Now What? 6 Steps to a Healthy Postpartum Recovery
Does it feel like only yesterday you found out you were expecting? Or has your pregnancy dragged on for what feels like an eternity? Whatever your stance on the last 9-10 months might be, all new mums have one thing in common – the need for a healthy, postpartum recovery. This last stage of pregnancy is seldom talked about the discomfort, the pain and the mental adjustments to your new body. But you must treat postpartum with just as much importance as you did during your various pregnancy stages. That way, your baby can get the best start in life, and you can get back to feeling like you again as quickly as possible.
Read on for 6 steps to a healthy postpartum recovery;
A mishandled birth
Did everything go to plan? Sadly, for many mothers not only did they not get the birth they imagined, but they were let down by their midwife or medical teams. Resulting in life-changing injuries and damage to their newborns. It’s a difficult time, but if you think you may have been the victim of a mishandled birth or your child has received injuries that could have been avoided then speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. You can click here to take a look at a medical malpractice settlement calculator.
Embrace the baby blues
Your mental health has never been more fragile or important and as a new mother, due to your hormones retreating back to normal levels, you may experience what many refer to as the baby blues. Mixed emotions, irritability, restlessness, inability to sleep, mood swings. These are perfectly normal, and these kinds of emotions can fluctuate in the few days after giving birth.
Be mindful of postpartum depression
Again, your mental health should be as much of a priority as your physical wellbeing is, especially after giving birth and if you’re aware that you’ve had feelings of depression, sadness and even animosity towards your baby for two weeks or more than you should reach out and speak to your doctor. People are waiting to support you, so don’t be afraid to ask for help at any stage after giving birth.
Look after your breasts
Whether you’ve chosen to breastfeed or not, you’ll notice that your breasts fill with milk and can become quite engorged a few days after giving birth. As wonderful as this is for new mothers, it’s incredibly uncomfortable and in some cases painful! Look after your breasts and apply soothing warm or cold compresses to your chest. Things will improve with time.
Eat well
Eating a balanced, healthy diet that’s full of nutrients, leafy greens, vitamins and minerals will not only help you recover but also help to keep your energy levels up and pass on those nutrients to your little one if you’ve chosen to breastfeed.
Move
Speak with your midwife or your doctor before you hit the gym after giving birth. They’ll be able to tell you when is best for you and your body. Until then (with medical approval), a gentle stroll in the pram, practising pelvic floor exercises and completing some simple stretches at home will have you moving your body and feeling energised.
Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.
She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.
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