After you have given birth, you will feel exhausted, you will be in pain, and you may even feel completely overwhelmed by this new situation you find yourself in which, no matter how prepared you might think you are, is like nothing you’ve ever been through before.
This is perfectly normal. This is how every new mother feels, even if they don’t want to admit it. Yet, despite this being normal, you still need to work on your health, since it will directly affect how well you are able to recover, and how well you are able to take care of your little one.
Rest
As a new mother you should rest as much as possible. When you are sleeping or taking a nap, your body can start to repair itself, so you’ll recover much more quickly from the labor you went through. Not only that, but your busy mind can relax too, and all those many tasks you have set yourself won’t seem quite so overwhelming when you have had enough rest.
People will probably tell you to sleep when the baby sleeps, and this is great advice. Don’t try to squeeze in the housework or any other jobs you might think you need to do when your baby is having a nap; you should lie down for a rest at the same time.
Ask for Help
So many new mothers think that they have to do absolutely everything by themselves. They feel that it’s their duty to do so, and it can be upsetting to find that it’s harder than many will think. This is why it’s crucial to know you can – and should – ask for help. No one can do everything by themselves, though, and no one should have to. If you ask for help when you need it, no one is going to think badly of you; in fact, most of the time they will be waiting for the call because they want to help out.
You can have family and friends drop off food so you can make sure you eat (because eating property is crucial after giving birth), or have someone clean the house so you can rest. You might even just want someone to talk to, since having a baby can feel isolating, especially if you’re a single parent or your partner goes to work each day.
There are also professionals who can offer help. Don’t be ashamed in seeing a therapist. Seeking advice from a midwife is a good idea. You might even book want to book a makeover, haircut, or research FUE hair transplant vs hair plugs since pregnancy hormones can lead to hair loss. Anything that makes you feel good and that someone else can help with is a great idea.
Exercise
It’s unlikely you will feel like exercising for the first few days or weeks after giving birth, and you should wait until your doctor says it’s okay for you to do it anyway, but once you can, you should start a gentle exercise routine each day.
You can do this with your baby, and getting out of the house for a walk or bike ride will be good for both of you. Alternatively, you could ask someone to watch your baby while you go to the gym, or you can follow workout videos at home.