Having a baby is a milestone of a lifetime. It’s bringing a new life into the world and taking care of it with love and compassion so it grows up to be an amazing human being. The postpartum process can be hard on a lot of women, and many even end up suffering from depression due to the major changes in their bodies and minds.
If you or someone you care about is suffering from postpartum woes, here are some self-care practices to help you feel better.
Rest as much as you can.
One of the first things a doctor will tell you right after giving birth is that you’ll need to get your well-deserved rest. Rather than using your breaks to merely rest, kill two birds with one stone by using the best breast pump that helps you gather the milk supply so you always have breast milk available for your next breastfeeding sessions. When considering different types of breast pumps for your milk collection, opt for a hospital-grade, electric breast pump over a manual one for the best experience supplying your breast milk so you can store it for later use without any contamination. You can even opt for a wearable breast pump so you can pump breast milk on the go. Some breast pump brands include Willow, Elvie Pump, Haakaa, and Medela.
You can schedule your milking routine on a daily basis so you can dedicate that time to pumping milk and resting at the same time—bonus points if the baby is asleep.
Keep up with your skincare.
Your skincare may take a toll during your pregnancy, as you will focus on other more important things; however, now you can take the time to adhere to the best organic skincare routine that fits your needs and schedule. Organic skin care products that are cruelty-free can help your skin’s moisture without using harsh chemical preservatives like parabens that can damage your skin. Some can even help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as significantly improve the health of our skin.
Stay healthy.
Additionally, you’re going to want to be as healthy as you can. We’re not perfect, so expecting yourself to be in your best mental and physical health postpartum is not ideal. Just try to stay hydrated, eat your vegetables, take supplements if your doctor recommends it, and try to keep your body moving whenever you’re not resting. You can do easy exercises like walking in the park or around the neighborhood to keep your blood pumping and your heart healthy.
Join a support group.
If you find yourself struggling too much with postpartum stress or depression, try joining a support group so you can vent about your problems and get advice from other moms. Some mothers enjoy going on walks together with their babies to spill the beans on their latest baby purchases or discuss whatever’s going on in their minds regarding postpartum issues.
Accept help from your loved ones.
It’s also important to understand that sometimes, things will get overwhelming, and that’s okay. Having a baby takes a lot of work and time to properly care for them. It’s a no-brainer that you can accept help from your spouse, partner, loved ones, and trustworthy friends. No one that loves you will like to see you struggling to do everything by yourself, so be open to accepting the help when you can get it.
Get therapy from home.
If your feelings are too overwhelming to the point where you want to give up on everything, then you should find therapy. You don’t have to go through the hassle of waking your baby up, putting them in the car, and driving to therapy. You can get therapy from the comfort of your home. Finding the right help can take a bit of time, but don’t give up.
Don’t despair when postpartum depression starts taking a toll. Seek help, accept help, and always do the best you can do for your baby—they need you.
