Having a new baby is stressful. They cry a lot, they require a lot of care, and you may feel frazzled more often than not. You may start comparing yourself to other moms who seem to have it all together, and feel like you’re not doing enough. The truth is, most mothers feel like that, even the ones who seem to have it all together. The days following your discharge from the hospital after giving birth can be rough but hang in there. Better days are coming.
Rest Whenever Possible
People always say that it’s important to rest when the baby does. You may feel like that’s impossible because you have a million and one things you need to do during that time. Taking care of yourself should be your priority because your little one is counting on you to take care of them and nurture them. With a brand new baby, chances are, you are up a lot during the night so you’re not getting enough sleep. Sleep whenever possible.
Enjoy Time to Yourself
Your mental health is important, so put away some time each day to doing something you enjoy. Even if it’s just 20 minutes to work on your skincare routine, or reading the next chapter in the novel you’ve been putting off finishing, anything can make a big difference. The needs of your baby are important, but your own needs are equally as important. It’s understandable that time is limited, but try to squeeze in time here and there whenever you can.
Learn to Ask for Help
As a new mom, it can feel like the whole world expects you to be perfect in every way. It may be hard to ask for help, and it can make you feel like you’re not good enough or you’re a bad mom. The truth is, all moms need help sometimes. If you have the “baby blues”, like the other 70% to 80% of new moms, you should not be afraid to ask for help for the sake of your mental health. Moms do a lot of things, but taking on too much will make you feel stressed, overwhelmed, and more. You can call a friend or family member to see if they can help with housework, or watch the baby while you take a hot bath.
Spend Time with Friends
Your life is now no doubt a lot busier than it once was before, but you should still plan to spend time with your friends as often as you can. Your friends can be your biggest support system, and they can help get you out of the house to go grab a coffee, take a walk in the park, or do whatever you used to do with them before the baby came. If you find yourself out drinking with your friends, you’ll want to pace yourself and avoid overdoing it especially if you’re one of the people who turn red after a couple of drinks (though there’s an asian flush cure to fix that).. If you do end up drinking a little too much, you can take a vitamin B hangover supplement to help relieve some of your hangover symptoms.
Take Time to Exercise
The last thing you probably feel like doing when you’re so exhausted is exercise, but being active is so important. You should start trying to get the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week, once you’re given the green light from your doctor.
Bringing a new baby home is one of the most joyous times of your life, but it can also be the most overwhelming. No one is a super mom, and it may take a little bit of time to ease into a routine, but you’ll get the hang of things in no time.
Speak Your Mind