ttc 101

chapter six: new mom self care tips

10 Self Care Tips For New Moms1. Schedule your sleep

A lot of people say to sleep when the baby sleeps, which is great advice for some people. But if you're a "do-er" like me it's hard to take leisurely cat naps throughout the day.

Instead, I chose to go to bed with my baby around 8:00 pm every night and also went back to sleep with her after the 7:30/8:00am feeding. I slept until nearly 10:00 am every morning for the first few weeks. This SAVED me. I can honestly say I rarely felt sleep deprived. Yes I was waking up every 2-3 hours during the night but I was getting a total of about 8 hours which kept me sane and rational throughout the day.

The point being: be intentional and schedule your sleep in a way that works for you. If you don't, you may never sleep and everything will feel 10x harder.

2. Join a group

Find other moms in your area through , or local baby stores. Community lightens the load of motherhood and it helps to connect with other moms who are going through the same changes and season of life.

3. Buy postpartum clothes

Everyone talks about maternity clothes, no one talks about postpartum clothes.

A week before Blake was born I went out and purchased a handful of big, flowy dresses that I would be able to wear postpartum. I was SO over my maternity clothes but also knew that I'd be months away from fitting into pre-pregnancy clothes.

I'm so glad I did this. I think the postpartum body is much harder to dress than the pregnant body. This helped me (and is still helping me) during those awkward weeks with an ever-changing, oddly shaped body. If you're having a baby in the winter consider super stretchy leggings and long, cozy sweaters. 🙂

4. Get out

A friend of mine who had the baby blues with her first child told me to force myself to get out. Not in the first few days or even weeks, but in the first few months. She told me it would seem hard and be tempting to not go places with friends because it's easier to just stay home but to force myself out at times.

This may seem counterintuitive to self-care but I think it's really great advice. Don't pressure yourself to be a social butterfly but getting out and spending time with friends and family is good for the soul and will help you feel like yourself again.

This one has been big for me, even if it's just a trip through the drive through Starbucks 🙂

5. Schedule a hair appointment

Seriously, do it right away. Schedule it for a month or two after the baby is born...as soon as you're able to leave her for a few hours. I know it may be hard to time the feedings and get out the door. Choosing a salon close to home will help. You deserve a little pampering. It will be good for you, good for your marriage and good for your baby.

6. Let people bring you food

Have a friend set up meal delivery calendar with . I had a friend insist on doing this for me even though I tried to resist (remember we're new here so this was a new friend who has turned out to be a lifesaver for me over the past few months). If people want to come visit, tell them they're more than welcome to as long as they feed you. 🙂

7. Exercise

Not right away, but eventually. After you receive the go-ahead from your doctor find ways to incorporate exercise into your weekly routine. Don't worry about exercising to get your body back (9 months on, 9 months off...quite possibly more) but exercise for your mood. The benefits are real and proven. Get out for walks, do yoga in your living room, join a mommy & me class, take an hour for yourself to hit the gym...whatever you like to do, take the time to do it.

(Join to get new at-home workouts every month and a become a part of a super supportive, encouraging community of women.)

8. Treat yourself

Find little ways to treat yourself throughout the week. For me, this is Starbucks 🙂 For you it may be something else. But after a long day of nursing, burping, changing and comforting your little one indoors you'll benefit from finding little ways to treat yourself. I look forward to my afternoon walk or drive through Starbucks with a sleeping baby in the back seat.

9. Get ready for the day

Again, not in the first few days, but in the first few weeks. During your baby's first nap, shower, blow dry your hair, get dressed, and put on make-up....even if you're not going to see anyone all day! I have days where I may not see anyone I know until my husband comes home from work. It would be so easy to stay sloppy all day, but it's not good for my mood or my confidence. Getting ready for the day has really helped me to avoid the blues.

10. Establish a routine

I know some people love schedules and some don't, but in my humble opinion a routine or a schedule is super helpful in maintaining sanity as a new mom. If I had to be at Blake's beck and call more than I already am I think would be having a much harder time with this motherhood thing.

Find a routine that works for you and your family and stick with it. Everyone will benefit and eventually you will be able to take time for yourself because you'll know your baby's schedule.

We're all in this together and I'd love to hear your thoughts since every woman is different.