By Lisa Lin, RMT, HHPR (and Mom of 2)
Self Care Practices Northwest Calgary
Becoming a mom for the first, second or more times is the most amazing, awe inducing and exhausting times of a woman’s life. Whether you had a delivery as planned, or experienced complications of any sort, your body has gone through a tremendous amount of trauma. Our north American culture doesn’t seem to honor the postnatal healing process as many other cultures do around the world. Too often I hear a new mom talking about going up and down the stairs as soon as she is home from the hospital, taking care of other children or returning to an exercise program too early. There is a cost to this. Time and space to rest and bond with baby is very important. If you are breastfeeding it helps support milk production. In addition, the tissues of your pelvic floor need time to heal and build strength – why – to prevent bladder and pelvic floor issues as your body ages.
Here are a few tips to support your healing:
- Let go of expectation. You cannot expect to be able to do everything you did before baby arrived. Patience really is a virtue right now. If you are feeling blue, do not judge yourself and let your doctor, public health nurse or midwife know asap.
- Allow others to help. Whether it be entertaining baby, cooking, cleaning, laundry or lending a supportive shoulder for you to rest on.
- Your back and neck (not to mention chest) are probably feeling a bit beaten up at the moment. Try to lay down when you can, even use a cloth covered hot water bottle on your upper back for 10 min. This will help soothe the muscular tension and ease the postural stress. Massage can also help ease tension and support a healthy posture to prevent chronic muscle imbalances caused from nursing or bottle feeding and carrying all the luggage that baby comes with!
- Your abdominal core may also be feeling like jelly. It will get stronger; don’t rush it or start lifting heavy objects too soon as you can tear and seriously injure your abdominal muscles as they are stitching themselves back together from pregnancy. Follow your doctor’s orders for when it is safe for you to return to physical activity. Generally this is around 8 weeks postnatal.
- I could mention get some rest here as it is important, but enough said. Simply do what you can to take care of yourself while you get through this stage. Drink lots of water, and eat regularly. It will get easier!
- Most of all, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF – You are amazing. You just brought this tiny little being into the world with love and commitment, and you will get this all figured out.
Give yourself time to rest and enjoy the moment with your baby.
Call us now and book in for a self care package.