Transitioning into parenthood can be an exciting time where there’s so much preparation to be done. From painting and co-ordinating the décor for the baby’s room, organizing all the newborn clothes, to buying the car seat to bring them home in. Will we breastfeed or bottle-feed? Who will we rely on for support? There is so much to think about and it can be a very taxing time on everyone involved! Even the best prepared parents can get an eye opener when the baby comes home! From countless sleepless nights, a lack of patience along with an increase in conflict and a lack of communication, new role identity as a parent, cooking, cleaning and all the other chores, what will your new life look like? And, how will you ever find time to be intimate? Hope is not lost! (www.gottman.com/blog/thetransition-to-parenthood-relationship-tips-for-new-parents/).
This is where the Bringing Baby Home Program comes in. Developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, this program is a game changer for new parents.
The Bringing Baby Home program is for any couples expecting or contemplating becoming new parents. Couples can attend the program before baby is born up until the baby is 18 months of age. Dr. Gottman and his colleagues found the “best predictor of marital adjustment after a new baby arrives: the quality of friendship in the marriage.” ( Bringing Baby Home (TM) — Fall in Love with Parenting... Together (little-elf.org) The transition in to parenthood and keeping your relationship healthy can be so much easier when given the right tools to work with!
Here are many of the benefits of the Bringing Baby Home Program:
· Parent and Baby Benefits
· both parents were more in-tune to the new baby’s signals.
· co-parenting abilities were more effective
· babies smiled and laughed more during playtime at both 3 and 12 months of age
· a more positive father-infant attachment was seen
· Infant Benefits
· One-year-old infants exhibited less delays in language skills
· Babies were noted to have less distress
· More positive response in 1-year-olds to their fathers’ soothing
· Couples Benefits
· Couples reported the quality of their relationship was very stable compared to the couples that did not take the program and reported a decline in the quality of their relationship.
· Conflicts were managed with less hostility
· Increased relationship satisfaction and ability to stay together
· Learned tools and resources to be prepared when the baby arrived home
(www.gottman.com/about/research/parenting/)
The Hub Family Resource Centre in Fort McMurray, offers the Bringing Baby Home Program every third Saturday of the month from 9-11:30 am. The time and energy invested in the program by you and your partner will be paid back in full over your lifetime. Learn how to stay connected, manage fatigue, conflict, raise a happy child in a nurturing environment and so much more! Based on the work of Dr. John and Julie Gottman, the program will cover:
Staying connected with your partner
Building an emotional bank account
The four steps of constructive problem solving
The importance of fathers; Creating shared meaning
PARENT SUPPORTS — The Hub (thehubfrc.ca)
" Parenthood gives us an opportunity to discover and reinvent parts of ourselves that haven't been explored yet. The ability to love, care, give, adapt and for many times neglect our own needs and wants for the sake of this little human that now depends on you and your partner to survive, transforms you in a whole new identity we call Mom and Dad.
To be able to share this new journey together and still remain the couple that you were prior to baby can be very challenging. I look forward to meet you in this amazing workshop that I get to facilitate and guide you in how to be prepared for this amazing new phase of your lives."
- Ana Oliveira, Caregiver Engagement Coordinator, The Hub Family Resource Centre
Register for Bringing Baby Home with the Hub Family Resource Centre.
Melanie Burke Longstaff
Freelance Nurse Writer| Healthcare Content Writer| Health & Wellness Writer| Medical Writer| Article Writer| B2B and B2C Writer