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Family dynamics

05th Nov 2018

New baby, new relationship strains… what is family life like after baby number 1?

Olivia Hayes

Everything changes.

Many mums will tell you that after you have a baby everything will change – your routines, your thoughts, your body, your relationships, your life.

It’s something that you have to accept, because well… it’s never going to go back to the way it was.

This mum is finding it hard after welcoming her new child. She took to an online forum to share her frustrations on becoming a new mum, while trying to please her partner as well as all grandparents.

She wrote:

“My partner and I have been together for 6 years we have always been so happy and close.

“We have recently had our first child our relationship has been tested and pushed us to the limits, we are feeling like we are having to live our lives now around everyone else as family have been getting upset they are not seeing our daughter as much as they would like. She is only 10 weeks old and we are trying our best to see people as much as we can.

“Both me and my partner are struggling to keep up to taking our daughter to visit all our family as well as still enjoying our own new little family life.”

She then asked other mothers for advice on what to do. Many told her that she needs to set boundaries for the other family members.

One said:

“Your families should not be pressuring you like this. It’s ok to say no. If they try to emotionally blackmail you, you could try the ‘broken record’ approach and keep repeating that you’re sorry they feel that way but the answer is still no. Then tell them when you are happy to go and see them, on your own terms.”

While another replied:

“Twice a week? That’s a lot. Set boundaries what would work for you. It’s your lives and you have the daily responsibility of taking care of a newborn, they do not. They should stop whining and putting so much pressure on you.”

What advice would you give?