It can be difficult for new mums to know what to expect - every body and every birth is different after all - but self-care during this trimester is particularly important. In this post I am going to share 5 ways to help heal your body, and hopefully help you to enjoy this new stage of life with a precious newborn.
Sleep
It’s no surprise that getting a good night’s sleep can help to keep your energy levels up but it’s also important for the mind and body. Whilst it’s not a surprise to hear that many parents of newborns struggle to get a good night’s sleep there are things you can do to help you catchup. These include trying to sleep when your baby sleeps, making sure to get an early night, and where, and if, possible share the night feeds with your partner. Of course this can be more difficult if this isn't your first child, but it is important to try and rest when you can.
Eat Nutritious Meals
Consuming a wide variety of nutritious foods really helps with postpartum recovery. Make sure to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as lots of proteins and calcium. If you’re breastfeeding, staying hydrated is particularly important, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water during and after every feed. If time isn't something you have you can make use of fantastic food delivery services such as Gousto, to help you prepare tasty and nutritious meals without the stress.
Fresh Air
Whilst it’s a cliché, it’s true, fresh air and sunshine really do make everyone feel a bit better. So try and head out for a walk at least once a day with baby in the pram / sling. This not only helps with mental health and your mood, but the gentle exercise will help build up your strength to help aid recovery too.
Sleep
It’s no surprise that getting a good night’s sleep can help to keep your energy levels up but it’s also important for the mind and body. Whilst it’s not a surprise to hear that many parents of newborns struggle to get a good night’s sleep there are things you can do to help you catchup. These include trying to sleep when your baby sleeps, making sure to get an early night, and where, and if, possible share the night feeds with your partner. Of course this can be more difficult if this isn't your first child, but it is important to try and rest when you can.
Eat Nutritious Meals
Consuming a wide variety of nutritious foods really helps with postpartum recovery. Make sure to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as lots of proteins and calcium. If you’re breastfeeding, staying hydrated is particularly important, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water during and after every feed. If time isn't something you have you can make use of fantastic food delivery services such as Gousto, to help you prepare tasty and nutritious meals without the stress.
Fresh Air
Whilst it’s a cliché, it’s true, fresh air and sunshine really do make everyone feel a bit better. So try and head out for a walk at least once a day with baby in the pram / sling. This not only helps with mental health and your mood, but the gentle exercise will help build up your strength to help aid recovery too.
Friends and Family
Meeting up with friends and family and staying connected is really important for your mental health after you have just given birth. Learn to say yes to all offers of help and support, something that doesn’t come naturally to many of us. Whether it’s offers such as whizzing a vacuum around or helping with the washing/ironing, to walking the dog and simply holding baby while you can have a relaxing bath in peace.. just say yes!
Exercise
Exercise is important for our mental and physical well-being. When those endorphins kick in, you will notice an improvement in mood. Even though your body has changed after pregnancy and needs time to recover, after 6-8 weeks it is possible with sign off and clearance from your GP to resume light exercise. It’s important not to overdo it (your body needs time to recover and get over the big changes that it has been through), pregnancy hormones can affect your joints and ligaments for up to 6 months after the birth putting you at greater risk of injury so you must take it easy. But walking, swimming and aqua aerobics (once your bleeding has stopped), yoga and pilates are all options that you could explore.
The biggest thing to remember is that throughout this new chapter, although you might feel lost at times, you are not alone. Visit @realbirthsrealbodies on Instagram to see other women share their honest and real account of life with a new baby.
Multi-Gyn and Multi-Mam Compresses have been developed to provide soothing relief for the 2 most common discomforts new mums face - post birth vaginal discomfort and breastfeeding. They can be found in Boots, on Amazon and at other online pharmacies.
This is a collaborative post.
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If you have any questions or enquiries email me at emilyandindiana@gmail.com or tweet me at @emilyandindiana