Becoming a new parent is a nerve-wracking time.
Suddenly you have a new little person to take care of and you’re literally responsible for keeping them alive. Terrifying.
But, while a certain level of worry is normal, excessive anxiety can be problematic and can lead to serious stress-related symptoms.
A new study by Probio7 has found that 44% of new parents worry about their baby’s health daily, with almost 20% having concerns on an hourly basis.
The poll of more than 1,000 UK parents also found that more than half seek medical advice, including a visit to the GP, every month.
69% use the internet to search their baby’s health signs and symptoms regularly – either on an hourly, daily or weekly basis.
The worries that parents had were wide-ranging, but there were a few things that came up again and again.
The parents surveyed worried the most about when, why and how much their baby cries.
Of those concerned over tears, 36% were anxious every hour.
Parent’s second favourite worry is over the regularity, consistency and colour of their little one’s poo. And coming in third, was anxiousness over how much or how little baby slept.
Feeling anxious to this level on an hourly basis isn’t healthy or helpful, and worryingly, the survey also found that many parents were turning to booze for comfort.
18% of women and 23% of men say that they find relief from worry about their baby in a glass of wine. This number skyrockets for divorced couples, with 50% of single, divorced parents using wine for comfort.
Parents often sought relief through internet searches for advice, and 50% booked regular visits to their GP for reassurance.
For 29% of mums, they felt that their baby crying frequently had damaged their relationship. And that figure was even higher for male responses – 38% – suggesting that men may find infant crying more detrimental than women.
17% of parents surveyed claimed to have suffered from depression when their baby was first born. It could be that age and experience offer some advantage because the levels of depression were highest among the youngest respondents (aged 18-24).
‘This survey suggests parents are worrying most about colic, toileting and sleep,’ says Berta Corbera, Probio7 nutritionist.
‘Optimal gut health for babies is not only beneficial directly for the gut in terms of reducing colic, reflux, loose stools or constipation; it is also vital for immune health. A probiotic can help the baby’s mood, sleep, energy and general wellbeing.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/11/new-parents-worry-babys-health-every-hour-turning-booze-comfort-10900241/
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