The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children
Jessica Lange
First things first – “Motherhood is beautiful but birthing is not.”
It is important for everyone to know this fact and more so the mother needs to understand this before hand. Yes, we all know it will be painful. Yet there is a misconception that once the baby is born everything will be rosy and just like that the new Mom is expected to take care of the baby. We often forget that along with the child a mother too is born. She was just a woman earlier but the mother is born along with her child.
So chill and cut her some slack!
For new mom to become frustrated between taking care of her baby and satisfying her needs for happiness is very common. As a new mother you need to take care of yourself. We provide you with a must-do list to keep yourself happy and healthy . Frankly , these are the bare minimum things you need to follow!
Nutrition should be the first and foremost priority on your list. As we always say planning is the key to inculcating any new regimen or habit in your life. So please plan your meals ahead. Yes, We want you to put it on a paper and stick it on your fridge. Planning your meals for the week ahead will help you in stressing less about things like “Am I eating right? Is my baby getting enough nutrients while I am breast feeding?”. Also, Make sure you have a full water bottle beside you all the time. This will make it easier for you to stay hydrated through out the day.
What is best about planning your meals ahead? Well, your partner can shop for the groceries and help you Stress less!
Exercise is almost non-existent on a new Mom’s to-do list. Make sure you exercise for at least for a few minutes everyday. You don’t have to worry about leaving your baby for long. Just play a peppy song and start dancing in the comfort of your home or just go on YouTube and pick any zumba/Pilates/yoga video from the plethora of options available and start working out. Exercising helps you in not only maintaining your physical health but also your mental well being.
Stop Judging an expectant or a new Mom who is exercising. It doesn’t mean she wants to loose weight for superficial purposes. But to be strong and healthy.
Ladies Exercising isn’t an option. It is a MUST.
Sleep and the lack of it is the one thing that every new mother complains about. Sleep is our body’s restart button for rejuvenating for a new day. Try anything than helps you sleep better; a body pillow, herbal teas, warm turmeric milk, just anything that is healthy and guarantees you a deep and adequate sleep.
It doesn’t mean you don’t care for your child if you want to take a nap! Ask your partner or a friend to watch the baby for while, so you take that much needed power nap.
Time for Yourself is a term that is the most alien to any mother. Regardless of the range of help that a new mother can get she is always daunted by so many issues that might seem trivial to others but not to a mother! It is important to realize that your happiness too is a priority. Take some time out to do things that you love; reading a book, getting a facial, catching up with your friends, Hell! watch an episode of your favorite series all by yourself enjoying your alone time! Anything…Do anything that will make you feel good.
You are not a bad mother if you want to take out time for yourself, And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Support is all you need on the days when you are overwhelmed with everything changing drastically; a human completely dependent on you, feeling tired all the time, being constantly worried about your baby, the list just goes on! Tell your partner what exactly you want them to do for you and the baby. Or just call in your parents or the in-laws for a weekend to care for your baby while you can get some rest, catch up with your friends over some coffee or go on a long overdue date!