5 Essential Tips for a Happier and Healthier Postpartum Recovery

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! As a new mum, you are embarking on an exciting but sometimes challenging journey. Postpartum recovery is an essential part of the process, and it’s crucial to prioritise your health and well-being during this time.

Here are our five tips to help you recover and adjust to life as a new mum:

Rest as much as you can (and sleep!)

After childbirth, your body needs time to recover and heal. It is essential to get enough rest and prioritize sleep to ensure that your body is recovering effectively. Try to sleep when your baby is sleeping, and ask for help from family or friends to take care of household chores and errands.

Try to eat well and nutritiously

Your body needs adequate nutrition to recover and produce breast milk if you are breastfeeding. Make sure to eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Additionally, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Ask visitors to bring delicious meals that just need a zap in the microwave or warming in the oven to help against the temptation of calling for a takeaway!

Exercise gradually

Exercise can help you regain strength and energy after childbirth, but it is essential to start gradually and avoid overexertion. Begin with gentle exercises such as walking, pelvic floor exercises, and stretching, and gradually increase intensity and duration as your body becomes stronger. Slow and steady wins the race here – and if you have had a c-section, don’t lift anything heavier than your baby in the first six weeks of recovery.

Look after your mental health

Postpartum depression and anxiety are more common than we like to think. If the blues last longer than the first few weeks, it’s important to seek support for your mental health during recovery. Talk to your GP, midwife, or health visitor who are all ready to support you if you are experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety, and consider joining a support group or seeking therapy. You can always turn to The Motherload® for support too – our MOLOs have been there, worn the t-shirt and come out on the other side!

Give yourself time

Postpartum recovery is a gradual process, and it takes time for your body to heal and adjust to the demands of caring for a newborn. Be patient with your body, your mental health and take every day as it comes. Most of all, remember that it is okay to ask for help – you matter as much as that brand new bundle of joy so enjoy these slow weeks ahead, draw up the bridge and snuggle in for the ride.