You have just welcomed a new bundle of joy into your family, and breastfeeding is the most natural way to bond with your newborn.
But as you dive into this journey, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by all the responsibilities that come with motherhood.
To ensure that you take care of yourself while breastfeeding, Newborn Stages presents some self-care tips for busy moms.
Maintain Your Priorities
Finding time for yourself and your family is critical, and it can be challenging to maintain balance in your life. Be sure to carve out time for your priorities.
This might mean actually plugging slots into your calendar for things like taking your older kids to their ball games, and being there for them at bedtime.
But you don’t have to do special things to make your kids feel special. You can ask your older kids to pitch in around the house and help you with specific chores.
Giving them simple household chores takes away a bit of your burden and helps them learn about responsibility. And doing these tasks together strengthens your bonds, too.
Bonding Through Tuck in Time
When juggling multiple responsibilities as a mother, it can be easy to forget about quality bonding time with each of your children.
Helping tuck them into bed at night is an excellent way to give them some extra love and attention when possible. It will also allow them to feel involved in their sibling’s upbringing.
Have a Support Circle
Having a supportive family or group of friends nearby is essential to successful parenting.
They understand what life is like with children and can provide both emotional comforts during difficult times and practical help for things like grocery shopping.
With their support, the journey of parenting can be much easier.
Outsource Deep Cleaning
Many parents take cleanliness very seriously, which is important for newborns especially in the post-COVID era.
But deep cleaning can be intense, exhausting, and time consuming even if you’re only trying to manage it once every few weeks. So, instead of taking this task on yourself, recruit help.
You can ask your partner or hire help, like a housekeeper, so that you both have plenty of free time together.
Doing this helps to keep your home in tip-top shape and ensures everyone has clean and healthy living conditions that they can enjoy for many years to come.
Work with a Lactation Consultant
Breastfeeding is a beautiful experience that can be challenging and rewarding.
It can be beneficial to seek advice from a trusted lactation specialist who can provide personalized guidance on how to maintain your milk supply, find the best way to feed your baby, and address other concerns related to breastfeeding.
Many local hospitals and OB-GYN’s offices provide these services and they are usually covered by medical insurance.
But there are also often no-cost services that you can look into for support. Working with a professional can make all the difference in ensuring that you and your baby are both receiving the most out of your experience.
Eating Well
Eating healthy, nutrient-rich meals is important for maintaining energy levels and staying healthy during pregnancy.
Proper nutrition can help provide the energy needed to manage daily activities and create quality bonding time with family members. Make sure to consume foods high in protein, iron, and healthy fats for mom and baby.
Light Exercise
Many people are under the impression that you shouldn’t exercise while breastfeeding.
However, as Well + Good explains, light exercise is good for you, and might actually boost your baby’s immune system. To that end, plan a workout during your little one’s nap time, or if that’s when you try to catch up on rest, put the baby in a stroller and hit the sidewalks.
It’s a great way to reduce your pregnancy weight, too; studies indicate that people who make use of their walkable neighborhoods are 6 to 10 pounds lighter than their counterparts.
Meditation Practice
Taking care of yourself is important for your overall well-being, and it doesn’t always have to mean eating healthily or getting enough sleep.
Making time for yourself each day helps reduce stress levels and makes tackling everything that comes with parenting easier.
Try meditating for 10 minutes a day – as The Bump explains, it’s a great way to look after yourself and show self-care.
Benefits of Drinking More Water for Your Health
Drinking enough water is essential for proper body hydration and overall well-being.
Dehydration leads to fatigue and headaches, which can make it difficult for new parents to manage everyday tasks.
To ensure adequate hydration, try carrying a refillable water bottle with you throughout the day.
Find The Perfect Position When Nursing
Finding a comfortable chair or position when breastfeeding is key to making sure that you and your baby are relaxed during feedings. Choose a spot in your home where you can get comfortable and block out any distractions, and as Unicef recommends, pay attention to your baby’s position when latching. Investing in a quality nursing pillow can also help support your back and arms while breastfeeding.
You’ll also want to invest in some nursing bras and clothing to make nursing easier no matter where you are. You may consider this option – a beautiful and comfortable black nursing dress that you can wear out or at home.
Comfort and access is key to making nursing as hassle-free and as enjoyable as possible.
Care for Yourself and Your Baby
Taking care of yourself while giving birth plays an integral role in maintaining mental health; even though being pulled in different directions every day may seem overwhelming at first glance — it doesn’t have to be.
Carve out time for your priorities, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and invest in a few items that will make nursing a more enjoyable part of your fourth trimester.
Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be such an impossible task, and both you and your newborn will benefit.
