▲Exercise. You might feel drained, but it’s important to keep moving and do something for your body and mind. It can do wonders for your sex life.

▲Eat a balanced and healthy diet. Especially if you’re a mother and are breastfeeding, eating a good diet will ensure you and your baby are getting all the nutrients you need.

▲Get enough sleep. We know how hard it is, especially during the first year, but it's important for you to define strategies that allow you to rest when possible.

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It’s very important to have support from family and friends, but you can also pay for someone to take care of things for you from time to time, if you can afford it.

▲Try to take a lighthearted approach when it's appropriate. We know it’s serious business, but you shouldn't lose your sense of humor.

▲It’s all worth it in the end. Your parents probably went through the same struggle. It’s how nature works. As a couple, you should focus on the future and be sure that the best is yet to come.

▲Balance is key. Try to balance activities with the children, time for yourself, and with your partner. Easier said than done, of course.

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Couples spend less time together in a romantic context. Caring for a baby is very time-consuming.

Less time together means less connection, less opportunities to bond, have fun, and relax together.

▲But how much stress does having children actually add to a relationship?

▲This stress affects couples from all over the world and is not exclusive to any particular social or cultural background.

▲There are also obviously many positive aspects to having a baby, and a couple can and should explore these. Here’s what you can do to manage the stress of having children.

▲Having children will obviously add stress to the relationship, both on an individual level and as a couple.

▲As individuals, parents will have less time for themselves. The baby takes priority over the parent’s needs.

▲Unfortunately, children have the ability to drive partners apart just as often as they can bring them together. But there are things you can do about it.

▲Or if there are financial problems and lack of physical and emotional support (e.g. family and friends).

▲New parents don’t have a frame of reference and therefore no clue about how to deal with the stress a child can bring to the relationship.

▲Many caretaking responsibilities are split between the couple, but more often than not, one of the parents ends up taking on more of the childcare burden.

▲Relationship satisfaction is likely to fall after a child’s birth. Couples will likely feel more stressed out, and consequently more unhappy.

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Despite the toll it takes on the relationship, married couples are less likely to get divorced after having children.

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Having children is an important and life-altering moment for a couple. The change can be overwhelming.

▲You have to take care of yourself too. It might be overwhelming at first, but neglecting this will only make things worse.

▲This can lead to the feeling that a couple is negotiating, and that the partnership is merely functional.

▲Feelings of resentment can be triggered if one of the parents feels like he/she is putting in more work than the other.

▲You know that a decrease in relationship satisfaction is normal. Expect and accept that, knowing that it’s just a phase, and work to find your appropriate balance.

▲Focus on gratitude and enjoy the moment. Allow yourself and your partner to connect over small things, from a smile to a kiss.

▲Having children will increase your altruism. So you and your partner will be more giving towards each other in the end.

▲Let's talk about love: celebrities' secrets to long-lasting relationships

▲This is magnified if there are medical issues involved. E.g. physical or mental health problems.

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We know it’s easier said than done, but you should try to keep seeing yourselves as a romantic couple and sex is really important to keep you connected.

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Having children is a life-changing moment for a couple. When two become three, a whole new world is unveiled. Priorities change, stress levels increase, and sometimes that means that couples drift apart.

If you're in this situation, chances are you want to understand why and how children can affect your relationship, and most importantly, what you and your partner can do about it.

In this gallery we look at the elements that bring stress to a relationship, why this happens, and the mechanisms you and your partner have at your disposal to survive as a couple.

Click through to learn more.

How to survive as a couple after becoming parents

How much stress do children bring into a relationship and what can you do about it?

17/06/24 por StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Relationships

If you're in this situation, chances are you want to understand why and how children can affect your relationship, and most importantly, what you and your partner can do about it.

In this gallery we look at the elements that bring stress to a relationship, why this happens, and the mechanisms you and your partner have at your disposal to survive as a couple.

Click through to learn more.