Talking to friends and family, taking parenting classes at your hospital, and researching for blogs and books, are all ways to get yourself ready for the arrival of your offspring. But there is nothing like first hand experience, which you will get once your baby arrives. Ready or not, you will find that you deal with what life and your newly expanded family hands you.

So what should you expect when your newborn arrives? The level of emotions you will feel is personal. You may bond with your baby immediately or it may take a little longer. Either way, take into account the temporary ups and downs you may experience if you suffer from baby blues. Feeling overwhelmed, no matter how prepared you may believe you are for this baby, is natural and normal. After all, your life as you know it has changed and you are now a mother.

You can expect little sleep and not very much time for yourself in the beginning. But this will change with time. As your baby grows, he will learn to sleep through the night and you will feel more comfortable to take some time for yourself.

If you plan to breastfeed, you may experience an adjustment period where your body will learn how much milk to produce for the needs of your newborn. Until that happens, you may be leaking (so get pads for your nursing bras). Also you may experience engorgement, nipple pain and other discomforts that will disappear with time and experience. While you are still in the hospital, ask to see a lactation consultant to learn about breast feeding tips and make sure your baby latches on correctly.

Having a baby is demanding, can be exhausting, sometimes nerve wracking and above all, a big responsibility. But at the end of the day, raising your newborn is the most rewarding job you can have. You will melt when your baby starts to smile and find tremendous joy seeing him accomplish milestones and learn new things.

Give it time. You will feel more comfortable in your new roll with experience, and your baby’s growth and development will be an indicator to the fabulous job you are doing.

There are many choices in the market today. Do not give your baby cow milk or other milks that adults ingest before one year of age. The best option for infants is baby formula. When selecting, decide what form best fits you, whether it is ready-made, concentrate, or powder. You may choose to go organic, or if your baby is colicky or is lactose intolerant, you may need to switch to a more specific formula.

Feed by demand but don’t force feed. This means to feed when your baby when he is hungry and when he is done, do not force him to finish the bottle. Newborns usually eat 2-4 oz every two to three hours in the first 6-8 weeks. This depends on the baby’s weight, weight gain and appetite. Consult your doctor if you think your baby is not getting enough food.

Signs that your baby is hungry include a variety of mouth movements, sucking on their hand or blanket, etc. and crying.

To heat Formula, do not use the microwave. It warms liquids unevenly and may burn your baby’s mouth if too hot. Soak the bottle of Formula in hot water for several minutes or hold under the faucet. Test the temperature on the inside your wrist before giving the bottle to your baby. Your baby may also like it cold or at room temperature.

Make sure to check the expiration on the Formula container and notate the date of when the container was opened. Once opened, its life time is shortened dramatically. Read the label on the container to determine how long it will be good for. Do not save any unfinished bottle of formula.

Never dilute the formula to get more feedings out of it. Adding even just a little bit of water can be dangerous and even fatal. When diluting baby formula, the nutrients and electrolytes in it are weakened and other than affecting the baby’s nutritional balance, it can cause seizers and brain problems.

As for anything else, if you have any questions or concerns, contact your baby’s pediatrician for assistance and information.

It is normal to be emotional about a change of this magnitude in your life. After all, the lifestyle you have known up until this point is about to be drastically altered.

If your family is expanding from two to three or more, you may be worried about the unknown, such as basic baby care for multiples, or parenting styles accustomed to each child. Parenting classes, usually offered by your hospital, can help prepare you for your new role as a parent by covering some of the basics.

If you worry about making mistakes, rest assure, you WILL make them, so there’s really no need to give it too much thought. Do your best and use your judgment, and remember you can always ask for help or advice from other parents or professionals.

Planning to expand your family the second or third (or more) time around has its own joys and challenges. You consider age differences and what the perfect spacing is for your family, but remember that most women don’t conceive on the demand and getting pregnant usually takes several tries.

What ever the age differences may be, there are different challenges to overcome and joys to be shared when raising siblings. Research sibling preparation classes for your kids when expecting a new baby, or talk to them; get them ready for the new addition to the family.

Raising children is the most demanding and the most joyous job you will experience and once you have them, you are in for the long run. Embrace your new title as a parent with all that comes with it. Remember to make time for romance and don’t forget how it all started.

While pregnant, you prepare yourself for the arrival of your baby. You may take baby care classes at your hospital, speak to your family and friends about your questions and concerns, or maybe read books or research the internet. It is good practice to get advice and information and prepare for the future.

Still, as much as you plan for the future, when you hold your newborn for the first time, with all the joy and excitement, it is common and normal to worry about the unknown. After all, you have never been a Mom before.

If you sometimes worry that you’re not cut out to be a Mom, you are not alone. Some 70%-80% of moms have doubts about this big role in life. You may overcome this feeling after adjusting to your new title, or carry this feeling for years. Either way, if your child is loved and cared for, you are doing your job as a Mom.

As a Mom, it is expected that you will face times where you will need to be strong, resourceful, or just plain creative to deal with the situations of day to day life. Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back every once in a while and remember to cut yourself some slack.

Regardless of your choice, make the most of it and enjoy it. Having kids right away, waiting or choosing not to have kids, are all valid decisions and are yours to make. So don’t let others make it for you.

Parenthood is both one of life’s most joyous times and its most demanding. It is hard to imagine the essence of parenthood before you have kids.

Being a parent is a much harder job than you can foresee, no matter how ready you are. The constant demand for your time and energy, the little time to recharge, the lack of training, the financial strain, and emotional involvement are all part of the difficulties of being a parent. With so much stress involved – there are the mistakes you will make (and you will), that will affect the people you love most.

No mater how much you have prepared for it, or what your plans are, they will change with the arrival your baby. It is impossible to anticipate how you will react to this tremendous responsibility, or how you will do with little to no sleep. The dynamics between you and your partner will change (sometimes temporarily, other times for good), because of the new roles you will both assume. Life in its entirety will never be the same after you become a parent.

At the same time, there is nothing that compares to the love you will receive from your child, their first smile, all the hugs, laughing together – all these and more are the heart and sole of being a parent. The rest you will have to find out on your own if you are ready to take on this life changing adventure.

Remember, there is no turning back!

Yes, post adoption depression is a real condition. Many adopting Mothers feel there is no validation to their feelings of sadness or anxiety because society expects them to be grateful for the child they have received. However, feeling overwhelmed about your new role as a Mother and the responsibilities that come with it, is not a reaction that stems from the actual pregnancy, but the long awaited parenthood that came after.

Raising a child is a tremendous responsibility and it is life changing. Many adopting Mothers are older when they start their new role as a Mom. Parenthood is a role that can drain your energy and take a toll you on physically as well. Also, the older you are when becoming a Mom, the harder it may be to adjusting to this new and entirely different lifestyle.

Another cause for post adoption blues is the actual completion of your long awaited desire to be a Mother. After years of chasing the dream of motherhood, perhaps also after foregoing unfruitful fertility treatments, you are at the end of the road with a child in your arms. The emotional rush that accompanied your days on the way to parenthood has abruptly dissolved and you need to adjust to the concept of achieving this tremendous goal.

If you adopted a baby, much like a birth mother, you are facing sleepless nights, you may be learning to care for a baby for the first time and question your knowledge/capabilities/etc.

Bringing home a new baby or child is a big change, accompanied with new responsibilities and added financial expenses amongst other things. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and equally important to give yourself a break and accept help, or in some cases – ask for it.

While you understand the importance of care your child is receiving in the hospital, it would have been much simpler and exciting to take your child home with you. Bonding is just so much easier with physical touch, and you may not have even touched your baby, let alone hold him/her.

It can be frustrating and scary when faced with this scenario, and many parents find it hard to deal with leaving their newborn at the NICU. This time, already so saturated with emotions, may be confusing and scary, but it important for parents with babies in the NICU to do their best to start bonding right away, despite the challenges and difficulties.

Bonding with your baby in the NICU requires patience and strength. Start with being there for your newborn. His/her development is influenced from your care tremendously. Even with no touch, you can give your child love. Talk to him, or read his stories. Your voice and smell, and if possible the touch of your hand on his head, can comfort you both.

If you planed to breastfeed, there is no need to change your plans. Start pumping right away and give your milk to the nurses to give to your baby. This way your milk supply will not diminish due to it not being used, and your baby will have the benefit of mother’s milk.  Breastmilk is important for his immune system and development. If your preemie can not yet eat (which is common in smaller preemies), pump and store your milk.

While parenting in the NICU is difficult and poses challenges, it is time well spent for both you and your little one. Your presence and care may very well help shorten his stay in the hospital, and when you bring your baby home you will already have a strong relationship and the adjustment will be made smoother.

Achieving the goal of parenthood together can certainly bring a couple closer. However, at the same time the difficulties and challenges you face as a new parents can bring about conflict about parenting methods and approaches. Believe it or not, but bringing home a baby can ignite feelings of jealousy, or the loss of ‘first place’ in the eyes of your partner. Fatigue and lack of time to devote to each other can also cause frustration. Sooner or later you may realize that parenthood, as amazing as it may be, is affecting your relationship with your partner in ways you did not anticipate.

What can you do? After all, you are exhausted, your baby is completely dependant on you, and you cannot find a minute to devote to anything else. For starters, you can acknowledge the problem. Talk to your partner about both your feelings and see what your expectations from each other are.

Making time for each other is crucial. If you have relatives or friends who are willing or offering to help / babysit take them up on it! A night out, even an hour or two, would do wanders to your perspective and your relationship.

Divide up your responsibilities so that when baby is asleep, you can take the time to cuddle in front of the TV or have a candle light dinner, rather than running around trying to finish up all your chores.

Lower your standards. Although hard to do for some, you will notice that prioritizing and adjusting your standards for what is considered clean, tidy, etc. can free up some of your time and allow you the time you are missing with your spouse, as well as time to relax and recharge.

With time, your baby will become more independent and you will have more time and opportunity to nurture your relationship with your partner. In the mean time, make a few adjustments to make time for your marital relationship. It is important for you and your child that your relationship with your spouse is a strong and happy one.

As your delivery date approaches, you may suddenly realize that you actually do not know how to care for a baby, have never given a bath to a newborn, or you are clueless about breastfeeding. These types of thoughts may be overwhelming, but are expected. Before you allow yourself to freak out (which is allowed, but not always necessary or beneficial…) you should know – you are not alone!

Lets start with the fact that everyone who chooses to have a baby has to learn how to care for their child.  It has been done for generations (how else would we be here?…) by new parents around the world. While parenting comes from experience, there are plenty of resources to help you feel prepared for parenthood!

New parents often ask: how do you get over the anxiety and get the hang of caring of a baby that isn’t even here yet? That’s a great question! First, you can (and should) take advantage of parenting classes offered by your hospital, such as baby basics, infant CPR, breastfeeding, etc.

Another great resource is your friends and family for help and advice. Other Moms have experienced the same feelings and questions you are facing now. While some parents are timid about sharing their newborn experiences, most feel obliged to giving tips and ideas as they too were once in your shoes.

You can also find reading material on caring for a newborn online or in print (there are some really good books that can guide you through more than just the first year!).  Many have found various blogs to be useful and honest, and provide the opportunity for parents to connect and relate to other parents around the world.

When your baby arrives, ask for help and accept any help offered to you! And always remember, you are not alone! Parenting can seem intimidating and requires a huge amount of responsibility, however the more you read and talk about it, the better you will feel about becoming a parent!

Traditionally, baby showers were given only for the family’s first child, but over time, it has become more common to hold them for subsequent children as well.

Deciding whether you should have a baby shower is personal as well as cultural. Some cultures celebrate the birth of a child only after the delivery for various reasons such as religion, belief and/or superstition. Others may choose not to have a shower due to a previous miscarriage or other unfortunate experiences.

Many moms to be and their family and friends see the baby shower as a celebration of the new life coming to the world. It is also a great excuse to get everyone together…

Whatever you choose for yourself and your baby, weather you have a shower or not, if it is a small gathering or an elaborate event, get someone to either throw it for you (you have enough on your plate with your baby coming) or help!