Bringing a new baby into the world is a life-changing experience for any parent. There are so many new things to learn about caring for your newborn. Most information I read was all about caring for a new baby and while that is important, postpartum care for mom is just as important. In this blog post, we’ll cover three things I did to stay healthy postpartum. Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Please talk to a trusted provider before making any decisions surrounding your health.
KEEP TAKING YOUR PRENATAL VITAMIN
I know it’s called a prenatal but it can still help with staying healthy postpartum. While your body is still healing, your prenatal can help with recovery, breastfeeding and the prevention of becoming depleted in any vitamins or minerals. I have had several doctors and nutritionists recommend continuing a prenatal for at least a year, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Side note-I am not a doctor. This was information I learned from mine but I encourage you to talk to yours. This is the exact one that was recommended to me.
HAVE YOUR PLACENTA ENCAPSULATED
This one might be a little too out there for some of you and I get it. I chose to have my placenta encapsulated after giving birth. It’s believed that consuming the placenta can help with postpartum recovery by replenishing nutrients and hormones. I found a highly recommended and qualified doula in my area who came to the hospital to collect my placenta. She encapsulated it and brought the capsules to my home a few days later. I was all for doing anything that could help with my mood, hormone balancing and milk production.
EAT WHEN YOU CAN, DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE HUNGRY
As a new parent, it can be challenging to find time to eat. It’s important to eat when you can, even if you don’t feel particularly hungry. Your body needs fuel to recover and produce breast milk. I found it helpful to make a few items in large quantities a few days a week that I could grab easily. My favorite things were a cold chicken salad and soups in my crockpot. Both were easy to just grab and eat/drink quickly when I could. Waiting until I got hungry proved difficult because those were inevitably the same moments when my son needed to be fed or put down for a nap. Instead, I just focused on eating when I was able and then I didn’t have to worry about feeling light headed because I waited too long to eat.
It’s easy to put yourself on the back burner and to not even think about how to stay healthy postpartum. Your world gets turned upside down when you bring home a baby and suddenly, they are you number one priority. Remember, babies need their mama to be healthy in order to care for them. I know it’s hard, but at the very least, get some water and a snack. You deserve it. I’m proud of you.
Bonus Tip: My absolute favorite source for information around staying healthy at any stage of motherhood is Holistic Nutritionist, Jessica Spiers. Here is a link to her YouTube channel. If you like her content, she also takes on private clients, does group coaching and offers a membership site.
