Expectant mothers naturally tend to put most of their pregnancy focus on preparing for a baby and planning for their future family. However, new moms also need to remember that their bodies go through a lot growing, carrying, and delivering a little one, and it takes time to recover from all of this.
Once you have your beloved new family member, do what you need to support yourself to physically, mentally, and emotionally cope with all you have been through. Here are some postpartum recovery tips to keep in mind.
Be Kind to Yourself
Try to be as kind to yourself as possible. You can’t be a superwoman who has it all together right away, who does everything for everyone else without burning out. As you recover, let other people help you with things like cooking meals, laundry, cleaning, babysitting, shopping, and more.
Also, many visitors may want to stop by to see the new addition to your family, but don’t feel that you must agree to people coming by whenever they want. In the first few weeks after having your baby, you’ll be looking to adjust to the situation, get your bub settled, and heal yourself. Feel free to let people know you need some quiet time as a small family unit before you start having visitors.
Another way to be kind to yourself is to take steps to minimize pain and discomfort. Use tools to feel better, such as pain relievers, heating pads, ice packs, creams, essential oils, supportive underwear, massage, etc.
Get as Much Rest as Possible
Once your baby is born, sleep is a precious commodity. As such, take the shuteye and general rest whenever you can get it. Pregnancy and labor take quite a toll on the body and mind, which is compounded by lack of sleep when caring for a newborn who’s up all hours and feeding regularly.
Look for ways to make sleep a priority for yourself, so your postpartum recovery goes more smoothly. Cleaning up, responding to gifts and well wishes with thanks, and many other tasks can wait. In the first months after giving birth, let yourself have a nap whenever the opportunity presents itself, instead of focusing on tasks to complete. For instance, many new parents find it helpful to get some rest when their baby sleeps during the day.
Maintain Doctors’ Appointments
Keep seeing your regular physician to ensure your postpartum recovery doesn’t get interrupted too much with medical issues. Keep in mind that you can maintain appointments by booking in for a virtual doctor visit when needed, rather than attempting to get to a clinic, which is tricky with a new baby.
Let your doctor know of any unexpected bodily changes or symptoms that might be worrying you as you heal from delivering your baby, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, vision problems, dizziness, heavy bleeding, fever, or chills. Plus, mention pain or excessive tenderness around incisions or stitches.
Be brave about letting your physician know if you’re struggling mentally and emotionally, too. Feelings of overwhelm, frustration, anger, sadness, or anything else can be perfectly normal or part of postpartum depression, so be honest about your feelings. It’s better to speak up and address things sooner rather than later instead of letting them build up and get worse.
Pay Attention to Food and Hydration
While you’ll focus on making sure your little one is getting enough milk in those first few months, you need to stay well-fed and hydrated as well. Your mind and body can’t recover if you’re not getting enough nutrients or water. Eat a variety of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, good fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. This will help replenish your energy and any nutrients you’ve gotten low on, and help stabilize your hormones, too.
Plus, getting enough fiber will help you become more “regular” after giving birth and avoid constipation and hemorrhoids. Also, say no to caffeine and alcohol as much as you can, as these dehydrate and make it harder to sleep properly. Focus on consuming at least eight glasses of water daily to stay well hydrated.
Add Some Gentle Exercise
As soon as you’re able, add some gentle exercise back into your weeks. Light movement such as walking or gentle stretches will help your body and mind find a better equilibrium and promote energy and positive mental health.
However, talk to your doctor about when it’s appropriate to start exercising again, especially when you want to get into more strenuous activity. Listen to your body to determine what feels okay for you, and remember that everyone is different.
Each of the above steps you incorporate into your life as a new mom will help you recover sooner and be more able to enjoy this special time for your family.
