As an Atlanta doula, emotionally supporting families is part of the job. Nobody wants to talk/think about the hard parts about the beautiful season ahead, but that’s why I blogged about it. While you may be thinking the registry is pressing, instead take your next date night (or moment alone) to discuss expectations and boundaries around parenting. Special thanks to Maternal Mental Health Utah for getting the conversation started.
Here are the best conversations to have while pregnant.
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How to Handle Sleep Deprivation
HOW: During the stressful time of having a newborn, how can we minimize the damage of sleep deprivation? Can we afford postpartum help? Are there ways our families can help?
WHAT: What is the plan if one or both of us hit a wall, while the baby is still crying?
WHEN: When one of us goes back to work, what should quality sleep look like? What if we are so tired that we start fighting?
Roles/Boundaries for Grandparents and/or family
HOSPITAL: How do we feel about visitors? During birth? After birth?
HOME: How do we feel about visitors? During birth? After birth?
HEALTH: How do we feel about adult vaccinations? How are we going to communicate and insist upon hand washing? How do we feel about everyone wanting to hold our newborn?
HELP: If we are having visitors, are there any particular ways they can provide help? Is it helpful or stressful to have visitors?
HURT FEELINGS: If someone doesn’t respect our boundaries, what plans can be in place where we aren’t fighting each other over it? Who can insist our boundaries are upheld?
Newborn Nighttime Wakings and Feedings
WHO: How can we be prepared? Can we afford a night/postpartum nurse? How can we budget for help? Do we have family that can help? Who will be waking up with the baby each time? Will there be a rotation? If breastfeeding, can one parent feed the baby and the other change/rock the baby?
HOW: Are bottles an option? Formula or Breastmilk? How do we feel about eventually implementing a feeding/sleeping schedule?
WHERE: Where will the baby be sleeping? Bassinet? Co-sleeping? If the baby is crying and keeping everyone awake, where should I take the baby for the other parent to rest?
Sustenance
HOW: Can we afford to eat out? Can we afford a meal delivery service? Do we have time to prepare frozen meals ahead of time?
WHO: Is there anyone in our life that can provide meals for us once the baby is here?
WHERE: Where can we set up snack stations for middle-of-the-night needs? Do we have enough room in the freezer for meals?
How to Manage Self-Care with a Newborn
WHAT: How can we be sure that we are both showering, leaving the house, and getting time alone? What is the bare minimum of necessity that we can commit to?
WHO: How can we be prepared? Can we afford a nanny during the day? How can we budget for help? Do we have family that can help? Will there be a shower rotation?
Managing Mental Health
HOW: Are there any classes or research we can do now to be better mentally prepared for a newborn? Are there any unresolved issues we should try to rectify now, incase it should pop up when we’re half asleep?
WHO: Who can we call for emotional or physical support? If I’m showing signs of Postpartum depression, who can you reach out to on my behalf?
WHAT: How do we want to manage down time? Go for a walk, play video games, scroll on your phone? Will it be triggering if one of us is decompressing on our phone vs unloading the dishwasher? What is a reasonable amount of unplanned “down time” per day?
Daily Routines and Roles
WHAT: What daily chores/tasks NEED to be done? What about weekly? The first month with baby?
WHO: Who is responsible for each task? Is it possible for us to afford a cleaning lady? Can our family help with anything?
HOW: How will we respond, what is the plan, if these things aren’t getting completed?
APPRECIATE MY OPEN DISCUSSION DOULA STYLE?
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND/OR HIRING AN ATLANTA BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER?
USE THE CONTACT FORM ABOVE AND CONTACT ME!