Mahaska Health Partnership Offers Tips for New Parents to Deal with Stress
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Newborn babies require an enormous amount of time and attention. These little bundles of joy can turn your life completely upside down, often causing stress for new parents. Whether you’re a first time parent or a seasoned veteran, Mahaska Health Partnership wants to offer some tips for managing stress.
“A major cause of stress for parents in lack of sleep,” MHP Family Practice with Obstetrics Physician Dr. Leigh Gilburn shared. “Babies sleep a lot, but it comes in short bursts and between feedings. The age old advice of sleeping when the baby sleeps is one of the best ways to ensure mom and dad get enough rest.”
To go along with that, Dr. Gilburn suggests switching off on nighttime duties to help each parent get adequate rest. “If both parents alternate turns for getting up to feed and change the baby, both are more likely to get extra sleep and feel more rested the next day.”
Another tip is to establish visiting hours with friends and family. “Many people are excited for your new arrival and want to come visit as soon as you are home,” Dr. Gilburn said. “However, the whole family is adjusting to an entirely new schedule, so setting specific visiting hours can help coordinate visitors at convenient times.”
Dr. Gilburn also suggested allowing friends and family to help and getting out of the house. “When you’re recovering from a birth and caring for a new baby, this is no time to be a super hero,” Dr. Gilburn stressed. “Accept help when it is offered and use the opportunity to do something you enjoyed before having the baby. A few minutes alone will do wonders for your stress level.”
Dr. Leigh Gilburn is a Family Practice Physician also delivering babies at Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gilburn, call 641.672.3360.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
