The transition from partners to parents can test a strong relationship to it’s core, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, a crying new baby, lack of sleep, multiple visitors coming to meet your sweet baby, financially providing for a family, did I mention lack of sleep? The transition to parenthood can be one of the biggest transitions parents make together as well as individually.  Suddenly not only are you responsible for yourself, now you have a little human that will always be your child, which comes with great responsibility.

Prior to children my husband and I finished the bottle of wine while we ate an amazing meal prepared together over the course of an hour or more.  We took amazing trips, traveling on our bicycles  with friends through Ireland and Belgium, road trips to Baja, long hikes in the woods, spoiled ourselves with lavish restaurants.  We had a good life and I relish that time that we were able to grow as couple.  Then a good friend became pregnant and I wanted that too.  After our first miscarriage, I realized how badly I wanted a child.  After our second miscarriage I was devastated and wanted to have a family more than anything.

Then we were successfully pregnant! We read about pregnancy, we attended the Bradley Method, and we discussed how it would change our life and our relationship.  We talked about how we wanted to parent, both feeling very strongly with being conscious in our parenting style and being present to our children.  Knowing that we both wanted this type of parenting we also knew we would have to give up a lot (or put some things on hold) – no more long dinner talks slowly working through a bottle of wine, no more fondue parties that lasted until the wee hours of the night, no more ultimate Frisbee club involving traveling for tournaments.  Fortunately we were both okay with that knowing what we’d gained in return.  We have a happy life with two kiddos filled with new adventures, lots of silly fun family time, creating new traditions, adjusting our travel so that we can all be together.  Friday nights are no longer party nights, they are Friday Family Time nights and we look forward to them.  We are still partners but now we are parents too!

Making a healthy transition from partners to parents will help create a supportive, positive, and nurturing environment for your child to grow.  Begin sharing feelings about this momentous transition before baby arrives.  It’s a great date night topic! There are many exercises on the internet to help begin the conversation or take your conversation deeper.

Here are some tips to a healthy transition

• Share your expectations- when couples can share their hopes, fears, expectations with each other authentically it can build a deeper respect for each other, as well as finding commonality in shared hopes, fears, and expectations. In an opposite-sex relationship, recognize and appreciate that some issues may be more challenging for males while others are more challenging for females
• Regular couple check-ins- how are each of you doing? How are each of you feeling about and managing the new life that’s joined your family?
• Take time to talk to each other- Parenting can wear you down, make you question your abilities.  Give each other compliments, fill each other’s tanks.  As baby grows increase the time you give to your partnership.
• Make time for intimacy and sex- postpartum may just be snuggling a little tighter, going to bed at the same time so you can cuddle.  Don’t ignore this very important part of your partnership.  Embrace opportunities for nonsexual intimacy, especially right after baby is born and the next several weeks.
• Talk with friends and family- Keeping your tribe close to you during major life transitions such as having a baby is key to surviving!  Your tribe will lift you up when you feel down, they will cheer you along when you feel strong, they will believe in you and remind you of the amazing individual you are.

One might think yoga is for the individual yet it can offer so much more.  Full Circle Yoga KC recognizes the importance of a strong partner bond going into such a significant life event as well as the need for a tribe.  Prenatal Partner Yoga allows partners the time to check-in with each other.   This free, be silly, enjoy the company of one another class creates a space for partners to begin being conscious of the added role as parents.  This class opens the door for partners to continue the conversation outside of class as to how they want to show up as partners as parents.  Women together in Prenatal Yoga and become a tribe when they return for Mommy and Baby Yoga sharing and supporting one another through the fourth trimester.  Full Circle Yoga KC celebrates and embraces the beautiful journey from partners to parents.  Full Circle Yoga KC offers a space that creates a community of support for growing families through family-centered classes like Hatha Yoga, Gentle Flow Yoga, Kids Yoga, and Power Vinyasa.

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Aerial Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, Power Vinyasa and more.