibility free life where one eats, sleeps, travels and does everything on the basis of mood and will, a post-delivery life leaves you with no choice but to give up a lot of your luxuries and dedicate all your energies to your baby who is the most precious blessing for you.

For most working women, becoming a mother for the first time is not something that they can really prepare for. However, when one is expecting, she does get advices from all and sundry as to how she should take care of the new born and how she can be good at it, but becoming a new mom never hits you seriously until you experience the sleepless and tiresome days and nights yourself.

With the range of advice one gets, some will make you laugh and excited whereas some might frighten you as well. However, it’s very important to understand and remember that every child is different and with time and experience one learns what works best for you and your child.

In the first few weeks, you might feel nervous handling the baby on your own and would need assistance of other family members. But in case the support is not there then stay calm and plan the daily chores with your spouse and share the responsibilities with him. Help from the spouse in these days, when one needs good rest and time to spend with the baby, makes life much easier. Here are a few important and basic things which can help you through this phase smoothly and adjust to a suitable routine.

Sleep patternNewborns typically sleep up to 16 to 17 hours a day, though most of the times they don’t stay asleep for more than two to four hours at a time, day or night. This results in a very irregular and tiring schedule for the mother. Be patient and try to catch up with your sleep when the baby is sleeping. Look for signs that the baby is tired, e.g. if he is rubbing his eyes, pulling on his ear or being more fussy than normal. This will help you to identify your baby’s sleeping pattern. Gradually follow a bedtime routine for your baby, e.g. changing clothes, swaddling, singing a lullaby, etc. One can increase sleeping hours at night by waking the baby more frequently during the day for feeding.

FeedingThere’s no doubt that mother’s milk is the best food for your baby, and at the same time it’s also good for the mother’s health. New moms often initially find it a bit tricky to feed, but with time and continuous efforts, the task become easy. You may get lots of advice from elders in the family about the right feeding techniques but make sure that you follow what has been recommended to you by your doctor and what suits you personally.

General healthIn order to maintain good health and proper development of your child, it’s important that you take your baby for his regular checkups and follow the vaccination schedule. Besides this, take care of your baby’s hygiene by giving her daily bath, changing diapers as and when they are wet, trimming her nails and making sure that anyone who touches the baby does so only after properly washing their hands.

CryingThe sound of a screaming baby can be a nerve racking experience but it is important that you do not get stressed out; remain patient and composed to comfort him/her and don’t panic if (s)he doesn’t stop crying immediately. It is a natural behaviour.Look for the reasons that might be causing her discomfort, e.g. sleep deprivation, delay in feed, pain in ear, diaper rash or colic.

With flexible adjustments to the patterns and needs of your baby, you can actually make your time with her the most memorable and cherished phase of your life. For new moms, have a happy motherhood!