5 Tips For New Moms to Know After Giving Birth

5 Tips For New Moms to Know After Giving Birth

Every mother says nothing compares to motherhood. Although no amount of words can truly describe what it is like, there are some things we can all learn to prepare ourselves—whether we’re about-to-be mothers, just became one, or a loved one is going through the process. Learning a thing or two can make it easier, or at least allow us to develop a meaningful understanding of motherhood, and the changes it brings to mothers and the people around them. To start this journey, I think it’s good to get to know 5 tips to do as a new mother.

Get Plenty of Rest

According to research, 40% of mothers say that going into labor is the worst pain they’ve ever felt in their lives. Labor pains are described as unbearable and indescribable; and it gets worse as the baby’s head puts the pressure in the vaginal opening. So as a new mother, this is the time to get that badly needed sleep. Relax and know that your baby is safe, and you have your loving family around you.

Eat Healthy Meals

As a new mother, it’s extremely important to eat a healthy and balanced diet . This will not only help you recover, but this will also help you produce milk for your baby. This means you have to focus on whole grains, lean meats and proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, beans, and other legumes. You should also have enough fluids, so drink a lot of water and healthy natural fruit juices. This food can also help soften your stool so you don’t have to put too much effort when expelling it. After all, any pressure on your perennial areas can cause you to feel pain.

Avoid Sex for At Least a Month

As a new mother, you have a healing wound in your uterus that is susceptible to bacteria transferred through intercourse. That is why it’s recommended to wait at least 4-6 weeks to let the wound recover. Besides, at this point, it’s understandable if you have low libido and would rather focus on taking a rest and taking care of the baby. One of the things to remember is that you can be fertile again even before your next period following the most recent childbirth.

Be Kind to Yourself

Motherhood is not only physically daunting, but it’s mentally and emotionally draining as well. In fact, there is a high chance of new mothers going through postpartum depression characterized by mood swings, anxiety , sadness, irritability, feeling overwhelmed, crying, reduced concentration, appetite problems, and trouble sleeping.

New mothers especially stress about the changes in their bodies. For example, the most common concern is that pooch or bulge in the belly accompanied by lower back pain, poor posture, constipation, and bloating. This is likely what is called diastasis recti. Diastasis is a gap between the ab muscles. You can perform a diastasis recti test in 4 simple steps:

1. Lie on your back. Pull your knees up, and lay the soles of your feet flat on the floor.
2. Put your fingers on either side of your belly button with your palms facing down.
3. Slightly, lift your head and neck off the floor. With your fingers, press down on either side of the belly button. If you notice a gap, then you have a diastasis.
4. Repeat step no. 3, but this time, push above and below the belly button as the measurement of the gap in these areas might vary.

Diastasis recti is a common postpartum condition, but in no case should it be a reason to be hard on yourself. That pooch is proof that you had another life inside your body, and you should be proud of it.

You cannot let negativity bring you down as a mother. Having good mental health is also essential for your own well being and that of your loved ones. So the first thing you should do is acknowledge that you have done well, and you deserve to be kind to yourself.

Take these 5 simple tips and master them; these will be great hacks for you to enjoy your postpartum journey. Give some love and share it with others, as well!