Some of the best advice I'd received about parenting was:

                    “ Alicia… Don’t believe the hype, men can change diapers too!”

 Upon hearing it I laughed, but I would soon discover that this advice, would become my “words to live by.”

 For the first time in my life I now had someone, who solely depended on me for everything.

I would soon come to find out that my husbands idea of help, didn't seem to be much help at all.

 This is a Mom’s how-to guide on surviving those post-baby blues;

 My son was only two days old, and I was already panicking as to how I would take care of this little “being.”
 No parenting class or book would prepare me for what was in store.
Between diaper changes, baths, the feedings at 3-hour intervals, and trying to repair what was left of my dry/cracked and bleeding nipples, it didn’t leave much time for sleep.
For the first time in my life I now had someone, who solely depended on me for everything,
I would soon come to find out that my husbands idea of help, didn't seem to be much help at all.

I was cooped up in a room with this little person who couldn’t speak, or even acknowledge me.
All the while trying to maintain a clean household, keep my husband happy, and still have a life of my own.
A life, that now seemed to be drowned out by the incessant cries of my son, and the consistent yelping of my husband.

I was feeling completely inadequate, but didn’t know how to convey that to those around me, without sounding postpartum depression-ish.

At some point I would muster up enough courage to ask for my husband’s help, but I felt he wasn’t as thorough as I was, so it seemed completely useless.
Which I later found out, is just how he had began to feel…useless!

 After all, I was a walking buffet, nanny, and burp-cloth all rolled into one.
He began to question, just where he fit into our equation.
When dealing with newborns, men sometimes get frustrated too, and overwhelmed at the fact that there isn’t too much they can do.
I had to start considering how he felt, and learning how to trust him with more responsibility.
After all, he was my husband, and the father of my son.
After finally sitting him down, and telling him how I felt, I got a better understanding of how he translated my cries for help.

I said:  “ I need help”
He heard: “You don’t do anything!”
End Result: Completion of an unnecessary or meaningless task, of absolutely NO help to me.

 Solution: Stop asking for “HELP,” be sure to be specific on what it is exactly, that you need help with.
Once I understood how my husband interpreted the words I spoke, it taught me how to better communicate my feelings of depletion.
It also gave him room to start being our son's Father.
As I began to settle into mother hood, I found a few things to be helpful along the way, so I thought I’d share this with other Moms who may be in the same position.

My Tips for  “New Baby” adjustment;

Just Breathe-

 Pray, meditate, write, cry, curse, have a glass of wine, get a mani/pedi, or enroll in a Yoga class.
Whatever gives you a chance to vent, focus on yourself, or help you to relax…just do it!
Also, a little retail therapy never hurt anyone.

Eat and Greet-

Dine with fellow moms and friends, sharing war stories over appetizers, may help you to realize that your situation is not as bad as it seems.
Plus, old moms can offer new moms advice on issues that you won’t read about in books.
Like how to get baby vomit out of your new silk shirt.

Invest in Sex-

Sex is an essential part of a healthy relationship.

And, let's face it, after kids our sex life seems to be non-existent!
I mean, come on…there’s nothing sexy about leaky-boobs, post-baby mom pooch, and that blotchy complexion.
 The once spontaneous sexual romps you enjoyed with your partner are no more, if you want to get it in, seize every opportunity.
Planned sex is just as fun as spontaneous sex!
 It not only gives you something to look forward to after a day of bottle feedings, dirty diapers and chaos, but it also gives you a little room for creativity.
Feel free to play hide and seek, the NO KIDS ALLOWED version.

Last, but definitely not least:

ASK FOR HELP-

 It’s okay to put your Superwoman cape on every now and then, but remember that parenting is a two-person job.  
The objective is for the second person to pick up where you left off, so that you both will make it through infancy, without losing your sanity.
Although kids interrupt every aspect of your life, they also bring an inexplicable joy and purpose to it.
I learned, in order for me to be a great Mom, I had to be a great ME, first!