Home Nursing Blog Nervous Newbies: How to Support Anxious First-Time Parents as a Nurse

Nervous Newbies: How to Support Anxious First-Time Parents as a Nurse

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Having children is a rollercoaster — ask anyone with kids and they’ll tell you that. Bringing new life into the world is equal parts anticipation, joy, and anxiety, especially for parents that are joining the parenting rodeo for the first time. If you’re one of the many student nurses enrolled in degrees such as RN to MSN programs, you’ll almost certainly encounter expectant parents at some point in your career, and many of them will have some level of anxiety about the arrival of their babies. Understanding their fears and being able to offer compassionate (and helpful!) support can make all the difference in the world to parents who could be hanging on by a thread with the pressures of parenthood weighing down upon them. This article will have a look at four real strategies that nurses can use to help calm the nerves of nervous first-time parents.

Actively Listen, then Answer Questions in Detail

Everyone likes to be listened to. Going into a conversation with an expectant parent with an open heart and open mind is the most important part of any of these steps. Being able to understand the root of what parents are asking is important because there are mountains of misinformation, myths, or half-truths surrounding childcare that first-time parents will be inundated with from their first online search for ‘pregnancy tips’. Parents are going to have a lot of questions, and you must be ready to listen.

As a nurse, you’ve got the knowledge and know-how to provide accurate information that can quell fears and help re-establish parents as the ones in control. When a question comes your way, don’t bat it back at parents with medical jargon that they’re not going to understand — use simple language and try to explain things using examples where possible. Remember, you’re the one with the knowledge, but it took years to learn! For example, if a parent is asking about labor induction, explain the steps involved, why they might be necessary, and what to expect during every stage. When you’re actively listening, it’s often tempting to hold on to what you want to say rather than really listen to everything that the parent is telling you. Keep notes to assist with this, it’ll help organize your thoughts!

There can also be some encouragement on your end. There’s no question too small, and remember to meet everything with empathy and understanding to help them on a tumultuous, but ultimately successful, journey.

Be Patient

Some say that having children for the first time is like learning to drive. It’s anxiety-inducing, you’re getting advice from your grandma, your cousin, and it seems like everyone from your high school has already done it. It can also be massively frustrating, so it’s vital to remember that any sudden, emotional reactions come as a result of a desire to protect their unborn child and make sure that every decision they can possibly make supports their health.

Sometimes, you’re going to have to prompt questions. First-timers may not know what to ask, so be proactive in offering important pieces of information about childbirth and care that they may not have considered. Wouldn’t you want someone to show you that they understand your needs and want to help you?

Ask Parents What They Need

Every parent is different. Every child is different. This means that no two sets of needs are identical, and these can all change based on personal circumstances, background, and previous experiences. Some might be after reassurance and want you to play a supportive role that holds their hand along every bump and pothole on the childbirth road. Others, however, could love the research aspect of pregnancy, and use you as an information-checking source. There’s a simple way to find out what they want from you, though: ask.

Create a dialogue that lays out what you can offer them while also asking how you can be of assistance. Ask about their worries, perhaps anything specific that they’re unsure about that needs further discussion. This approach means you’re not shooting from the hip when it comes to specific advice. You’re a friendly face with a well-educated medical background — you are these people’s point of contact for one of the most stressful periods of their lives.

While you’re at it, ask about their learning styles. I know I love visual aids and hands-on demonstrations, so if you feel like tailoring your advice further, this is always an interesting angle to consider.

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