The chinese postpartum period starts after your baby is delivered and ends when your body has almost fully recovered from being pregnant. This time frame typically lasts 6 to 8 weeks.
You will go through a lot of changes during the postpartum period, both emotionally and physically. Additionally, you are learning how to handle all the adjustments that come with becoming a new mother. During the postpartum period, you and your partner must also learn how to take care of your newborn and adjust to your new role as a family.
Taking care of a newborn baby is incredibly challenging, emotionally and physically. The demands on your time are immense and you’re likely to be exhausted most of the time. Not only that but you can’t get away with any mistakes as there’s always someone watching. So how do you keep yourself healthy? It’s easy! Here are my top tips for taking care of yourself after baby.
Eat Well
Eating well is one of the most important things you can do when you have a newborn. You need to make sure your diet is full of nutrients and energy. If you don’t eat enough then you’ll feel tired, stressed and possibly sick. Don’t forget about snacks too! Babies feed constantly so it’s important to ensure you have food in between their feeds. I recommend trying to eat three meals per day. These should ideally all contain protein, carbohydrates and some kind of fat (e.g. nuts, seeds or oils). Make sure you include some fruit in there too – it’s essential for maintaining blood sugar levels and keeping energy levels up. Your body needs lots of fuel to help maintain growth and development.
Drink Plenty of Water
It’s really important to drink plenty of water throughout the day. This will prevent dehydration which leads to headaches and dizziness. It will also help keep you hydrated during those long periods where you’re holding the little one. A good rule of thumb is drinking at least 8 glasses a day. Remember that breast milk contains around 50% more water than normal adult fluid so make sure you’re not being stingy with it.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising is extremely important to keep your muscles tone and it helps you to sleep better too. Exercise doesn’t have to mean going outside every morning; even doing some light stretching or yoga will work just fine. If you’re feeling energetic, try a gentle walk in the park; if you’re feeling more lethargic, go for a run. Whatever you choose to do, exercise regularly! It’s especially important to continue exercising while you’re pregnant because this will help with weight loss and strengthen your muscles for when you return to labour.
Take Time For Yourself
If you’ve had a particularly busy few weeks it might be tempting to put off taking time for yourself. But take a step back and think about what you could do to improve your mood. Try getting out of the house for an hour. If you have a friend over, invite them round and play your favourite board game! Spend time with your partner if you haven’t had much alone time recently. Get dressed up and go out for lunch. Even something as simple as going shopping can lift your spirits. It’s important to remember that you need to recharge your batteries so you can cope with life post-baby.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep plays a huge role in regulating hormones and therefore our moods. If you’re lacking sleep then your hormones are thrown out of balance making you irritable, sluggish and unable to cope with everyday tasks. You probably won’t be able to sleep properly straight away but aim to get 7 hours each night. Once you fall asleep, if you wake up frequently then try to go back to sleep again rather than sitting up in bed until the wee small hours.
Don’t Be Shy About Talking To People
After you’ve been holding your child for a few days, you’ll notice they start to look different. They become more alert, alert to sounds and movements, alert to everything going on around them. As a result, they begin to look like people and you may find yourself wanting to interact with them more. It’s very natural to want to talk to other people, but try not to let this overwhelm you. Ask people how they’re doing and listen to their answers. Let your children see you interacting with others; it will help them learn social skills.
Keep Busy
A lot of women find themselves having moments of stress and anxiety when their babies first arrive. Don’t allow this to overwhelm you because this is completely normal. There will be times when you feel frustrated, overwhelmed and anxious. When this happens, try to distract yourself by doing something else. Take your phone into another room and go and sit somewhere quiet with a book, or listen to music. The point isn’t to avoid these feelings but to channel them into something positive. If you’re experiencing these feelings, you’re probably worrying unnecessarily. Try to relax and trust that you’re doing everything right.
If you find that you’re struggling to cope with life post baby, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may require extra support from friends or family members who can give you the space and attention you need. If you find yourself overwhelmed, you can ask your partner to stay home with you.
Confinement Nanny is a community hub for expectant mums and new parents. We provide a wide range of content covering pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, parenting, health and wellbeing, lifestyle and beauty. Our aim is to empower and inspire mums to make informed choices about their lives both before and after parenthood.