Many moms with newborns start to neglect their own health and well-being. Being a parent to a new baby is hard, exhausting work, whether it’s your first child or not, potentially leading to excessive fatigue, insomnia, and even severe depression. Thus, taking time for yourself and avoiding the neglect of your mental and physical self is essential during this busy period of your life. Here are some self-care tips for moms with newborns.
Get Enough Sleep
As all mothers know, a newborn has a very erratic sleep schedule and may require attention at any time during the day or night. Most infants need feeding 8-12 times each day, which can be exhausting and painful for a breastfeeding mother. Most parenting books will tell you to sleep whenever your child is asleep.
While it will be challenging waking up in the middle of the night to feed or change your baby, try your best to lay down any time that you can do so. Rest is vital to your mental health and stamina. That’s why it’s here on this self-care tips for moms list.
Self-Care Tips for Moms: Proper Skin Care
Pregnant women, as well as those who have just given birth, will experience higher than normal progesterone levels that may cause excessive sweating leaving skin feeling and appearing oily. As a result, most women have facial acne breakouts due to clogged pores.
To avoid breakouts, wash your face thoroughly each morning and night. Then apply a skin care product that treats melasma twice a day. Pigmentation and dark spots can also be common among new mothers, as well as dark circles and puffy eyes.
Be cautious of hormonal changes following delivery too. Mood swings, nausea, weight gain and depression can occur as a result of hormone imbalances.
General Nutrition
A balanced diet is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so it’s a no-brainer to include it in this self-care tips list. That’s especially true for moms with newborns. Therefore, try to incorporate servings of whole grains, rice, and pasta, along with two servings each of fruit and vegetables per day.
Two or three servings of meat or other proteins can help you gain the iron and calcium the body needs too. If you choose to breastfeed, plan to consume an additional 500 calories or more on top of your recommended 2,000 daily caloric intake.
More Self-Care Tips: Drink Water
Many experts note that moms with newborns should drink eight, 8 oz. glasses of water daily. This is especially true for mothers who decide to breastfeed as this activity can dehydrate many women. Water can aid in the production of breast milk.
Staying Active
After giving birth, aches and pains will persist for weeks. Women who have recently given birth who begin exercising ought to do so only with their doctor’s approval and guidance. Usually it is gradually over the course of the following month, but again only with doctor’s approval.
If you are breastfeeding and find it difficult to also maintain a workout schedule, these parenting tips can be helpful. Don’t try to lose pregnancy weight quickly or put a lot of pressure on yourself; slow weight loss is the healthiest, as a general rule. Following delivery, skin was stretched and the body has a new shape that gave birth to your beautiful girl or boy so don’t hate how you look but instead work to feel your best and be healthy.
Photo by torwai from Getty Images (Canva Free Content License).
I’m a new mom and I love these tips. It can be so hard finding the time to take care of myself, since having my newborn. Thank you for this great reminder.
It sounds like the read came at a very good time for you xx Take care
Great tips! It can be hard to remember to take care of yourself!
Yes, prioritizing others before ourselves happens ~ the struggle is real!
Great read!!
Cheers to self-care for moms!
great tips!
Great to hear!
Great tips! Mommies tend to forget themselves after they become mothers, I know I did after my twins were born. Love your post😊
Your feedback is wonderful to read here! I’m happy to hear that you know the importance of moms taking caring of themselves now :)
Love this!! Super great reminder for any mommas – new and experienced. Our health and self love is important too ❤️❤️ great article from one mama to another 🥰
Bring on the self-love!
It sounds like the post came at the right time :D
You are fantastic in investigating and presenting themes like this. Love it! Michael
Ohhhh so nice, Michael!!
Its true Christy, and therefore a great “Thank you”! Michael
:D
Great advice! I have a new grandson and my son and daughter in law have learned a lot in the past 4 months!
Congratulations on the new addition to your family, Diane!
Thank you Christy!
:) :)
These tips will definitely help new moms . Sleep is number one in the list for sure !
Ah sleep, isn’t it amazing ;)
I love this post. I’m all for positivity and as a new mom, that’s one thing I am focusing right now while I’m on Maternity leave. I’ve never been busy my entire life than this period. But getting busy is my choice and my little one and I are enjoying our moments together. We go to different classes and it keeps me active and motivated.
LOVE your response. Wishing you many happy times ahead. You’re embracing positivity and that’s going to take you and family far xo
Thank you! Hope I can keep up. Lol :)
Cheering you on!
These are all good tips and tricks. I will let my new moms know about your article. Thanks Christy.
Thanks sweetheart xo