Look… we know what you’re thinking.
In the postpartum period, you’re sleep-deprived. You can’t get your baby to sleep and when he or she does, it’s not for long.
Plus, you’re a nervous wreck about all the things that could go wrong with your baby and you can’t help but think about what might happen if something does go wrong. Sound familiar?
Just know, you’re not alone.
While you may feel like you’re the only one in the world who hasn’t slept in weeks, you’re not.
And that’s a good thing (sort of). Because it means you have a support network and resources to help you through this time.
Including us here at The Skinny Confidential. If you just had a baby, you’ll want to check out this post for all the postpartum tips you didn’t know you needed. Then, if there’s one thing we know for sure – it’s that you absolutely must prioritize postpartum self-care. Let’s get into it.
Postpartum Self-Care
It’s hard to think about anything else when you have a tiny human depending on you for everything from life support to nutrition—and let’s not forget emotional support.
Still, it can feel like the whole world has been turned upside down, and there are many things to worry about: Will my baby grow healthy? Will I get postpartum depression? How will I get through this period? Where do I even start with postpartum recovery?
It’s a lot!
The good news is that there are ways for new moms (or soon-to-be moms) to take care of themselves and their babies during this special time in their lives.
Plus – there are plenty of ways for moms and families to find support from others who understand what they’re going through—whether it be family members or friends who have been through similar experiences themselves.
Importance Of Postpartum Self-Care
In the days following childbirth, your body is going through some major changes. You’re also likely overwhelmed—not just by the new baby you’ve brought home and everything it entails, but also by the fact that you’re now responsible for another human being.
It’s important to take care of yourself and your mental health during this time, as well as provide proper care for your newborn by:
♡ Relieving Stress
Postpartum self-care is a great way to relieve stress, whether you’re a new mom or not. The postpartum period can be an emotional and physical roller coaster, but by taking care of yourself and making sure that your mental health is as healthy as possible, you’ll be able to better handle the ups and downs.
♡ Fighting Burnout
Postpartum exhaustion is more than just your body’s reaction to being pregnant and giving birth and having a tiny human who depends on you for everything (and then some). It’s also a sign that you need help to take care of yourself—and you deserve it!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, let’s talk about how to get started with this new chapter of your life. First: what do you want? What would help you feel better? Is it more sleep? More time with friends and family? A little more time for yourself every day?
Whatever it is, write down three things that will help you feel better about yourself and your situation. Then… get started! Get them done! Get them in place! You’ll notice a difference almost immediately—and then when those good feelings start flowing in, it’ll be easier to keep going forward.
More on avoiding burnout HERE.
Postpartum Self-Care Tips
The postpartum period can be overwhelming. It’s a time of extreme change, and that’s not always easy to navigate. We’re here for you and we’ve got you covered.
Here are our top tips for taking care of yourself during the postpartum period. You can also shop Lauryn’s and the teams must-have postpartum essentials here.
♡ Set aside time for self-care each day.
We get it – as a new mom you can barely set aside time for anything, let alone self-care. But hear us out: when you’re feeling your best, you’re going to be a better mother. Period. You need to take care of you before you can take care of others.
So, even if it’s only 10 minutes a day, be sure to set aside some time for self-care. Take a bath, do a foot mask, a DIY at-home face mask or scrub with coffee grounds, or give yourself a facial massage with milk ice cubes. Even better, break out your TSC ice roller and give yourself the most relaxing facial massage ever.
♡ Get proper rest.
After a baby is born, it’s not uncommon to feel sleep-deprived.
We know… it sounds almost like an oxymoronic tip. But, try to get as much rest as you possibly can. It will make all the difference during your postpartum period.
You can try using music or white noise to help your newborn baby fall asleep. This will make it much easier for you to sneak off into another room and knock out for a bit while your baby is busy catching zzz’s. And for moms, if you’re still having trouble getting comfortable we recommend a wedge pillow like this one or this one.
We totally get it that someone telling you to “sleep when the baby sleeps” is sure to make your blood boil. There’s laundry and groceries and meals to prepare, especially if you have other kids, which leads us to our next tip…
♡ Ask for and accept help.
Sometimes asking for help is honestly almost as difficult as giving birth.
But even so, you should still try to make sure you have enough support from family members or friends who can help out with babysitting duties so that you can get some rest or run much-needed errands. Without constantly worrying about whether or not the baby is okay. Look to your local community for recommendations on ‘mother’s helpers’ who could come help you for a few hours a week if your family and friends aren’t available.
♡ Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
If you’re feeling down, tired, and irritable, it’s easy to forget about what you’re putting in your body. But there are plenty of things you can do to make sure that you’re eating well during this time—and we’re not just talking about taking vitamins or eating more vegetables.
Eat a balanced diet filled with lots of fiber, protein, carbs, and healthy fats every day. Also, avoid eating too much junk food as snacks like potato chips or cookies can make you sluggish throughout the day.
But remember, your diet should be in line with your body type and what overall works for you. So be sure to speak to your doctor before making any huge changes in diet.
♡ Exercise regularly.
It can be tough to get your mind off the baby as you adjust to life with a newborn. So, if you’re feeling a little down, try exercising on a more regular basis. Exercise releases a host of happy hormones that can lift your spirit and boost your mood.
Because of this, exercising regularly is one of the best ways to help with postpartum depression. Just make sure to also lift weights while you’re exercising and not just doing cardio. This will help you build muscle and improve your health overall, which will make it easier for you to lose weight after having a baby. Just be sure you’re cleared for exercise from your health care provider especially if you’ve had a C section. Get in some movement but still be safe.
♡ Spend quality time with your partner.
You can take steps to protect yourself from postpartum depression by spending quality time with your partner and making sure that you’re taking care of yourself.
Spending quality time with each other helps build trust between partners and allows both spouses to feel more secure in their relationships.
♡ Consider taking supplements.
Taking multivitamins and fish oil can help with postpartum depression. Their high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve mood and reduce stress in people who take them regularly. See Lauryn’s full roundup of the best postpartum supplements HERE.
Note: If you’re breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking any supplements because they could affect your milk supply and/or baby’s health.
♡ Enjoy a cold plunge and/or sauna session.
There are lots of different things you can do to help yourself feel better—but one of the most effective treatments is a cold plunge or sauna session.
Cold plunges and saunas have been shown in studies to reduce symptoms of PPD by up to 60%. (WOW!!!) This treatment works best if practiced regularly, ideally early in the morning or sometime in the day after your baby has gone down for a nap. The best part? It only takes about ten minutes, so it won’t take up too much time or energy!
♡ Join a mommy support group.
Whether you’re a new mom or if you’re on baby number three, joining a mommy support group can be super helpful. You need a place where you can talk about your struggles with postpartum recovery and mental health openly, without fear of judgment. You can also learn a lot of tips for caring for yourself and your newborn that can help you feel confident as a new parent.
Just go to your local hospital or health care provider, ask them if they have any groups you can join, and then show up on the next meeting day. It’s free, it’s private, it’s supportive, and it’s something you deserve. You’ll leave with a better understanding of what you need to do to take care of yourself during this amazing time in your life.
♡ Build a postpartum recovery kit.
Postpartum recovery kits are a great way to ensure that new moms have everything they need for the first few days after their baby is born.
Postpartum recovery kits can be as simple as a basket filled with snacks, cold packs, maxi pads, nursing pillows, and other essentials. And these kits can be customized with products like witch-hazel, a knee pillow, peri-bottles, and foot ice pack slippers.
For the ultimate postpartum recovery kit, we highly recommend including self-care tools like the ice roller (to give yourself the coldest and most relaxing face massage after a long hard day of parenting) & PINK BALLS face massager (for an instant facelift and thus can instantly boost in confidence).
Shop postpartum wardrobe essentials HERE and more postpartum essentials like toe stretchers & nipple shields HERE.
Let’s fight those postpartum blues together.
The postpartum period can be a challenging one for new mothers. The best thing you can do for yourself is to take care of your mental health and make sure that you are getting the rest and nourishment you need. You have friends, family, and a whole host of resources to help you through this.
Your baby might not be sleeping well at night, but when you’re ready for a nap—take one. Don’t feel guilty about it; everyone needs some rest.
And if you need more help than that? There are a lot of great resources available to new moms who are struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ stalk Lauryn’s experience with belly binding.
++ check out this post on pelvic floor therapy post-baby.
POSTPARTUM MUST-HAVES:
