In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R’ Avraham

In memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

Adjusting to a new baby, harchakot, and feeling lonely
July 31, 2025

Question

Hi! I bh gave birth to a delicious baby last week. I am finding keeping the harchakos post partum very hard. I would like to hear from an emotional and practical perspective how we can make this work?

1. How to practically do the "no passing" thing when there is a newborn baby involved - I feel I need a crash course on halachos and how to apply practically.

2. Emotionally, I feel distant from my husband and so lonely in the exhausting newborn mom stage.

Answer

Mazal tov on the birth of your baby!

We appreciate the sensitive nature of this question. Observing harchakot postpartum can be a real challenge, and it is normal to feel emotional strain in the first stretch postpartum

1.  A newborn can be placed momentarily on a seat, in a stroller, etc., or handed to a third person. If this cannot be done safely, the baby may be transferred directly, with the parents being careful not to touch each other. It is permissible for the husband to place the baby on his wife’s bed while she is lying there, or vice versa.

Once babies are old enough to reach out from one parent to the other, they can be manipulated to do that and then passed directly, so long as the couple are careful not to touch each other.

2. We suggest discussing your feelings with your husband. 

It might help to try to work out what triggers you feeling especially isolated, to develop a sort of shorthand to quickly communicate that to him in the moment, and to brainstorm together ways that he can help you feel connected at those moments – whether saying something, offering assistance, or doing something together. Try to make space to hear about his feelings, as well.

As we mentioned above, these feelings are common – sometimes known as the baby blues. They often can be improved by accessing extra support for the new mother. In some cases, the baby blues can develop into a more serious condition, known as postpartum depression. Learn more here

Please don't hesitate to follow up with us.
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