More in New Parent Emotions
New Parent Mistakes to Avoid
Being a parent is the hardest job you'll ever love. To make your first few months as goofproof and enjoyable as possible, follow our troubleshooting guide and avoid these 10 classic mistakes.
25 Secrets of Happy Moms
We asked new mothers to share how they add more joy to every day -- even the really tough ones. Click through and smile!
8 New Mom Stresses -- and How to Relieve Them
Joy, excitement, and unfathomable love? Those are the new-mom emotions you're prepared for. Identity crisis? Not so much. "The best example you probably have of what it means to be a mom is your own mother," says Gail Saltz, MD, a psychiatrist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, in Manhattan. "And even if you had the greatest one in the world, there are bound to be things you don't want to do just like she did, which can leave you feeling guilty and anxious about the choices you're making as a parent." It can be a huge relief, then, to talk to other moms, Dr. Saltz adds. Aside from getting the understanding and sympathy you crave, you'll also see that you can make the transition from you to you-with-a-kid -- just like they did. What follows is expert advice and it-worked-for-me wisdom for eight common new-mom stresses.
Ways to Prevent Postpartum Depression
Some 80 percent of new mothers experience severe mood swings, known as baby blues, and 10 percent suffer major postpartum depression (PPD) in the first year. Here are steps you can take now to safeguard your well-being after the baby is born.
Growth & Development Milestones: Newborns
The American Academy of Pediatrics has identified important milestones for Baby's first month. We've included fun and easy ways to help your newborn reach these key developmental markers, plus helpful information new parents should know.
The Anxious Parent
A psychologist explains why today's parents have less to worry about than they think.
5 Common New-Mom Challenges
Yes, your new baby rocks -- but your life as a new mom might be a little rocky. Here, we talked to experts about some of the big issues we're all pretty much guaranteed to face, including breastfeeding problems, work dilemmas, and losing the baby weight -- and got their best strategies for coping with each one.
New-Father Fears
You have a new baby—but instead of feeling overjoyed, Dad's freaking out. Find out why fathers worry and how to help them cope.
7 New Mom Sleep-Saving Tips
It's understandable if the term "walking zombie" describes you during your new mom days. As you recover from pregnancy and childbirth, you're nurturing an infant who wakes up several times a night feeling hungry (or wet or colicky or disoriented) and needs you to be awake too. Luckily, this is temporary. Once your baby can sleep through the night, you can return to a regular sleep schedule. But most infants won't for least seven to eight weeks, often longer. The good news: You can almost always sneak in sleep. These sleep-saving moves will show you how.
Quiz: Could You Be Exhibiting Symptoms of Postpartum Depression?
Having a baby is a joyous event for most women. After childbirth, however, more than 80 percent of women suffer from a mild form of sadness, fear, anger, or anxiety. But if those baby blues don't go away after a week or two, it may signal a more serious problem. Take our quiz and find out if you may be showing signs of postpartum depression.
Worst Baby Advice Ever
Real moms from the Parents.com community share the most un-helpful hints they've received when it comes to motherhood.
Your New Body After Birth
During pregnancy, you got used to some pretty strange symptoms. Now that you've given birth, you may be dealing with even more.
