Self care must for new moms

1. Nap when the baby naps

It’s hard as new moms to adhere to the ‘nap when the baby naps' approach. Because,  when the baby naps it means figuring out the list of chores you can get through. Newborns need naps so their bodies re-charge and for their developing brain. You need the same and more except for the brain part. The important thing is to schedule a nap pattern that works, or maybe its not a nap, it's lying for a few where ever. If the thought of napping when the baby naps sounds impractical, my advice is try a half and half approach. Use half of the time your newborn is down to accomplish one or two tasks and use the other half for some solid self-care. The trick here though is not to get carried away with the first half, you forget about napping in the second. Newborns are usually out for a few hours so make use of it.

Use half of the time your newborn is down to accomplish one or two tasks and use the other half for some solid self-care.

1. Accept help

We're not made of 'supermom', doing everything is impossible it only makes us feel more drained and tried.  So first, accept help from people you trust.  Here's my suggestion about help: for a new mom preferred help should be a female especially one who has already gone through birth and understand all the 'neediness' that's required. Second, kick independence out the window, learn to say “yes” more from your spouses/partners as well as capable friends and family. They are your support system, they will be more obliged to take the load off giving you the much needed breather you need.

Kick independence out the window, learn to say “yes” more from your spouses/partners as well as capable friends and family

3. Two words: Bath Tub

Now you’re a mom, you’re no longer a priority. The sad truth with this statement is most of us think so or see this playing out around us. Our culture puts so much emphasis on babies, after birth the focus shifts from you to them.  So its natural to fall into the 'I'm not a priority' mindset and you forget yourself. Two words: bath tub - you have one use it. Take time for a soothing bath nothing long, just enough to have a few moments for yourself. Do something that makes you feel whole as a mom.

Do something that makes you feel whole as a mom.

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1. Go out

The first few months after baby you're completely attached, The thought of going out may seem foreign but don’t lock yourself in. Meeting a friend for lunch is self-care that will do you a lot of good. I’m not saying go all the way to being a social butterfly, but try to spend a few hours away from baby with your friends and family. And no shopping or mall events during the first month.

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1. Join a mom group

It’s great to have a support system filled with other moms. How do you do that? Find other moms through yoga, the gym, your neighborhood or social media you name it there's a mom group for everything. Having these communities help lighten the load of being a new mother. You may meet a few ‘mom veterans’ who are going through or have gone through what you are experiencing. You won’t feel alone and you'll get good advice which will slowly make all the pieces fit together.

Having these communities help lighten the load of being a new mother.

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1. Exercise

This is not an immediate need, but you need to get into a routine as soon as your doctor gives you the go-ahead to add exercise to your lifestyle. We moms first think we have to ‘get our bodies back’, that’s an unrealistic way to thing about exercising.  You just birthed someone for nine months, the last thing you want to think about is 'going back'. I also thing as humans we’re always growing, evolving and motherhood is just part of that evolution. You will never ‘go back’ be realistic, embrace the new and set realistic goals to accomplish. Start slow, do some yoga, take a spin class, go for walks, do whatever gets you moving.

You will never ‘go back’ be realistic, embrace the new and set realistic goals to accomplish.

1. Get back into your routine.

This is easier said than done. Babies as wonderful as they are, should not totally change your life, they are an addition. So maybe you can’t spend hours flipping through your favorite magazines or read a novel in 3 days, now it will take you 2 weeks. Either way get back to reading, get back to doing the things that make you feel whole and nurtured.

We need to be whole for ourselves first.

Do any of these tips sound doable? Let me know if there’s any not listed here thats worked for you?