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Having a new baby is very exciting.  But many mothers forget to care for themselves in the right ways during this time.

It’s important you take care of yourself so you’ll feel your best. You and your baby will be so much happier if you do, so it needs to be high on your priority list.  Below is a great list of self-care tips for new moms.

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Postpartum Self-Care Ideas

Postpartum self care ideas

First let’s go over essential self-care for new moms, then get to some more advanced self-care ideas that you can enjoy!

Eating The Right Foods

Eating the right foods for healing and mood is vital during this time. Especially if you’re breastfeeding, you’ll feel extremely tired and your body needs the proper nutrients to heal.

Getting the proper nutrition has a lot of benefits postpartum. It will help stabilize your mood, and your hormones, and promote better sleep.

It will help give your newborn all the nutrients to grow and thrive, as well. You really are what you eat so make sure you are only getting the best for both of you.

milkology

Stay Hydrated

This is so simple and we all already know this. But after childbirth, it is especially important.

Your body needs plenty of fluids to stay healthy and heal and it really matters if you’re breastfeeding. You cannot make enough milk if you’re not adequately hydrated.

This can make all the difference if you’re fighting a low milk supply.

Begin Getting Some Exercise 

Getting some exercise as soon as possible will help speed up your healing, help you clear all the access hormones, and keep you feeling happy.

It’s so important. So get moving, preferably outside where you can get some sunshine assuming the weather is appropriate for you and your baby.

***Looking For A Postpartum Program? The Postpartum Cure is a program designed to help get your body back to pre-baby shape as quickly as possible without losing your milk supply ( That can happen if you cut too many calories trying to get back into shape).

This program has diet information and plans, daily exercise programs and so much more. It’s very popular amongst postpartum women who need to get back into shape asap. You can take a look here. 

She also has another program called “ The Pregnancy Health Program ” that allows you to stay in your best health during pregnancy.  You can see it here. 

self care for new moms, postpartum self care ideas

Prioritize Sleep

This is a tough one. Obviously, your baby is going to be up very often both night and day. But getting the right amount of sleep is so important.

It will help you feel your best, your body will recover faster and you’ll make more milk.

The best thing to do is take naps when your baby is sleeping. I know that’s hard because you feel like you have so many things to do.

But rest is a top priority so nap at least some of the time when the babe is napping. Especially those first few months after birth.

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Be Social 

It’s hard to be social after having a baby. Not only do you not feel like you necessarily have the time but you’re exhausted and hormonal.

It’s ok to just rest that first month after birth. But soon after that you should begin connecting with your tribe.

Having support and being social can affect your mood and help you feel generally better overall.

Humans need lots of support and human contact and while it’s great to be alone with your baby, it’s also important to stay connected with others.

Quiet Time 

Time alone to relax and rejuvenate is also important.

It may be hard to find the space and time to accomplish this but it’s vital. It will help you to recenter and de-stress.

You can spend some time alone doing nothing during one of your baby’s naps.

A few other things to consider doing are:

See your own primary doctor for blood work and general checkups.

Seeing your therapist during this time can be really beneficial and help you defuse all those strange, pent-up feelings.

Definitely see your dentist, your teeth and mouth health can be significantly affected by pregnancy and postpartum.

Make time for hobbies, your passions, and your career ideas to maintain a sense of self.

Here are some other forms of self-care after childbirth to consider- 

Real Basic Care For New Moms

Do this- Shower, get your hair cut, wear pretty, clean clothing, and change your bedsheets.

You’re probably wondering why I didn’t include these things in the other list, right?

Well, a lot of women will actually neglect these tasks because they don’t necessarily seem like absolute necessities when they’re at home most of the time and there are so many other things to do.

But doing those things will help you feel more pulled together and happier overall.

When we feel icky we don’t feel our best, so it’s important to take that time for yourself each and every day so you’ll feel like you are addressing your own needs.

self care for new moms, postpartum self care ideas

 Relaxing Techniques for Postpartum

Read Books

Reading books can be an excellent way for new mothers to unwind and escape into a different world. If you don’t have time, there are lots of great books in the app stores that you can actually listen to on Bluetooth.

The possibilities are endless.

Mindful breathing Exercises

Mindful breathing is a great way to take care of yourself. It will help you remain calm and relaxed and has many benefits.

Mindful breathing can help release endorphins in your brain to promote a sense of relaxation and release stress from the body.

It can also increase your energy and release muscle tension.  It will even reduce your pain while healing.

You will be able to respond to stressors in a more balanced way.

Everyone should be practicing this, especially new mothers who want to give themselves the best self-care possible.

Gentle Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful way to release tension and promote relaxation after having your baby.

One of the easiest poses is the child pose, which stretches the back and hips while calming the mind. It will help heal you, strengthen your core again, and just make you feel good.

The cat-cow pose is great too because it releases tension in the spine and neck.  Gentle twists, such as seated spinal twists, can also help release stress and tension in the body.

Remember to focus on your breath and move slowly and mindfully through each pose during this time because your body has already been through so much.

These simple yoga poses can help you feel more relaxed, centered, and ready to tackle the demands of new motherhood.

Here’s a video with some great yoga poses for pregnancy and postpartum.  This whole Youtube channel is great too. Lots of good information.

 

Why Self-Care Is So Important For New Moms-

  • Postpartum depression is not a joke. When a new mother is depressed, her baby can be severely affected. Studies have found that postpartum depression can interfere with healthy attachment, increase the risk of childhood behavior problems, and increase the risk of the child having academic problems when starting school.
  • Your nutrition needs to be front and center.  Drinking enough and eating the right foods are important to your healing process and especially important for nursing mothers. Your body will prioritize your baby’s needs over yours, and deplete your nutrition resources to make milk for the baby. If your body is depleted, you’ll be more likely to get sick.
  • Caregiver burnout can really affect you.  Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It can create immune problems and significantly increase the chance of postpartum depression.

     

    Bottom Line

    As a new mother, taking care of yourself can feel like just another chore added to your to-do list.

    But prioritizing self-care is essential for your well-being and the well-being of your baby and everyone else involved too. Make yourself a top priority by taking care of yourself too.

    We wish you luck!

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    Postpartum self care ideas
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    Postpartum self care ideas
    Postpartum self care ideas 

     


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