If you're new to motherhood, the transition might be a bit challenging. Here are some tips to help smooth the transition and help you adapt better to motherhood.
Pregnancy is a long process that takes a lot of change on a physical and personal level. When you prepare for a new baby, you have to make changes to your self-care routine, the clothes you wear, how you arrange your home, how you approach work and so much more. Most parents spend a long time focusing on preparing for their new arrival and accommodating these changes. So, you might think that once your little one has arrived, everything will settle down and be catered to. But this is rarely the case. Welcoming a child into the family often comes with all sorts of unforeseen lifestyle changes and you’ll find yourself constantly adapting to meet their needs. But what are some key areas you can focus on when it comes to changing your lifestyle and routine to meet your new arrival’s needs? Here are some suggestions that can come in pretty useful.
Diet and Exercise
It’s important that you consider your diet following birth, as well as engaging in the right amounts of exercise to keep you healthy. If you’re breastfeeding, bear in mind that there are still some suggested dietary restrictions you should impose to prevent risk of illness to you and your little one. You should eat your recommended calorie count to give your body sufficient fuel to recover, as well as plenty of nutrient dense fruits, vegetables and other food groups in moderation. Ask your doctor for exercise recommendations. This can help to get you moving, but you should avoid over exerting yourself.
Breast Pads
Few new mothers are prepared for the fact that their breasts will leak milk. Whether you breast feed or not, your body is likely to change and start producing milk for some time. This can result in leaks due to overproduction and if you don’t wear breast pads, can lead to wet patches on your clothing. Stock up, they’ll come in useful.
Underwear
Just as your body changed during your pregnancy, it’s going to change as your body adapts to no longer carrying a child. You should make sure that you have a wide range of maternity underwear to choose from, as well as finding a favorite underwear brand for underwear to suit you when your body settles in its new form. Maternity underwear tends to be more supportive and can be altered to accommodate breastfeeding if you choose to breastfeed, making access for your child easier and less complicated.
Rest
You’ll find that it can be difficult sleeping with a new baby on the scene. Babies wake a lot and require comfort, feeding and changing through both the day and night. This can result in exhaustion, as many new parents can’t get their recommended eight hours. Seek support and help where necessary so you can rest while knowing your baby is in safe hands. You should also try to nap when your baby is napping to catch those extra zzz’s.
These are just a few areas of focus, but they should help you to manage your life a little better following your little one’s arrival.