NCS Series: What can a NCS do for your family and your mental health?
As part of our NCS blog series, we’re going to get into some of the benefits of hiring a NCS for your family – specifically what they can do for your family and general mental health. If you are considering hiring a newborn care specialist for your family after the arrival of your newborn, having an idea of what they do and do not do and what is realistic with a newborn in the house can help you not only decide if having a NCS is right for you, but also knowing what to expect. Part of what a NCS can offer your family will depend on two main factors; what you want/need done and what that particular NCS is willing to do. Taking the time to really think about what would be most beneficial for you is key. Are you someone who cannot stand seeing laundry in a basket? Then make sure and communicate in your job description that baby laundry is required. Of course, this almost immediately begs the question, ‘Will the NCS do family laundry?’ and the answer is varied. As a rule of thumb, family laundry does not fall under the scope of duties for a NCS, but if they are cross-trained as a postpartum doula or just happen to like folding laundry, then they might be willing to do it. But this would usually fall under the “wishes’ category and not the job requirements category. What if you are someone who hates cooking but knows you need to eat well in order to recover from birth? Again, while cooking for a postpartum client or family is not necessarily part of a specific NCS position, some NCS are happy to do so, so you can request it if it matters to you.
Does a NCS Assist in childhood development?
Though a NCS is not a babysitter, nor are they a nanny, part of their job duties does include play to foster early childhood development. They prioritize taking care of your baby, teaching you about your new baby, teaching you how to care for your baby and providing you the support and time you need to recover well from the arrival of your new little bundle. This can include bathing, feeding, swaddling, facilitating good sleep, bringing the baby to you to nurse or for a bottle feeding, taking back over after feeding so that you can return to focusing on rest and recovery, educating you on development and milestones, monitoring the baby for signs they are doing well, alerting you to any potential concerns so that you can check in with your healthcare provider and teaching you how to do all of these things as well so that you grow your confidence and capabilities as a new parent. In other words, they help you adapt to this new role, all the while supporting you and your baby as you do it. We often say a newborn care specialist is ‘the modern village”. So talk to us and allow us to share with you how a newborn care specialist can benefit your family based on your specific needs and wants. Families who have experienced the assistance of a high quality NCS say it made all the difference in their recovery and experience as new parents. From a family with a NCS: “We’re so glad to have a pro on our side to help us LEARN how to care for our baby and not just throw technology at the situation.”
How does a NCS help with mental health?
All too often, particularly in the Western World, we leave parents essentially alone to recover from the arrival of a new baby (whether via birth, surrogacy or adoption) and there is almost an expectation that parents will intuitively “know” what to do. And while parent intuition is strong, oftentimes parents do not know what to do when it comes to the day-to-day practical stuff and having the reassurance of an experienced and educated NCS can be a game changer! Learning about your new baby is huge and the ability to do so in the comfort of your own home can help you quickly gain confidence and feel better about your role as a new parent. But we also often underestimate the importance of someone compassionate to talk to, lean on and learn from. A quality trained NCS can offer all of that alongside the care they are providing your baby. And science has shown us that having compassionate support makes all the difference in our ability to adapt to situations and it helps our mental health.
Another key thing that a newborn care specialist can provide is someone to help with the new parent anxiety that often arises with the arrival of a new baby; even experienced parents often have concerns around their new baby that are eased by having a trained professional in the home. And of course, the thing most parents are concerned about losing out on when a new baby is born…. Sleep! Having a trusted expert to take over when the baby wants to have an all night dance party allows you, the new parent, to return to bed and get the rest your body needs. It is widely known that lack of sleep is a major contributor to a decline in mental health and knowing that someone else is on duty will allow you to get the rest you need to recover and help support you as you navigate this new experience.
Most quality NCS also know the signs of a potentially developing issue, and while they are not medical practitioners and cannot diagnose, they can alert you or your partner when potential warning signs appear and support you as you seek the proper help. From a NCS who helps with this: “We bring organization and wealth of knowledge that brings comfort and reassurance; we reduce the anxiety and fear of first time parenthood.” Our agency can help you find a quality and experienced caregiver that absolutely can make all the difference as your family grows.
For more information about a wide array of childcare services including, but not at all limited to NCS, please reach out to A Perfect Fit nanny agency today and explore all that we have to offer!
