Especially for New Moms
Self-care can often seem like the last thing to think of for a new mom. Your new baby requires your attention 24/7 and you don’t have time to perform even the simplest of tasks, let alone caring for your own needs.
As only a mom would understand, being a new mom often means not having time for the simplest of self-care practices, even taking a shower is a big ask! To top it off, thinking of spending even a few minutes away from your baby to spend time on yourself can make you feel guilty, but you deserve and require rest, and by caring for yourself, you are making sure you are in the best form to care for your baby.
Here are some tips on how to practice self-care as a new mom:
Rest When Your Baby Sleeps
Every mom has heard the age-old advice to sleep when your baby does, but this isn’t always possible. The laundry piles up or you have some cleaning to do and what better time to do it than when your baby is asleep?
To keep up with this, and to be able to practice self-care, you should take some time to rest while your baby sleeps. Do a few urgent chores if you have to, but then take half an hour to sit back on the couch and watch some tv, or read a book or magazine. While it is only 30 minutes, it will go a long way to help you relax and gain some sense of self back.
Keep Moving
It is easy to fall into the trap of staying on the couch or in the house when your baby is born. Nesting is great, but you need to get up at some point. This self-care tip is perfect for new moms, as you can easily incorporate your baby into it as well. Invest in a lightweight stroller and go for walks around the block, take a baby and me yoga class, or even browse around the mall. Moving will increase endorphins and keep you feeling happy and active.
Find Your Community
Being a new mom is lonely, and you can soon feel isolated staying home all day with your baby. Nobody gets what you are going through, and it can be tough to find a support group.
One of the best things you can do as a new mom is to find your community. Look for local moms groups, churches or some sort of community for new moms in your area. Making connections with other women in your situation gives you a strong sense of support and understanding, and lets you be yourself around others more easily.
Ask For Help And Accept It
One of the most common things for a mom to do is to try to tackle everything alone. It takes a village, and if you need to ask for help, it in no way reflects your ability as a mother. Get your spouse to watch your baby for 30 minutes so you can soak in the tub or have your hair done. Do not think of this as taking time away from your baby, but instead increasing the quality of the time you do spend with your baby, being rested and calm.
Be open to receiving help as well. If a family member offers to cook you dinner for the night, don’t feel ashamed to accept it. It ticks one thing off of your to-do list, and your family member will probably feel great being able to contribute in some way.
Ground Yourself
The moments you spend with a newborn will blur over time, and it can be difficult at times to appreciate the moment. When feeding your baby, putting them to sleep or during bath time, ground yourself, listen to the noise your baby is making, center in your breathing, and truly appreciate the moment at hand. These precious moments make motherhood worth every sleepless night and never-ending day.
Self-Care For New Moms
You have done something so incredible, and you wake up every day doing your best for your baby, but you need to take some time to do the best for yourself as well. The dishes can wait and you can order in takeout tonight, take some time for yourself, sit back, breathe, and appreciate the journey and how well you are doing.