The Benefits New Mothers and Their Babies Receive from a Strong Social Circle
Most expecting parents know that their lives will change when they have a baby, but few are prepared for exactly how much it will change. When new babies make their grand appearance, they often start to run the household on day one.
Morning and night, mothers and fathers alike run on the baby’s schedule and live by the baby’s needs. The people in your life might not operate on baby time, but finding a social circle that does can really help you and your baby to thrive during those first few years. Let’s find out how.
New Parents and Social Changes
When you become a mother for the first time, you might be surprised to see a fluctuation in your social circle. Online, mothers are constantly discussing how their habits change—and how their social circles change too. As a parent, your life will revolve around your child, and that can influence how much time you have to spend with friends or family.
Your baby will often dictate what you can and can’t do, leaving dirty diapers and feeding times to become more reliable than your ability to attend an event with friends. Many parents report feelings of loss and change during this time, often at the time when they need people the most. These feelings are normal, but the best thing that new parents can do is find a strong social circle, even if it is a little smaller.
Why Social Circles Are Important for New Parents
Raising a new baby is hard, despite what some of the mothers on Instagram might try to tell you. This new challenge can feel overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Studies show that even the perception of having support can actually improve health and reduce stress levels for new moms.
Social support can come from a lot of different sources and in many different forms. It might be family and friends, peers and neighbors, and even other parents that you have only just met. Being surrounded by people who want to help you succeed can lift you up, allowing you to feel loved and supported as you start this wonderful new adventure.
How Strong Social Circles Lift Up Babies and Their Mamas
When mamas feel supported, their babies get the benefits of it. Mothers who are supported will have lower stress levels and be more comfortable facing daily challenges. There will always be days where you have milk on all your clothes and your baby won’t quit fussing, but when you have people that you can turn to, you’ll find that navigating some of these challenges becomes quite a bit easier.
A social circle can allow parents to vent their frustrations and might even be able to offer support in caring for the baby or answering questions that you might have. For this reason, studies show that connecting with other parents can be even better, allowing you to communicate with people who know what you’re going through!
The Takeaway
When they say it takes a village to raise a child, they don’t just mean people offering support for the child alone. Mothers thrive when they are supported, and it empowers us to take that love, support, and positivity that we receive and pass it on to our babies. Your social circle may change, but that doesn’t mean that a new one isn’t just around the corner, ready to shower you with love and affection!