Common Relationship Problems New Parents Face — And How To Address Them

It’s amazing how quickly it happens, isn’t it? “The relationship changes from being one where you’re going in the same direction with the same goals to being competitive,” she says. Because the baby needs so much, there’s so much dependency and you get strung out.” Per Luiz, there’s nothing you can really do to prevent those feelings, because you’ve moved into this new developmental phase. “Because there’s so much neglect and competition when a new baby is born,” says Luiz, “that can arouse anything that’s been unresolved.” The Solution: “It’s really a matter of negotiating the energy,” Luiz says. “You might enjoy this unsexy phase of the marriage.” The Problem: One Partner Keeps Getting on the Other’s Case The Cause: “Personality traits have a lot to do with it,” says David Silverman, a licensed marriage and family therapist in New York.