Looking after yourself again…..
Anyone who has had a baby knows what a challenge it is looking after yourself post birth. The focus is taken off you and becomes all about how the baby is feeding, sleeping and of course pooing! Here are a few fundamental tips to help point you in the right direction again.
Eating well is essential for both you and your baby. Your Diet should be made up largely of fruit, vegetables and protein including fish, eggs, soy, chicken and beef. If you simply don’t have the time to get everyday, try cooking in bulk and freezing so that you always have supplies ready. For a breast feeding mother eating well is even more significant as your baby will be taking all it can get from you to help them grow. Eating well is also an important element to help lose those extra Kilos that you may still be carrying from pregnancy and this will help with energy and fitness. Consider staying on your pregnancy multivitamins or finding a new multivitamin with the help of your Naturopath to support you through this period.
Sleep as challenging as it may seem is vital to your wellbeing. Everyone experiences broken sleep in the early days so it is important to sleep whenever you can. Avoid eating junk food and drinking coffee to keep you awake – have a nap mid morning or in the afternoon for 30 minutes - it all helps!! Herbal teas are a great way to help you relax and unwind when you’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Try fresh organic chamomile tea for a start, this will help relax a breast fed baby too.
The third component of looking after yourself is of course exercise. Get in the routine of a regular daily walk when your baby goes back to sleep. You will feel better for it and it will help shed those extra Kilos that you put on while your baby was growing inside you. Exercising 3 to 4 times a week for 45 minutes is a great goal to set as well as strengthening exercises to help cope with new demands of motherhood. Meeting up with other mums is a great way to stay motivated.
And remember that when you look after yourself and are feeling well - you will be able to look after the other members of your family better.
Georgia Rath -Naturopath BHSc.(Nat)