Becoming a parent can change you, and often for the better. While it’s true that not everyone seizes this amazing opportunity with both hands, the parents that do will often say that this was the most important and heartfelt experience of their lives.
This is important to hear for young mothers who may be feeling a massive range of emotions when welcoming a new baby into the world. It’s important to remember that while you may be young, you will still be more than capable of looking after your little one, and they can give you direction and purpose like nothing else you’ve felt before.
It’s also true that any nervousness, apprehension, or fear you feel is perfectly natural. If you’ve only shortly been an adult, or in some cases are right on the cusp of it, it’s easy to think that you’re not grown enough to handle this responsibility. Don’t worry, not only will this mature you much more quickly than you had anticipated, but you’ll find new strength you had never thought possible. There are also a great number of resources to help you, and you should never feel bothersome for asking to use them.
However, despite all the assertions in our paragraphs above, it’s also entirely valid for you to need some reassurance going forward. Everyone needs this at various times of their life, and it’s hard to imagine a more suitable time than when you’re about to welcome new life into the world. With that in mind, please consider the following:
Ignore Any Stigma
Society can be quick to judge young mothers, but that judgment often comes from outdated thinking and misunderstandings. The truth is that young mothers often bring endless energy, adaptability, and fresh perspectives to parenting. Some people might raise their eyebrows or make unnecessary comments, but their opinions matter far less than the love and care you give your baby. Always remember that.
Also remember that many incredible parents started their journey young, and their children have grown up to be wonderful people. As you’re still young, you understand the needs of youth more, and you’ll have a forward-thinking approach to it. Just remember that sometimes even unsolicited advice can be helpful. So if you trust yourself, but also stay modest, then you can be the great mother you were meant to be.
Leverage All Resources You Can
Young parent groups, community centers, and local support services exist because they’re genuinely needed and helpful. Don’t feel ashamed about asking for free help, it’s not just charitable, they’re tools to help you build the best possible life for your little one. Many areas offer everything from prenatal classes to mom-and-baby meetups, and some even provide practical help with essentials should you need them, such as diapers (nappies) and other goods.
The people running these services usually have loads of experience helping new mothers find their feet, and it can feel wonderful to have someone like that on your side. This is especially true if you have limited family links able to help.
Prepare All The Comforts & Utilities You Need
Setting up your space doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should feel comfortable for both you and your baby. You have many different options of course, but we’d recommend a cozy chair for feeding, somewhere safe for baby to sleep, and easy access to changing supplies, which can all make daily life much smoother.
Many young mothers find that keeping things simple works best, as focusing on the essentials rather than getting caught up in having every gadget advertised or thinking you need the most expensive pushchair to bring your baby to and fro correctly. Even a drawer of clean babygrows and a steady supply of wipes can feel like a luxury some days. However, if you’d like to treat yourself and your child, or if asking for a gift during a seasonal event, you might enjoy comforts like organic crib sheets which can help you stay hygienic.
Ask Other Mothers In Your Life
Chances are there’s someone in your family or friend circle who is a mother, and perhaps they became a mother at a young age too. These women often become incredible mentors, as you might one day, which means they hold genuinely practical advice that comes from real experience rather than textbooks or manuals. That’s because they remember exactly what those early days felt like and can share honest stories about how they handled different challenges. They can also help you should you be struggling, such as experiencing frayed emotions due to a lack of sleep. Just make sure you trust them implicitly before allowing them to care for your own child, and remember you’re never being dramatic or over-the-top for removing access to those you do not want around your child.
Be Sure To Discuss Your Emotions
Becoming a mother brings up all sorts of feelings, from pure joy to moments of worry, and most are entirely natural. But bottling up these emotions can take more of a toll on you than you may imagine.
So, talking about them, be that with family, friends, or professionals, to helps prevent such feelings from becoming too much to deal with.
Moreover, health visitors and midwives are especially good at spotting when a young mom might need extra emotional support. They’ve seen it all before and know that having big feelings about such a big life change is completely normal. Even if you need a good cry from time to time, that’s completely fine. But if you think you need more help, never have any shame asking for it. Postpartum depression and other emotional turbulence after birth can and will be treated if you ask.
Keep Your Schedule Simple
Life with a new baby works best when you don’t overcomplicate things, and so really, really take these days for what you need and not for the whims of someone else. Some days might just be about feeding, changing, and getting a bit of rest when possible.
From there, other days might include a walk to the park or a visit with family. Having a rough routine helps, but keeping it flexible enough to change when needed makes everything less stressful. Many young moms find that trying to do too much too soon just adds unnecessary pressure. Use that maternity leave for all it’s worth if you were otherwise employed, and use any eligibilities you may require to help keep you ticking along.
See Your Age As An Advantage
It’s easy to think of yourself as being limited by age because of inexperience, but actually, being a young mother often means having more physical energy, healing more quickly after birth, and adapting more easily to new routines on top of that. You might find it easier to get down on the floor to play or stay up for night feeds than older parents do. You’ll certainly be more energetic, even though it doesn’t feel that way.
Your brain is naturally more flexible at this age too, making it easier to learn new skills and adjust to parenthood. You really do have a natural biological advantage here. Having a baby in your forties is much different to when you’re eighteen, so don’t necessarily think you’ll be better off. And just think, you might have a decade of experience with your friends if they wait to have children!
With this advice, we hope you can feel much more connected to yourself as a young mother. That’s because you’re better than you know.
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