Few things alter your life like having a baby. If it's your first, you might feel like your world's been turned upside down.
No doubt, having a child of your own is a blessing. But it can also be more than a little frightening.
Babies take a lot of time and effort. They recognize no schedule other than their own. While they don't deliberately make themselves the center of attention, they inevitably become it.
To enjoy themselves while staying on top of their motherly responsibilities, new moms need to take advantage of every shortcut and workaround they can. Stress needs to take a back seat.
Here are six ways you can make your life easier while bringing up baby:
1. Put the Mouse in the House to Work
This doesn't mean you have a rodent problem. It means using your mouse - or your trackpad - to tackle some errands online, which will save you time and the hassle of bundling up baby.
You might be surprised at what you can do with a click of the mouse. For example, you can even get a prescription and set up delivery of medications, including those for migraine relief and birth control online.
Order the multitude of diapers, wipes, formula and other baby items you need online and have them delivered to your door. Do the same with your own personal hygiene items and cosmetics.
Whatever else you can do online, like banking or even renewing your license plates, do it. The reward will be more time with your baby.
2. Cook More - and Less - Often
As a new mom, it's particularly important that you eat healthy food. This is especially true if you're nursing. After all, your baby eats what you eat.
Maybe you loved making elaborate meals in your kitchen before the baby arrived. But odds are, you're now going to run out of time or just be too exhausted to chop, dice, and mince.
When you do have time - say, on days when someone else is there to handle some of the baby duties - take advantage of it. Double or triple recipes when you have the time to cook, and freeze the extra for days you don't. Having a healthy dinner you can defrost at a moment's notice is like having a nutritional ace in the hole.
Instead of ordering in all the time, take advantage of meal kits. They're delivered to your door and take little time in the kitchen to plate up for dinner. They offer a bit of that pre-baby kitchen joy without all the effort.
3. Put Extra Baby Stuff Everywhere
The one truth about babies is that you can never, ever have too many diapers or wipes or burp cloths. Don't keep them all in one place. Spread the wealth.
If you have more than one floor in your home, have a changing station on each level. You'll avoid running up and down the stairs with the baby all the time. (If you had a C-section, you won't be allowed to take the stairs for a while anyway.)
Maybe you do a great job of packing that diaper bag every time you leave the house. It's still a great idea to place a permanent supply of everything in the car, though. You might be surprised at how many onesies your bundle of joy can go through in a day. With spares in the trunk or glove box, spit-up (or worse) will never scuttle another outing.
And don't forget your pockets. Wear sweats or sweaters with pockets you can fill with tissues, baby wipes and pacifiers. It will spare you a lot of running around and looking for them.
4. Multitask With Entertainment
Moms most often take the night shift. For those 2 a.m. feedings, you might want to pass the time by catching up on a favorite show or watching a movie.
Install apps on your phone or tablet, or have the TiVo cued up to watch in the middle of the night. If you have a free hand - and that's not always the case - open that book on your e-reader.
Typically, you want to avoid screen time at night because it can make it difficult to fall asleep. As exhausted as you'll be, however, that probably won't become an issue. If screen time does cause problems, there's no better entertainment than watching your baby!
5. Spread the Chores Around
Some new moms think they'll have time to do those projects on their to-do list once they're home on parental leave. Say that to an experienced mom, and she'll laugh herself hoarse.
Just keeping up with the normal chores and the extra laundry is challenging enough. Make it possible by putting the baby in a backpack baby carrier when you're doing laundry or vacuuming. Tackle some chores when someone else is there to take care of the little one.
Better yet, let someone else do them! Make sure your partner picks up some of the load, even if it's not something they used to do. Hire someone to come in every month to do a more thorough job.
Sleep is vital to your health and your partner's, and there's no doubt it takes a hit with newborns. In fact, studies show that both parents experience sleep disruption for up to six years after a baby comes home.
Both of you should let go of the need to make sure the chores are always caught up. When baby naps, you nap too. Your health and your child's depend on you getting adequate rest.
6. Don't Forget You!
Don't forget to take care of yourself in other ways, too. You and your body are going through a lot before, during, and after birth.
Keep some hygiene items on hand that will help, particularly on extra-busy days. Use no-rinse bathing wipes and dry shampoo when you don't have time to take a shower. Try a little fabric refresher when your favorite sweatpants start barking back.
If you have time to meditate or do your yoga routine, take advantage of it. If nothing else, make sure you step outside and breathe in a little fresh air each day.
Above all, enjoy the miracle of that little life by doing whatever makes your life easier. Embrace shortcuts that give you more time and less stress. Far too soon, that sweet little newborn will be asking for the car keys!
