“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a golden carriage.”
The children’s rhyme makes it sound so simple, but life rarely follows a formula. If you’ve just gotten married or are about to get married (and if you and your partner want kids), you may be starting to think about how long you should wait before trying to start a family. Or, perhaps you don’t want children at all; maybe you’re ready for kids now, married or not?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently announced the birth of their baby boy on 6 May 2019, just two weeks shy of their first wedding anniversary on 19 May 2019. It seems that this couple may have been in a ‘Harry’ to have a child (if it was planned). Like all marriages, the couple can expect a lot of changes with a newborn.
If you’re in a relationship, here’s a roundup of some of the ways marriage or your partnership changes after baby, and how you can keep your relationship strong.
Your relationship will change
The change is unavoidable; your lives and your relationship will change, but often for the better! Your new life will revolve around the little creature in your care, who solely relies and depends on you.
Expect some hormonal changes
Through pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, a woman’s body undergoes drastic (but miraculous) hormonal changes, which may cause mood swings. The good news is that these hormones will balance out, but initially, it may take more effort to keep bad moods at bay.
Sleep deprivation is a thing
You know how you feel when you haven’t had enough sleep? Get used to it! Although you both may feel cranky, try to remember to be nice to one another, saying “please” and “thank you” and going out of your way to show a little kindness.
Your love life may take a backseat
It’s not advisable to be intimate with your partner right after having a baby; and, quite frankly, many people simply don’t feel like it for a while. If you feel this way, it’s best to communicate to your partner that it’s not their fault and it’s not going to be like this forever. Most new Moms probably just need a nice big hug at the end of the day and to feel loved.
You’ll have a new baby to love
The love you have for your baby may be different from the love you have for your partner, but try not to let it get in between you. Rather, use your shared love for your baby to grow even closer to one another.
You’ll have less quality time together
You know that time you used to spend doing your favourite things (going out for meals, watching Netflix, going for walks, going to gym, socialising with friends)? You’ll have far less of it with a little baby to care for at home. As a couple, you’ll have to learn to carve out quality time at what may seem the strangest moments, like sitting together during feeding time, or bathing baby together.
It won’t be easy, but you’re in it together
Despite the ups and downs, the two of you have created a life together. Taking care of that life as a team will bond you in a whole new way. Watching your partner with your baby may make you fall in love with them all over again!
Is there an ideal timeline for having kids?
In the U.S.A, the average time a couple waits between getting married and having a baby is about three years. On average, American women are at the age of 26 when they get married and 29 when they have their first child.
As you can see, there are no hard and fast rules for having children. Each relationship, every circumstance and everybody is so different – and it can all change in an instant! Life rarely goes according to plan, so our advice would be not to over-think and over-plan. Embrace your own family’s journey, wherever it may take you!
If you do decide to have children, Harrington House is the perfect venue for your pregnancy shoot, baby shower, post pregnancy shoot even your wedding anniversary celebrations. Imagine the memories you will evoke if you get married at Harrington House AND choose it as the special spot for another milestone in your family’s life.
Contact us to find out more about the different venues and packages available. We pride ourselves on our flexibility in making your dreams come true.
