Taking Care of Yourself as a Mother

By the time you bring the baby home from the hospital, you have gone through as much physically as the baby has. However, you will not have much time to recover. That precious bundle of joy will disrupt your usual routine and demand a lot of your attention. This is the time to regroup and allow enough time to keep yourself healthy, for your sake and the baby’s.

Your body’s hormones are changing back to normal and your internal organs are trying to reseat to their pre-pregnancy position. It is normal to feel tired and experience aches and pains within the first six weeks after giving birth. Usually, the baby will not sleep through the night until about three to six months old, so alter your sleep schedule accordingly. When the baby sleeps, lie down and at least rest, but sleep if you can. Do not try to entertain, and try to limit visitors to those who will help you watch the baby while you sleep or at least help tidy the house and do some laundry. Eating light, frequent, healthy meals will help keep your energy level up and allows you to sleep when you get the chance. Avoid using caffeine to keep you going, as it might help immediately, but it also keeps you awake when you have a chance to get much-needed sleep. Allow about 10 to 15 minutes early in the day for some simple yoga stretching exercises that will help energize you while it tones your muscles.

Do not think that you have to stay up and active just because that is what your schedule was before the baby arrived. Take time to pamper yourself with warm baths or showers and soothing body lotions, and get as much sleep as possible.