Welcoming a baby in the world is an exciting and life-changing occasion but don’t underestimate

how overwhelming it can be too. By trying to block out those feelings of stress or anxiety, there’s a

risk that those emotions could lead to you or your partner developing Postnatal Depression – a

condition which affects around 1 in 10 new parents.

The most important thing you can do to take care of yourself and your loved ones’ mental health at

this time is to make sure you have honest and open conversations about how you’re feeling. Stress,

anxiety and depression can occur at any time – and it impacts new dads just as much as it does new

mums. A lot of the time, just asking if the other person is okay can go a long way, so here’s our top

tips for starting off that conversation with your better half.

Plan a day out

Once you feel comfortable to venture out with your newborn as a family, the excitement you’ll feel

at being able to introduce your new baby to the sounds and smells of the world could spark a real

sense of happiness for you both. In turn, this will break down any tension you’ve felt that comes

with the new responsibility you both feel, giving you a chance to ask how the other one is feeling

about this new chapter. Essentially, getting out from the four walls where you’ve been fighting a lack

of sleep, dirty nappies and a new routine and changing your scenery could be all you need to start

off that conversation.

Although you may not feel this is a priority in the weeks immediately after giving birth, it’s still just as

important that you take time out as a couple of nurture your bond. And you’ve got some pretty big

news to celebrate! So take a couple of hours out for yourselves and remember what it was you loved

to do before there were three of you. A conversation is much easier to have over a shared meal or a

fun activity.

And the conversation doesn’t need to be an intense one or a professional style therapy session.

Simply ask your partner to describe how they’re feeling in that moment in three words – compare

notes to see if you’ve been feeling the same way and how you might be able to work together to

take some pressure off the situation.

With a new bundle of joy in tow, it’s likely you’ve been welcoming an endless stream of guests to the

house since you arrived home. This can be really overwhelming as new parents – trying to adapt to a

new normal is never going to be easy if the kettle is always on!

Be selfish with your time and commit to at least four nights a week of alone time for your family. In a

quiet and relaxed setting, a casual conversation about those first few weeks of parenthood is bound

to lead to deeper thoughts about long-term emotions and feelings. A safe space will spark a deep

and emotional conversation.

For more top tips, or to find out more about our specialist baby development sessions, contact us at

enquiries@bloombabyclasses.com ensuring that you include your mobile number or call us on 0800 4647960.

1 NHS, 2018, Feeling depressed after childbirth.

How to ask your partner if they're okay