No matter how your baby arrived on this earth, self care for you is just as important as the care for your newborn. What most healthy newborns need in the first few weeks of their life is pretty simple. Love, food, clean nappies, a place to sleep and a clean bath or shower every now and then. You need pretty much the same although it is harder to achieve. Especially the sleep part. Newborns are fine with having three hour naps, eat, get cleaned and get tucked in. You, not so much especially when you are breastfeeding as well which takes being exhausted to another level once again.
Why you need self care after birth
When you have given birth you might think that the hard part is over for your body but unfortunately this is not true. Do you remember all the hormones during your pregnancy, they don't just vanish they leave very very slowly over the next 12 months and that is something you will feel. A lot. Your whole body needs to get back into the pre-pregnancy state and with that I don't mean your tummy. I mean your insides, your uterus, your fluids, your period, your sleep patterns and I can name a lot more. What most new mothers don't realise is that all this costs the body a lot of energy. Energy that you don't have because you have a newborn to take care of.
What can you do to take care of yourself after birth
What is most important is that you allow yourself to recover from birth. Give yourself time. Award your amazing body that has just created a human being. Award it with listening to your body. You need to rest to recover. One simple thing can make a huge difference. For example instead of getting the baby for a feed, let your partner bring you the baby for a feed. Make sure your partner knows that babies like to fill up their nappy while feeding since a feed activates your newborns intestines so an empty nappy would be a bliss for all. Let your partner turn on the washing, let your partner or carer think of a healthy dinner and let them prepare it as well. Breakfast or morning tea in bed is not a luxury when you have just given birth. You are recovering. In hospital you would get food brought to your bed, why not at home? For some women it is a task to receive, I understand but you are not receiving help or care because you are lazy or because you can't do it yourself. You are being taken care off so your body can heal. When you are feeling better, everyone is feeling better.
The consequences of not taking care of yourself
Do you really want to know? Why? To prevent them or to make sure you can push your body as far as you can just before the consequences start? The down part is, most consequences don't start immediately they can come moths or sometimes years after you have pushed your body to far. Take care of yourself. You are important. Just as important as your newborn.
You body and your life matter!
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