I recently. had my third baby. Throughout my entire pregnancy, I was hyper-focused on ME. I knew that if I focused on staying strong and healthy, everything would be easier. My delivery, my recovery, my mental and physical health – everything. I also remembered how easy it was to get into a newborn funk, and I was not willing to go there again.
Throughout the season of having my first two babies, I experienced a wild rollercoaster. Moving to Charleston, being a SAHM (not by choice), accepting my new identity, making new friends, finding a tribe, starting my own business, etc. I had been through a lot in the last few years and I was not willing to start over.
I felt that I now had the tools to stay healthy and strong. A new baby means change and although it’s a good change, its still change and an adjustment for the entire family. I have found, that if I do the following five things every day, the rest of my life is much easier. These five steps keep me moving, happy, motivated, and healthy. I want to share these with you, too. These five little things can make all the difference!
- Get dressed every day. My OBGYN actually told me this and it finally clicked. There are days where I look at the clock and its time to make dinner, and I’m thinking, “Where has the day gone!?” and I look down and I’m still in my pajamas. Even if you just change out of your pajamas (mine are typically covered in breast milk that has leaked all night) and you put on your favorite yoga pants and a clean shirt, it will instantly make you feel better (and you won’t be embarrassed when an unexpected person knocks at your door!)
- Get outside every day. As I mentioned earlier, it is extremely easy to stay inside all day long and not even realize it. I have to make it a point to get outside every day. Breathing in the fresh air, and feeling the sunshine on your skin is absolutely revitalizing. Even if it’s just for a few minutes. This small step can help re-energize you and give you the extra ump that you need!
- Move your body. When I say move your body, I mean go at your own pace – wherever you are in your recovery. Even if you are days out of a cesarean, your doctor wants you to move a little bit. As you heal, move a little bit more and more. Even if that just means walking out to get the mail, and then around the block, and eventually around the neighborhood. Once you are healed, try doing a few jumping jacks right as you wake up to get your blood flowing. You’ll be amazed at how this little bit of movement will energize you and get you ready to conquer the day.
- Lean on your tribe. I never knew how much I needed girlfriends until I became a mom. Now, my girlfriends are seriously my tribe. I love them so so so much. It took me a while to find my them; letting go of fear and putting myself out there is one of the best things that I’ve ever done. If you don’t feel like you have a tribe, I promise, it is out there. I talk to someone from my tribe every single day. Every one of them is in my life for a reason, and I lean on them when I need them. They get me. They support me. They love me. They know just what to say to make me feel better. They never judge me and they understand. This is how motherhood should be. If you need THIS, we have lots of resources for you. Get out there, be brave. It’s worth it. Try not to leave all your emotions boiled up inside. They will just continue to grow and manifest. Please know that you are not alone. Talk about what you’re feeling, whether it is to your own mother, your MIL, your husband, best friend, sister, neighbor – whoever. Motherhood is a lot, and you aren’t supposed to do it all alone. We are stronger in numbers ladies! Lean on, mama.
- Drink enough water and eat your veggies! This sounds simple, but often times we are so busy, we just eat what is in front of us. After giving birth, fueling our bodies with wholesome foods is SO important to recover. Give yourself time to recover and eat to fuel yourself. Make sure you are drinking enough water (even though you may just want an IV of coffee 🙂 If you can eat whole foods, do it. This will help you heal faster and will make your body feel better. After my last cesarean, I was feeling so foggy after the surgery. My FIL brought me a green juice. It was incredible how much better I felt. Food is medicine. Let it heal you. Here’s a free guide that helps your hubby get the groceries because that’s one thing you don’t need to be stressing about with a newborn.
So whether you are pregnant, a new mom of one, or a seasoned mom of four, remember these five tips. We are all busy. We are all pulled in several different directions. But guess what: if we don’t take care of ourselves, then we can’t do a good job of taking care of anyone else. These five steps can help you feel like YOU. These simple things can keep you out of a funk and keep you living your best life. Mama, you deserve it!
