Building a Support Network
Discover the art of Building a Support Network as a new parent. Learn how to cultivate personal, healthcare, and partner partnerships to navigate parenthood with confidence. Find guidance on strengthening relationships and fostering connections that empower your journey.
Having a strong support network is like having a lifeline as a new parent. It’s essential to surround yourself with a team of people who can guide and assist you on your parenting journey. Here are some valuable tips to help you build a supportive network that empowers you to become the parent you want to be.
The Importance of a Parent Support Network
While your partner may be your rock, it’s crucial to have multiple sources of support. Ideally, you should have two distinct networks—one focused on healthcare and another catering to your personal needs, including emotional support and practical help at home.
Supportive Partners
Your partner plays a significant role in your support network. They can be a pillar of strength, helping alleviate your fears and frustrations. Sharing a healthy lifestyle together, both before and after pregnancy, is vital. It’s also beneficial if your partner actively participates in physical activities, accompanies you to appointments and classes, and takes an active role in caring for your baby, including supporting and encouraging breastfeeding. By openly discussing your parenting plans, hopes, and dreams, you can work together to create a strong bond between yourselves and your child.
Personal Support Networks
While your partner is a primary source of support, there are many others who can join your personal support network. Consider reaching out to family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers for assistance. You can also include professionals like social workers, doulas (trained assistants for labor and postpartum care), community groups, and religious or cultural congregations. Connecting with other expectant families, perhaps from prenatal classes, can also provide valuable support and camaraderie.
Healthcare Support Networks
In addition to your family doctor, obstetrician, or registered midwife, it’s essential to establish a network of healthcare providers. Consider including the following professionals in your healthcare support network:
- Lactation consultant: They can offer expert guidance and support with breastfeeding.
- Public health nurses: These professionals can provide valuable information and resources for infant care and development.
- Hospital nurses: During your hospital stay, these nurses can assist you with any concerns or questions.
- Dentist and dental hygienist: Ensuring good oral health for both you and your baby.
- Prenatal educators: They can provide valuable education and preparation for childbirth and early parenthood.
- Registered dietitian: A dietitian can help you make healthy food choices for yourself and your baby.
- Pharmacist: They can offer advice on medications and answer any questions regarding your and your baby’s health.
By cultivating a strong support network encompassing personal and healthcare realms, you can navigate the challenges of parenthood with confidence and ease. Remember to communicate your needs, seek help when necessary, and lean on your support system. You’re not alone on this beautiful journey of becoming a parent.
Build Your Support Network After Having A Baby
For many young mothers, leaving work to be with their child, whether on paid parental leave or longer, can come as a shock. Just when you need a team of supportive colleagues the most, you find yourself in a brand-new workplace where you don’t know anyone else! Most of us are focused on the new baby and planning the changes after the birth of our first child, but parents also face major social changes that can come as a shock. Distance from family, close friends who still work full-time, and an incredibly quiet neighborhood during the day can all lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
Psychologists speak of “social connection” as an important tool for good mental health. Just as we need a network of like-minded people to brainstorm ideas, vent frustrations, and guide us through new routines, new parents need a similar network to support them in their new parenting careers. By building your own community network – like in the old village – you can not only avoid isolation and loneliness but also lay the foundation for your child’s network.
