"Now they depend on us." It's normal to feel this weight.

In the first few days after the baby is born, many mothers and fathers go through a time that is hard to explain. Suddenly, there is a tiny human being who depends on you for practically everything. Feeding, soothing, protecting, interpreting their cries... It is a huge responsibility and, sometimes, it can feel overwhelming.

If, at any point, you look at your baby and think "Will I cope?", "What if I do something wrong?" or "This is much harder than I imagined," we want you to know that you are not alone. These thoughts are very common and do not mean that you are less capable or less prepared to care for your baby.

Parenthood doesn't arrive fully formed on the day of birth. Just as your baby is learning to live outside the womb, you are also learning how to be a mother or a father. It is a learning process taken one day at a time, one nappy change at a time, one feed at a time, and one night at a time.

You don't need to do everything perfectly. Your baby doesn't need perfect parents. They need parents who are available, who observe, learn, and respond to their needs with love. And that is built every day.

Remember: asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a way of taking care of yourself so that you can take better care of your baby.