--- 5 Tips For Staying Healthy After Childbirth

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5 Tips For Staying Healthy After Childbirth

The postpartum period is one of the mentally and physically challenging phases of motherhood. Unfortunately, life doesn’t stop because you’ve had a baby. From the second you leave the hospital, you are thrown back into the chaos of your everyday life. It can get very tough balancing life with your newborn with your responsibilities. Welcoming a baby into your family is an exciting time, but the postpartum period is also critical for families to transition into parenthood. Statistics show that 54% of pregnancy-related deaths occur during this period. That’s why it’s important you take some time to take care of yourself. Here are five tips to help you stay healthy after having a child.

1. Rest

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Having a newborn is a full-time job that requires total attention. However, as impossible as it may seem, you need to get a lot of rest. Fortunately, there are several ways you can do this. First, be sure you do not entertain any distractions that may prevent you from getting enough sleep, such as chores. You should also consider timing your sleep following that of your child’s sleep routine, and if you’re lucky, your baby might sleep a lot. During the first couple of days and weeks, you can also restrict the number of visitors you might receive. You can easily get overwhelmed with loads of family and friends visiting you at various times of the day. By limiting these visits, you give yourself enough time to sleep and develop a relationship with your baby.

You must also seek and accept help whenever you can. Try splitting nighttime duties with your partner taking turns attending to the baby. You can also encourage help from family to give you more time to catch up on sleep.

2. Develop an exercise routine

Exercise is a great way to reduce some of the new mom symptoms you might be feeling by improving your energy and acting as a stress reliever. It can also boost your mood and improve your quality of sleep. Although you can start exercising a few days after delivery, starting slowly and not straining your body is advisable. There’s no need to follow an intensive workout, especially during the first six weeks post-birth. Avoid heavy lifting and choose more slow-paced exercises. Walking, Kegels, and doing minimal mommy-infant exercises is a good start.

It’s normal to want to bounce back and let go of your pregnancy body, but rushing into it may not be good. Fortunately, you can always get a procedure done by reputable plastic surgeons to give you a body you are happy with. However, before you get your mommy makeover, it is vital to do some research on various surgeries and their requirements, such as the mommy makeover weight limit and other key information.

3. Join a support group

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You might have an existing support group in the form of your partner, family, and close friends. They are amazing, but sometimes it’s more fulfilling to share your experiences with other mothers going through the exact feelings you might be having. Mommy support groups can provide you with healthy parenting skills, tips, and tricks and empower you to take pride in being a mom. It’s also a good way to access resources such as reliable therapists and pediatricians. You can also build a network and make a new friend or two.

There are tons of support groups out there if you are looking for one. You can join one either in person or online. They are excellent platforms for you to give and get advice, share your frustrations, have some laughs and reduce your stress.

4. Have a healthy diet

You must nourish your body and eat a healthy balanced diet after having a baby. Whether breastfeeding or not, eating well will provide you and your baby with amazing benefits. Having a nutrient-rich diet filled with healthy fats, proteins, fiber, and carbs will help you recover faster, replenish your iron stores, and strengthen your bones. If you are breastfeeding, eating a healthy balanced diet can support milk production and help you pass on healthy nutrients to your baby. It also improves your stamina, which you will need as a busy and nursing mom.

Eat more vegetables and fruits, and include more lean proteins like chicken, fish, and lentils in your meals. Create a postpartum diet meal plan and stick to it as frequently as possible. Most importantly, you must ensure that you are properly hydrated throughout the day. Water, decaffeinated tea, and other unsweetened drinks are suitable drinking options. Of course, you must also make accommodations to occasionally indulge in your junk food cravings.

5. Beat the baby blues

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It’s normal to feel sad or moody after childbirth. It could be due to several factors, including restlessness, anxiety, and changing hormones. Most baby blue phases tend to go away two weeks after delivery. However, you must see your doctor immediately if they last any longer. You should also contact your doctor if your baby blue symptoms begin to interfere with your daily activities and routines. The baby blues is a treatable condition, and you must spot the signs quickly to get early treatment before it develops into a more serious condition known as postpartum depression.

Some of the signs of baby blues include feeling anxious, grumpy, and crying for no reason. You will also experience mood swings, difficulty concentrating on tasks, and sadness. Extreme symptoms such as feeling overwhelming guilt, weight loss or gain, and having scary thoughts about yourself or your baby could be signs of postpartum depression. When you’re experiencing baby blues, it helps to get a lot of sleep, seek help from your partner and trusted friends and family, and eat healthily.

Having a baby takes a lot of hard work, and with the sudden changes in your body and emotions, it can get very overwhelming. Ensure that you take good care of yourself after childbirth to be healthy to care for your little one. Hopefully, these tips will help you along your postpartum journey.