The big changes that come with a new baby can affect everyone in your family differently.  

Of course, there can be lots of excitement in anticipation of lovely cuddles with your newest family member, but there are some complicated feelings that might come up too. 

Everyone’s family looks different, but there’s often an expectation that this will be a time of  total joy and togetherness. In reality, you might miss the way your relationships were before your bub arrived. You might find yourself arguing about values and parenting decisions with loved ones, or you might be bored of only talking about parenting and baby things!  

It can be a stressful time. And it can feel hard to talk about issues in your relationships, when there is so much else going on. 

In this episode our guest Bree talks about her experiences with family therapy and the importance of putting yourself first.  

Survive and Thrive is a PANDA podcast.  

Visit panda.org.au for more support. 

Family violence support: 

It’s important to know that there is a risk during this time in your life that family violence will get worse, or it may start for the first time. If you’re worried about safety in your relationship, support is available. 

1800 RESPECT (support for people affected by family violence): 1800 737 732 or 1800respect.org.au (24/7) 

Speak to PANDA: 

Call the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday AEST). 

The Helpline provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent. 

Our highly trained and caring counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences. 

Partners, family members and friends can also call, as can health professionals supporting expecting and new parents. 

More resources: 

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline: 1800 882 436 (24/7) 

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or lifeline.org.au (12pm to midnight) 

Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au (24/7) 

QLife: 1800 184 527 or qlife.org.au (3PM to midnight) 

Mensline: 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au (24/7) 

If you need help now: 

If you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department. 

You might also be interested in: 

• Try a Mental Health Checklist: https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/checklists. Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re experiencing (or noticing in a loved one) could be a reason to seek help. These short, anonymous checklists are available on the PANDA website.