After welcoming our second baby, I was continuously told “wow, you make parenthood look so easy” or “how are you able to get the laundry done and breakfast on the table already?” or “tell me your secret to getting him to sleep so well already”. And I quickly realized that the knowledge that I have as a pediatric nurse practitioner is the greatest gift in navigating parenthood, especially in the early days and with the big transitions of the first year of life.
Why? Knowledge is power.
I do not give space in my brain for a lot of of the thoughts that many parents understandably do, which allows me to shift my focus to other things instead. Anxiety comes from the unknown and feeling of lack of control, and the early days are filled with a lot of that.
This guidebook gives the knowledge to better prepare you to have less uncertainty.
I developed the expectant parent guidebook based on the most commonly asked questions, from office visit concerns to personal friend reach outs for advice, to provide a clear understanding of what to expect.
It is quick and easy to read through or reference on the spot, and know whether or not a pediatrician call/appointment is really necessary. Having a clear understanding of what is normal, what is not normal, and how to troubleshoot commonly encountered problems gives you the reassurance before it even becomes an anxious thought.