Welcoming the New Year: A Gentle New Beginning for Expat Families in Barcelona
- annarochdeus
- Dec 31, 2025
- 6 min read
The arrival of a new year often brings with it a quiet yet powerful sense of renewal. There is a collective pause, a breath taken after the intensity of the months gone by, and a gentle turning towards what lies ahead. For many of us, the new year feels energising and hopeful a moment to reconnect with purpose, to reflect on what truly matters, and to realign ourselves with the life we wish to create.
For families, and especially for those living far from their home country, this transition can feel even more meaningful. As an expat family in Barcelona, you may be balancing excitement with uncertainty, joy with longing, and dreams with very real challenges.
Whether you are expecting a baby, caring for a newborn, or navigating life with an older baby or toddler, the new year invites you to look at the bigger picture of your journey.
This is not about adding more pressure, goals, or expectations. Instead, it is an invitation to be. To be present. To acknowledge how far you have come, what you wish to carry forward, and what you may gently choose to release.
A New Year Is Not About Doing More, But About Being More Present
So often, the start of January is filled with resolutions: do more, be better, change everything. Yet parenthood, particularly in pregnancy and the early years, asks something very different of us. It asks us to slow down, to tune in, and to meet ourselves and our babies exactly where we are.
Rather than focusing on what you need to do, I invite you to reflect on how you want to be this year.
How do you want to feel as you move through pregnancy or early motherhood?
What values do you want to embody as a parent?
What moments from last year do you wish to cherish and carry with you?
Presence is one of the greatest gifts you can offer yourself and your child. Being present does not mean being perfect or calm all the time. It means showing up with awareness, compassion, and curiosity even on the hardest days.
Expecting a Baby This Year: A New Phase of Your Life
If this is the year you are welcoming a baby into your life, I want to begin by saying congratulations. Pregnancy marks the beginning of a profound transformation not only of your body, but of your identity, relationships, and inner world.
For first-time parents especially, this transition can feel overwhelming. Your life is about to change in ways you cannot fully imagine yet, and that can bring both excitement and fear.
Living abroad may add extra layers: navigating the healthcare system in Spain, giving birth in another language, and possibly feeling the absence of close family support.
It is important to recognise this moment as a new phase in your journey, not just into parenthood, but into a deeper understanding of yourself.
Preparing for Birth and Beyond
Preparing for birth is about much more than writing a birth plan. It is about:
Understanding your options within the Spanish maternity system
Feeling informed and confident about labour and birth
Learning how to care for your newborn in the early days
Preparing emotionally for the postpartum period
When parents feel supported and informed, birth and early parenthood can become deeply empowering experiences, even when things do not go exactly as planned.
If you are expecting a baby this year and would like gentle, holistic guidance, I warmly invite you to explore my January workshop, designed specifically to support expat families through pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks with a newborn. You will find the link below.
Entering the New Year With a Baby: Sleep, Expectations, and Compassion
If you already have a baby, whether very young or a little older, the new year may come with a clear intention: more rest.
Sleep is one of the most common challenges I see families struggling with, and understandably so. Sleep deprivation affects everything: our mood, our relationships, our mental health, and our ability to enjoy parenthood.
Yet when it comes to baby sleep, it is essential to start with realistic expectations.
Understanding What Is Normal for Your Baby’s Age
Babies are not designed to sleep like adults, especially in the first year of life. Night wakings can be completely normal and biologically necessary, depending on your baby’s age and development.
For example:
A young baby waking two or three times a night may be entirely normal and appropriate.
Frequent night feeds can still be necessary for some babies.
Developmental leaps, teething, or illness can temporarily disrupt sleep.
At the same time, there are situations where sleep difficulties go beyond what is considered typical.
If your baby is waking every hour, regardless of age, this is not something you need to simply endure. There are gentle, respectful ways to improve sleep while still responding to your baby’s needs.
The key is to first observe:
What is currently happening?
What feels unsustainable for your family?
Is this phase developmentally appropriate, or are there underlying factors we can address?
Gentle Sleep Support: Change With Awareness, Not Pressure
Improving your baby’s sleep does not mean ignoring them, forcing independence, or following rigid schedules. As a gentle sleep coach, my approach is rooted in understanding, attachment, and responsiveness.
Sometimes, change is not yet appropriate, and that is okay. Other times, small adjustments can make a profound difference.
These may include:
Adjusting your baby’s sleep environment
Supporting more age-appropriate naps
Understanding sleep associations
Helping your baby link sleep cycles more comfortably
If sleep is one of your intentions for this year, I invite you to start with information and support rather than self-blame or comparison.
I am always happy to offer a free consultation to explore what is happening with your baby’s sleep, whether the behaviour is developmentally normal, and whether gentle changes could support your family better. You will find the link below.
Breastfeeding in the New Year: Support Makes All the Difference
Breastfeeding is often described as natural, yet many parents are surprised by how challenging it can be.
Pain, latching difficulties, concerns about milk supply, pumping schedules, or mixed feeding can all create stress and self-doubt, particularly when you are far from your usual support network.
The good news is that many breastfeeding challenges can be resolved with the right guidance.
Sometimes, it really is about:
Improving positioning and latch
Understanding your baby’s feeding cues
Adjusting how and when you pump
Reassessing routines that may not be serving you
Whether you are exclusively breastfeeding, combination feeding, or expressing milk, your experience matters. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, only what works best for you and your baby.
As a lactation consultant, it is my privilege to walk alongside you, offering practical solutions and emotional reassurance so that feeding your baby becomes a more positive and confident experience.
Living Abroad With a Baby: You Do Not Have to Do This Alone
Expat life can be deeply enriching, but it can also feel isolating, especially during pregnancy and early parenthood.
Many families I support share similar feelings:
Missing family and familiar systems
Navigating healthcare in another language
Feeling unsure where to turn for trusted advice
My work as a doula, lactation consultant, and gentle sleep coach is grounded in one simple intention: to be by your side.
Whether you are preparing for birth, learning to breastfeed, surviving sleepless nights, or simply needing reassurance that what you are experiencing is normal, you deserve support that feels respectful, calm, and compassionate.
A Heartfelt Thank You to the Families I Have Supported
As we step into this new year, I would like to take a moment to say thank you.
Thank you to all the families who have trusted me, opened their homes and hearts, and allowed me to be part of such an intimate chapter of their lives. Meeting your babies, supporting your sleep journeys, and witnessing your growth as parents has been an honour beyond words.
MyMamaDreams was born from a deep personal calling, a desire to support families through one of the most transformative experiences of their lives, while also honouring my own journey as a woman and a mother.
My hope is that you, too, can continue to follow your dreams, intentions, and sense of purpose blending them gently and beautifully with motherhood.
Welcoming the New Year, Together
Wherever you are on your parenting journey, expecting, adjusting, surviving, or slowly finding your rhythm, know that you are not alone.
May this new year bring you more trust in yourself, more rest where possible, deeper connection with your baby, and the support you deserve.
I am here, with warmth and commitment, to support you every step of the way.
Looking for Personalised Support This Year?
If you would like to feel more supported during pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, or your baby’s sleep journey, you may find these resources helpful:
Birth & Baby Preparation Workshops – for expecting expat parents in Barcelona
Gentle Sleep Support – personalised guidance for babies and young children
Breastfeeding & Lactation Consultations – practical, compassionate support
Doula Support in Barcelona – continuous emotional and informational care
These services are designed to work together, offering you continuity, trust, and calm during this transformative time.
With love,
Anna Doula · Lactation Consultant · Gentle Sleep Coach
Supporting expat families in Barcelona
