Becoming a mom is a life-changing event. Your priorities change but all the hard work, sleepless nights, and pain are worth it. If before, you are just waiting for your bundle of joy to come out, now, you can finally carry your little one in your arms and shower your baby with every bit of love you have.
But one dark side of becoming a parent is the fact that many mothers, especially new moms tend to take their health for granted. Before, you have time for self-care after taking care of your spouse, the house, and your work. But now that you have a baby that depends on you, it is quite easy to only focus on their needs. With your plate of responsibilities now stacked up real high, there will be times when you can no longer accommodate all.
More often than not, mothers will forgo me time and abandon self-care all together. But if you don’t take good care of your health, your body can give up on you and your stress can affect your mental health. If you want to give your baby the best care, then you will also need to take great care of yourself. The good news is, there are sneaky ways you can do this without neglecting your little one.
Get That Mom Bod Moving
Staying active does not necessarily mean you are not proud of your mom bod. But exercise is a need that everyone must do to keep their blood pumping and their body healthy. You might think that with all the chores you do each day on top of child care, you won’t have time to exercise. But if you have time to watch the television and scroll on social media while your baby’s sleeping, then you can definitely dedicate some time to stay active.
For one, you and your baby can get nice sunlight and fresh air by walking around the neighborhood. If you can do 10,000 steps each day, then you can already be a lot healthier than many people. Wearable technology can help you count your steps so you don’t have to manually do it on your own.
You can try doing yoga or Pilates while your baby sleeps. These can help improve your posture, strengthen your body, relax your mind, and improve your mood. These two types of exercises are a good choice even if you just gave birth.
If your pain stops you from keeping an active lifestyle, and you are currently suffering from mobility issues, then you can consider physiotherapy home visits. This way, you can get physiotherapy in private. With the help of the pros, you can get back on your feet in no time, better cater to your baby’s needs, and finally get back to work.
Watch What You Eat
Breastfeeding or not, moms should always be careful about what they eat. Just because you are not breastfeeding your baby does not already mean you can go back to eating fast food every single day. Eating healthy gives you the energy your body needs.
Keep yourself hydrated and choose to prepare healthy meals. You may be tempted to finish your child’s leftovers so that no food will go to waste. But before you do, ask yourself if it will help your body heal faster or only add to your waistline. Eat the right kinds of food and you will feel fuller.
Don’t Be Ashamed to Ask for Help
Many moms are ashamed to ask help from their families in keeping an eye and taking care of the baby. Mothers should not be ashamed to ask for some help so they can enjoy a few minutes of me-time. Remember that you too deserve to take a break. There should be no shame in wanting to step back, take a deep breath, and de-stress so you can reset your day.
You can ask your spouse to take care of the baby so you can finally enjoy a decent meal, a nice bubble bath, nap a bit, or even run errands. Ask a family member or friend you can trust and knows how to care for kids to watch your kid for you while you run to the supermarket. If none of your loved ones are available, you can choose to hire a professional baby sitter instead to watch your little one while you work.
Being a mom is a blessing that comes with a lot of hard work. You can end up hungry, tired, frustrated, and stressed out. If you don’t take good care of yourself, you will feel twice or three times worse. Do prioritize your health if you want to become a better mom.