Congratulations! You’re officially a momma to a sweet baby. You’ve spent the last nine months trying to prepare for the moment your bundle of joy will arrive, but now that it’s here, you may be feeling low, down, or simply not yourself. These postpartum feelings are common, and just about every new mom will feel a new set of emotions they didn’t expect. No matter how you feel, you must practice postpartum self-care from the moment you bring your baby home. Here are six postpartum self-care tips to get you through.
6 Postpartum Self-Care Tips
1. Let Yourself Be in the Moment
It can be easy to quickly feel like you are missing out on a “normal” life. When baby is born, it’s nearly impossible to see your friends and family, let alone leave your house. And that feeling of being left out of your life can make you feel incredibly lonely and sad. Instead, remind yourself that this moment is fleeting! While you will soon be back to your normal life, the time spent with your newborn (sleepless nights and stressful days included!) will be moments you will never get back.
2. Join a Facebook Group
Sometimes all we need to feel better is to feel heard and understood. When you’re unable to get out and spend time with your friends and family, connecting with like-minded people online is an excellent second option. There are many new mom Facebook groups for those with different ideas. Do your research and choose one that fits you best. You can use this group to ask questions about new mom life, bond with those going through the same thing as you, or ask for new ideas for postpartum self-care! These groups are also helpful to read what others have to say and not feel so alone.
3. Get Dressed as Often as You Can
When you have no sleep and no place to go, motivating yourself to put on anything other than your pajamas can be hard. But getting dressed is a great way to feel good about yourself and lift your spirits. Set a starting goal to get dressed at least two or three times a week—and make it simple. Blow out your hair or put on some simple makeup. Throw on a pair of stylish joggers rather than your usual pajama bottoms. You may not see a soul that day besides your newborn, but it can do wonders for your inner self.
4. Treat Yourself
Now is the time to be selfish! Being a new mom is hard work, and you deserve to reward yourself for all you do every day. I always treat myself to an iced coffee from Starbucks when I feel I’ve done something to deserve a treat. Surviving each day as a new mom is a significant task, so pick something you love and let yourself have it whenever you need a pick-me-up or a little postpartum self-care. Check out these ten self-care necessities for moms HERE.
5. Create a Routine
This may be easier said than done, but having a daily routine is a great way to feel like you are returning to normal. Try to wake up and go to sleep around the same time every day. Schedule even mundane things like washing the dishes and having lunch. Write your schedule down in a pretty new notebook—it’s much easier to follow a routine when it’s written down in front of you! If you are trying to create a sleep schedule for your baby, this will help with that too.
6. Schedule “You” Time
When it comes to postpartum self-care, this is probably the most important tip. A new baby needs all of you, all the time. The pressure can be overwhelming and get new moms feeling down. Once a week, or as much as you can, try to schedule some time for yourself. If you have someone who can watch the baby for an hour, get your nails done or take a walk around your neighborhood. If you don’t have someone who can watch your little, or you are afraid to leave, consider doing some light exercise like postpartum yoga or watching your favorite show while the baby takes her afternoon nap. Whatever you can do, just don’t forget about yourself during this wonderful, yet sometimes daunting, new time!
And sometimes self-care isn’t enough. Read here if you feel like Self-Care Alone Won’t Fix It.
