Finances / Ups and Downs

Finances
Your financial situation may change as you are no longer working. Some mothers find they can carry on a few weeks after birth, these women will need the support to look after their baby while they are not at home. Returning to work so quickly is rare and depending on the maternity package offered to you your income may decrease quite dramatically with your time away from work. If you are looking after your child on your own there are some support networks which may be able to help. You are entitled to child benefit now, this is paid monthly or weekly and it’s current weekly value is £20 for your first child and £13.20 for each child that follows. The UK government has a good site with all the information you need.

Ups and Downs
There can be frustrations and disappointments for example if you find breast feeding difficult and it just isn’t working out for you or your baby, you may feel that you have let yourself or your child down. Please don’t worry, it is not possible for everyone to be successful in this and if you are struggling seek advice from your health visitor or doctor. If there is a problem it can be resolved and if you end up changing to formula bottle feeds it is not a failure but just a different way of doing things. After all it is important that your baby gets enough to drink.  There are breast feeding specialists too who will come to your homw,if you want to get some specific one- on -one help.

Your sleep pattern will be disrupted which can make you feel terrible. Sleep deprivation can cause you to feel like you are unable to cope, that you are too tired to look after your baby properly and your behaviour to others may change: sometimes all you need is a good nights sleep to return to feeling like your normal self. Ask your partner to take over the nighttime feed or ask a friend to come and help you. If you feel very low and unable to cope contact your health visitor for advice or visit your GP.

© The Westover

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