Approaching motherhood? Or maybe you just welcomed your bundle of joy into your life? Either way, congratulations on this beautiful, next step in your life! Cosabella is pleased to team up with new mom Jessica Camaiani as she shares her top 10 self-care tips for new mothers. Trust us, you are going to want to read these so you can take care of the most important person to your baby – yourself! Photography by Sarah Martin Photography @miss_sarahmartin.
I’m approaching 3 months into motherhood, so I write this blog post as a new mom who is trying to figure things out as she goes. Adjusting to life after the birth of your baby can have many challenges. Your sleep schedule is out of whack , your baby needs to be fed, changed, soothed, you may have less quality time with your partner, and you may feel you need self-care now more than ever. Self-care has always been important to me especially during this time as a new mom. I know myself well enough to know that if I neglect self-care everything suffers- my mood, my health, my marriage …EVERYTHING! While I have focused on my new bundle of joy over the last couple of months, I have learned that it is still important to take care of yourself. I quickly realized that taking care of myself was and still is a crucial part of my postpartum care and recovery. Taking care of myself mentally and physically was important because the last thing I wanted was to feel like a stressed out and anxious new mom!
So, when I gave birth I tried to set myself up in the best way possible, that was to enjoy the first few months of motherhood and include some self-care so I could enjoy the precious time with my little one . Here are 10 ways that you can practice self-care that helped me tremendously.
1. Enlist in some help – This could be your in-laws, a family member, a friend. Ensure that you have people you can rely on to help you out. Maybe you need to run out and do a grocery run, go to a hair appointment or just simply run errands. Having someone to help you with your baby can decrease your stress levels immensely. Most of your closest loved ones will be happy to donate their time anyways and get in some of those newborn snuggles.
2. Establish a routine – Having a routine in place will help you to have a successful day and will ultimately make you feel better. Create a routine that fits your needs and create one that you enjoy . A morning routine can be as simple as making the bed, coffee, breakfast and checking emails.
3. Get ready for the day– In the first couple of weeks of being a new mom I realized how important it was to get ready even if I wasn’t going anywhere. During my little one’s first nap I would shower , get dressed, and I would put on some makeup just because it was good for my mood and confidence. Getting ready every day has really helped me avoid the baby blues.
When getting dressed, grab the Never Say Never Maternity Mommie Nursing Bralette and Maternity Boyshort for easy breastfeeding and all-day comfort. This wireless bralette offers clip-on and clip-off nursing straps for easy opening, as well as slinged padded cups for a supportive fit with full coverage. The Maternity Boyshort is made with soft, comfortable lace that matches the bralette perfectly!
4. Be kind to yourself – Being a mom is rewarding but it’s also a tough job. After giving birth, it is completely normal to feel sad, depressed, angry, irritable- you did just give birth to a tiny human so your hormones are still all over the place. I always tried to focus on things I could control and celebrated the small wins ie. baby is sleeping throughout the night, baby enjoys bath time etc. Also, every woman experiences pregnancy and delivery in a different way so be kind to yourself about losing the baby weight and don’t judge yourself by what other women are doing. Focus on being there for your baby because after all, you are the most important person in the world to them!
5. Get outside and walk – It is so easy to stay inside and cocoon yourself with your baby after you give birth. Schedule time in your day to get out of the house, grab a coffee with a friend, go for a walk to your nearby park or downtown core. If your baby enjoys rides in the stroller bring them along too. Getting some fresh air is good for your physical health and mental health and is also good for the baby.
6. Eat nutritious foods – After giving birth you might be tempted to cut back on calories but it very important to make sure your body is getting all the proper nutrition it needs. No matter if you are breastfeeding or not.
7. Drink lots of water – As obvious as it sounds, drinking water will help you to stay hydrated and feel healthy (it’s also very good for your skin)!
8. Get as much rest as you can – A lot of people say “sleep when the baby sleeps” which is great for some people, but if you are a do-er, sleeping during the day can be tough. What I chose to do is go to bed earlier with my baby every night. This had saved me the first couple of weeks and I can honestly say I never really felt sleep deprived. I was still waking up every 2-3 hours, but I was getting my 8 hours of sleep which kept me sane and functional the next day. The best advice I can give is be intentional and schedule your sleep in a way that works for you.
9. Focus on one thing at a time – The first few weeks I felt like it was taking me forever to get tasks done around my house and I couldn’t seem to catch up on anything. I kept saying to myself how does this tiny human make such a big mess….well, they DO! From the diapers, to the spit-up covered clothes , endless loads of laundry, washing bottles, sterilizing bottles , the list goes on and on (and not to mention all the regular household duties). When days like this happen the best thing to do is just to pick one task, finish it and then move on to the next. I’ve learned to also let things go. If dishes are sitting in the sink, or the laundry hasn’t been put away it’s okay because everything will still be there in an hour or the next day.
10. Treat Yourself! – Get that mani/pedi you’ve been wanting to get, get a blow out, splurge on something that makes you feel good (these Cosabella Maternity pieces I’m wearing have made me feel beautiful and confident post baby!). Don’t put your needs on hold and make time to treat yourself. Make your postpartum self-care a have-to-do!!! Postpartum self-care is a necessary part of the postpartum recovery journey. Your body and life will go through so many changes that can be very overwhelming. Take time for yourself and do activities that you enjoy as your body is healing recovering. You got this mama!!!!
