Shahid Kapoor played a doting husband to wife Mira Rajput while she was pregnant and now that the couple have been blessed with a baby daughter, the responsibilities are doubled.
For a woman, being pregnant is a wonderful and difficult journey all at the same time and for the father an added responsibility. Now, that you’ve taken care of your wife during the last nine months, life-coaches suggest ways to clench the happiness of babyhood and taking care of the new-mommy.
It is apparent that the entire duration of pregnancy drains the mother thoroughly and this is the time when utmost care needs to be taken to ensure she recuperates to the best of her health.
“Take over all the chores and let her take rest for a good amount of days. You have to be acclimatised with the sleep interruptions and embrace the new routine of not being able to sleep at night for more than an hour. Pep yourself up, you are a dad now!” says life-coach Chetna Mehrotra.
You don’t necessarily have to play a role, you simply stand as a pillar of strength to your wife, “Being there all the time might not be possible physically, but show your presence mentally. It is the best support to her and she will feel that you are around her. The new mother is going through a different journey and as a husband you have to be a part of it and build a strong connection with your child from the beginning,” says life-coach Manoj Lekhi.
Once the baby is born, the mothers tend to lose interest in themselves. That’s where the mind starts playing games and shows what it wants to show and plays on the insecurity. “You have to be on your toes to see if the mother is falling into the trap and should help her believe in herself. You should make her feel important and beautiful. Make her realise that she is the most amazing woman in the world and she has completed a tremendous journey and you are there to support her all along the way in their new life,” Chetna advises.
Sometimes, the physical changes of the body shape, the emotional change of having a new baby, the stress associated with it, and the hormonal rise and drop that follows childbirth can cause postpartum depression.
“Identifying what the problem is helps to deal with the depression. If you can, listen to her or ask if she is open to talking to a counsellor to sort her emotions out. Ask her what can you do to help her cope. Take walks with her and the baby, suggest activities that you know would calm her down, make her happy (like reading, going out for a look makeover, movies, music, etc.), a mommycation where she is away from her children for some time will all gain you points as a good husband,” suggests life-coach Khyati Birla.
It may sound like you have to essentially give up your life in a bid to make your wife comfortable. Choose to see child rearing as a shared responsibility. The form of this responsibility changes as your child grows older.
“This phase requires you to be hands-on which will ease, as your child grows more independent and capable day by day. Do not neglect to grab some downtime for yourself. An irritable, tired husband cannot contribute towards creating a happy, stress-free zone for both his wife and his child,” Khyati adds.
