Becoming a parent for the first time can feel a little like turning up to your first day in a new job and being thrown immediately in at the deep end; no handover notes, no welcome pack, no manager or colleague to lend a supportive shoulder; feeling a constant ball of anxiousness pulsing in your tummy and a feeling of loneliness slowly creeping in.
There’s no need to express just how stressful being a new parent can be, and, albeit a joyful time, whether it’s your first pregnancy or you have multiple children, taking care of another human(s) whilst trying to recover both mentally and physically is an emotionally draining job in itself.
This is where it becomes so crucial to have a social support network of other mums/parents to tap into. Having friends who are also mothers can make a bad day so much more bearable because they ‘get it’ as you can relate and share the moans, groans and proud moments.
Whether we have friends/family lending a helping hand or are going it solo, it can feel more comforting to approach mums/parents who can relate and understand the challenges you may be facing.
Whilst every parent may have different parenting techniques, this only creates a positive support network library of abundant knowledge that you can tap into and find what works for you.
There will be times, especially if experiencing perinatal mental health issues, where opening up to a fellow mum can be easier and feel less judgmental than family or close friends. Confiding and talking to other mums helps us realise that what we are thinking and feeling is totally valid and far more common than we think without the worry of guilt or judgment.