3 Ways to Support Your Mental Health with a Newborn over the Holidays

Many holidays and traditions are celebrated at this time of year. For families with a new baby, gatherings may bring conflicting feelings.

Limit expectations of yourself

Gatherings involve travel, car seats, stimulation, food to share, gifts. With a new baby, this can feel like a lot. If that means you need to turn down an invitation, leave early, or show up empty handed, that is ok.

Share your story

Your birth story, feeding story, early parenting story, it is not uncommon to have shame attached to pieces of them. Brene Brown teaches us that silence and secrecy help shame grow. Sharing authentically creates connection.

Notice your emotions during this transition

All big transitions bring grief, including feelings of loss, longing, and feeling lost. Give yourself permission to move through these waves. A lot of beautiful gains but a lot of losses as well. It is ok to acknowledge them.