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Having a child is a huge experience, whether it’s your first or your last. Gone are the days of thinking just about yourself or being able to loo in peace. That’s not to say it’s negative – having a baby is just about one of the most amazing things you can do. It’s just a lot to deal with. So, if you’ve recently had a child and you’re looking to discover some ways to feel a bit more like you, if you’re doing some research for the future, or you’re looking for ways to help a partner or friend, then you’ve come to the right place.
Look after your body
While you’re likely to be preoccupied with looking after your brand new bundle of joy, it’s vital you look after yourself. The old saying ‘when the baby sleeps, mommy sleeps’ is true, especially in the beginning. If you can, stay in bed for at least a couple of weeks after the birth, because whether you had your baby vaginally or through a c-section, your body is healing after a major event.
Looking after yourself means eating nutritious, delicious food to fuel yourself. It means snatching as much sleep as you can and generally prioritizing your wellbeing as much as you can. Birth is a huge event, so much so that doctors generally would avoid conducting surgery on a woman in the year after she’s had a child, so caring for yourself is key to recovery.
If you’re finding you’ve got no time to cook, reach out to a partner, family, and friends if you can. Your support network is here to help you heal. And if that’s not an option for you, food deliveries have come on leaps and bounds, so you can order food from the comfort of your own home.
Practice self-care
This isn’t some woo woo notion for the privileged few, this is life-saving stuff. Take a moment to consider what self-care is for you. Is it taking a bath? Or lighting a candle and reading a book? Make a list of things that you define as self-care and keep it on your phone, that way, when you do have a second to yourself, you can scan your list for something that fills up your cup a little bit.
Look after your mental health
Your hormones are all over the place, you have a tiny human who depends on you, you’re exhausted, how are you supposed to look after your mental health? Well, this request comes with a big pinch of salt (reason) – it’s important to trust yourself and your feelings. If you feel like you’re struggling, the best thing to do is to ask for help. You can start with a partner, friends, or family, or you can take it straight to a doctor if that’s what you need.
Mood swings after birth are normal, and many women do experience the baby blues, but it’s also important to be aware of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is serious but it can also be helped, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
Hair loss is normal
Postpartum hair loss is a common – and yet woefully under-discussed – occurrence for moms. And actually, it isn’t so much hair loss, just excessive shedding of hair as a result of decreasing estrogen levels in the body. It should usually subside after a few months, and in no time you won’t notice it anymore. Now you know the science behind it, it should make it a little easier to deal with.
There are tips and tricks you can use to make your hair look and feel better in those tricky months after birth. You can:
- Look after your hair health
- Try changing your parting to disguise thin areas
- Cut your hair shorter at the front to make it appear fuller
- Color your hair to give it more texture and body
- Focus on the fact that you are worth more than your hair
However, if it doesn’t abate and you’re noticing your hair is much thinner in places, or even creating a bald patch, there are things you can do. Naturally, hair transplants will be the last course of action in this case, but before you get to that stage, you can try scalp serums or cover up some areas, Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP).
So, what is Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)? Essentially, it’s a process where a trained professional replicates the look of tiny individual hairs on the scalp using proprietary formula pigment. It’s suitable for all types of hair loss and can be completed in around 2-4 treatments, with results lasting between 1 and 5 years.
Try some movement
That’s not to say you should throw on your trainers and expect to jump into a high-intensity interval training class at all! First off, you should wait to get sign-off from your doctor before you undertake any actual workouts. So, what movement can you do? Walking.
By getting outdoors (with or without a pram) and breathing some fresh air, you’ll be amazed at how different you can feel. By changing your environment and moving on your own two feet, you can get your blood pumping around your body and look around at the world outside. You can take this time to listen to a podcast or call a friend, or simply stay quiet and reflect.
Know it isn’t permanent
As Abraham Lincoln said, “this too shall pass”. Nothing is more true than that when it comes to early motherhood. You’re likely to look back on this time with fondness, so cherish the time that you have now. That doesn’t mean you have to enjoy it all, or feel guilty for how overwhelming it can all feel, it just means that every now and then acknowledge that soon this stage will be over and your little one will be much more independent. Which might be music to your ears!
Hopefully, this article has given you a couple of tips and ideas for how to feel a bit more like yourself after having a baby.
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