Taking Care Of Yourself During Your Baby’s First Months
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Women are always known to prioritize their husband and children over themselves. But at times, it’s important to set your priorities in a more healthy way so that you don’t feel resentful and stressed later on in your life. We often struggle to find time for ourselves after welcoming a baby into our lives. Every mom-to-be is likely to put their baby first before anything or anyone else. But if you are constantly exhausted and sleepy, you may not be able to provide the best care for your baby.
Between breastfeeding, diaper change, and all the responsibilities that come along with it, how can you take care of yourself? The first month can be a daunting experience for every new mom. In this post, we suggest a few ways that will help you take care of yourself as well as your baby during the first month, post delivery. After all, isn’t it better if you start things the earliest so you can follow through better?
Take Care Of Your Physical Health
It’s a simple step that can bring major positive change in your life as a mother or in general. Eat right, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and workout for a few minutes. However, get your doctor’s opinion before you start working out because your body is still recovering.
Ask For Help
Ask your partner for help with diaper changes and take turns sleeping when the baby wakes up in the middle of the night. Work together as a team. You can also seek help from your friends and family members. They probably know how difficult it is to handle things on your own and would love to help you.
Focus On The Bright Side
It’s so easy to look on the dark side of things or drown ourselves in sorrow over a petty thing. But focusing on the bright side can help you be a better version of yourself. You can work towards your task in a calm state of mind. Meditating or doing yoga for a few minutes can help too.
Create A Realistic Checklist
Make a plan of all the things that you want to do in your day including finding time for yourself. It’s important to keep it realistic and flexible. This way you can sneak in some time for meditation or workout, whatever makes you happy! It could also be reading a book or a poem.
Be Open About Your Feelings
Express how you feel, especially if something’s bothering you. Keeping things bottled up inside you may lead to frustration and anger. You certainly don’t need that with everything else going on in your life. Adjusting to taking care of your baby and being a new mother can be an emotional experience. Talking things through with your partner, family or friends will help you deal with your emotions in a healthy way.
Have A Support System
Try to make friends with other new parents in your locality. This may help you when you want to talk to someone and have a friend who can relate to your experiences. Try to see them at least once a week or so.
Hold Off The Other Major Changes In Your Life
It’s a good idea to postpone major life-changing events like shifting to a new place or getting a new job. If you are a single mom, it’s better to not jump into dating soon after having a baby. Getting into a new relationship and taking care of your baby can be too challenging and exhausting for you.
Take Breaks
No one can work nonstop without taking some time off. Don’t put too much unnecessary stress and pressure on yourself. Listen to your mind and body and take small breaks when needed. It can help you unwind so that you can work better at what you do.
You may or may not be able to follow through everything. But remember to not overwork yourself, and try to do one small thing every day that makes you happy. Realize that no one is perfect and learn to handle every situation with some humor. After all, life is much better when you are laughing.
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