Encouragement for the New Mother

 To any new mothers who may be reading this, Congratulations!   You have cooperated with the Author of Life and look what God has wrought! Love has miraculously created a new person who is, and will forever be, unique in all of human history.  And you, you have been given the privilege of caring for this new life.  What a sacred and humbling responsibility. 

Perhaps, as Eve did, you are exclaiming,  “I have brought a man into being with the help of the Lord” (Gen 4:1) As Saint John Paul II wrote in Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women)

This exclamation of Eve, the “mother of all the living” is repeated every time a new human being comes into the world.  It expresses the woman’s joy and awareness that she is sharing in the great mystery of eternal generation.  The spouses share in the creative power of God.

No pressure or anything.  If you truly understand the magnitude of giving life, as I believe most mothers do, you may more likely be thinking, “How on Earth can I possibly do this?” First off, remember you do not need to plan the child’s entire upbringing right now.  You only need to feed, care for, and love your baby. Even that much may seem like an awful lot when your baby first arrives. 

Pregnancy and childbirth are monumental tasks. You have accomplished a lot! You are probably completely exhausted and understandably so. Rest. Be easy on yourself. Sleep whenever you can. You need to recover, to regain your strength. Think of Isaiah 40:11 “He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.” God knows this is an exhausting job, the most important job he has given anyone. Sleep whenever the baby sleeps.  Don’t try to get that one last task done. Sleep. If you can’t sleep, at least lie down. You can’t pour from an empty pitcher and you will be pouring out a lot of love for this baby.

If you feel as though you really don’t know what you’re doing as a mother, know that every mother feels that way at first. This is a new role for you. It’s unfamiliar and a little scary. God is with you. You will be able to do it and do it well because God has put the ability in your DNA, and he would not have given you a little baby without also providing the grace and the strength to be a good mother. Pray. Ask Our Blessed Mother to help you and to hold you as well. She will help. She knows how you are feeling.

Read about baby and child care, if you like. Listen to people you consider wise. There is some very good material out there. There is also a lot of nonsense. Dismiss what doesn’t make sense to you. Gather your information and then decide what is best for your baby. You and your husband are the experts. No one knows your baby as you do and no one loves him as much as you do. You know what is best.  Trust your instincts.

After the marathon of childbirth, the whirlwind of hormones, and the emotional upheaval of such a big life change, you are a little fragile right now. It’s all right. Accept the help that is offered to you. You need and deserve it. This is not the time to be superwoman. Relish the hours you have right now to lie in bed nurturing your little one in body, mind, and soul, while regaining and recovering your own strength and capacity. Guard your thoughts. Don’t let the evil one disturb your peace.  Remember Phil. 4:8  “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  Yes, think about these things, and let the peace of the Lord fill you.

Finally, remember this time with your baby is very fleeting. It will be gone in the twinkling of an eye. Cherish each day. You may feel as though you are getting nothing done, but you are.  Loving your baby is your most important work.  Everything else can wait.  Remember the words of Ruth Hulburt Hamilton’s poem. 

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs, Dust, go to sleep,

I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.

Babies don’t keep! Embrace and enjoy your new adventure!! God’s blessings be upon all mothers!