Your first night home with your new baby can be trying.  You’re new parents and you don’t have all the answers.  Many parents are worried, exhausted, frazzled and even scared when they first bring a new baby home.  Here are a few tips for surviving that first night and many of the ones to follow.

1. Rest is crucial.  Sleep when your baby sleeps, even throughout the day.  Remember, your body is healing after giving birth and rest periods are needed for healing.
2. Use the support of your family and friends. Let others help you with housework, laundry, cooking, shopping, cleaning, etc.  If you are breastfeeding, consider using a breast pump to prepare bottles so that a partner can help with feeding times.
3. Work with your partner to support each other.  Communication is very important and talking to each other should be open and honest.
4. Simplify your life where you can; order take-out, limit visitors, take long walks and don’t worry about or do tasks that don’t absolutely need to be done.
5. You may feel awkward and overwhelmed at first; just be as calm as possible and try to pay attention to what your baby is telling you.
6. Cuddle and stroke your baby often.  It will help you bond with your baby and may help you learn to read your baby's signals.  It also helps to calm and relax you both.
7. Trust yourself and your instincts.  Do what you feel is right and do what works.

Although “baby blues” are common during the first few days or weeks after delivery, call your doctor if you are not able to cope with your everyday routine, and if you feel a constant sadness for more than a week or become severely depressed.