What happens after the baby arrives?

By Lindy Alexander
Updated June 18 2013 - 10:23am, first published December 20 2012 - 12:14pm
"When a couple become parents, both have expectations of what their partner should do and provide ... if we don't talk about them, conflict is inevitable" ... Alison Osborne
"When a couple become parents, both have expectations of what their partner should do and provide ... if we don't talk about them, conflict is inevitable" ... Alison Osborne

If you ask soon-to-be parents how prepared they are for the arrival of their first child, most are likely to think you’re asking about birth plans, which pram they’ve bought, or if the nursery is painted yet. Preparation in most antenatal classes typically focuses on labour, breastfeeding and providing a safe home environment for the baby, but Alison Osborne, author of The Post-baby Conversation: What new parents need to say to each other, says couples are often under-prepared in one vital area: she says it’s rare for couples to have conversations specifically about what it will mean for their relationship once the baby arrives.

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