While any era of parenthood has the potential to feel overwhelming, the newborn stage is often seen as one of the biggest culprits for this. At this time, most parents and in particular moms will be sleep deprived, struggling to rebalance themselves emotionally and physically, and also trying to adjust to having (another) tiny person in their lives.

In theory, the role of the extended family at this time should be a supportive one, doing what they can to make the lives of the new parents easier. Unfortunately, this can prove to be the last thing that they’re interested in doing. In particular, grandparents can show themselves to be overly pushy or unhelpful at this frequently difficult time. It only adds to the pile of anxieties that come from dealing with a new baby, and can potentially negatively affect their well-being in the worst cases. It’s a scenario in which a parent has to tread carefully.