Truth be told, life after the birth of your baby is inevitably different. Priorities change and parents find themselves changing to accommodate these different needs. Obviously the baby has needs that need to be met, but somewhere along the track people forget/ignore that parents also need their needs met. Let me talk about the husband-wife relationship post birth.
The arrival of a bub affects the husband-wife relationship. It saddens me to report that many relationships are very strained. All focus is on the baby which long term is not healthy for the parent's relationship. Typical scenarios include: lack of sleep, lots of stress, feeling neglected by your partner, more concerned with the baby than anything else, too tired for sex or baby sleeps in the same room and sex will wake the baby, or even worse, baby now sleeps with mum and dad has moved into another room. Disaster! The list goes on.
A few tips I can give:
1. Make time away from the baby/kids. This includes time with your spouse only, and some personal time by yourself.
2. Make time for relaxation and to pursue own interests. Don't be totally consumed by family needs only. You need to do new things (non-baby related).
3. Find someone to LISTEN to you and not judge you. Be it your partner, other family member, friend, shrink. Whoever you're comfortable with.
4. Finally, remember parenting is a progressive learning curve. It is not about perfection. Cut yourself some slack.
