Mums health is important when you are carrying a little child in
your womb. Becoming a mum is a dramatic event, not only in the life of
your baby, but also for you. But as any mums' magazine will tell you, it
can also be very draining.
There are the broken nights, when you
have to get up to feed your baby, and in the first months you can sit up
for hours trying to soothe a screaming newborn back to sleep. Then
there is the feeling of weakness as you get through postnatal bleeding
and your body settles down. Hormonal surges also have their effect as
your hormones readjust after pregnancy and labour. If this is your first
baby, you may also be getting used to breastfeeding, and in the
beginning you may feel sore, constantly hungry, and very weak until you
get used to it.
Paradoxically, even though this is the time that
you need to take care of yourself the most, this is also the time when
many women neglect themselves. They are so busy trying to take care of
their babies, their homes, and the rest of the family that their own
health issues fall by the wayside.
Healthy Mum Equals Healthy Baby
It is very important to look after yourself following birth for three very good reasons:
- Your baby needs you.
- Your family needs you.
- And most importantly, you need you.
To successfully breastfeed a baby, you need to eat well and drink enough. To help you, here are some easy habits to adopt:
- Always take a drink either during or straight after breastfeeding. Do NOT do anything else until you have done so. This is particularly important if you live in a warm climate, as you are more likely to dehydrate if you don't replenish your bodily fluids.
- At night, put a flask next to your bed, so that after you have fed the baby, you can have a drink before going back to sleep without having to go into the kitchen to make one.
- Make sure to breastfeed in a proper position, either lying down or sitting in a straight-backed chair, propping the baby with pillows. This will prevent the development of back problems, which can occur more easily when you are postnatal due to softened tissues caused by hormone changes.
Mum's Home
Another
secret of good health is rest. If this is your first, it's easy. "Mummy
sleeps when baby sleeps" is a famous saying. But if you have other
children, that's not always possible. In this situation, you need help.
Expecting
your partner to do everything might not always work. He's already
overburdened, helping your other children to adapt to the new arrival,
running errands, and probably trying to hold down a job at the same
time.
Don't push yourself to wash the dirty floor or clean the
toilet the minute you get home from hospital. For the next two or three
weeks at least hire a cleaner if you can and if you can't, grit your
teeth. If you can, find a reliable older teenager to watch your other
kids for two hours in the afternoon, so that you can get some rest. Your
kids would prefer the playtime and having a smiling, refreshed mother
afterwards rather than a tired old wreck. And a healthy mum more than
justifies the expense.
Most importantly, if you are worried or
overwhelmed, never hesitate to ask for guidance. If you feel very
depressed, speak to your local health department or therapist. Looking
after yourself by eating and drinking well, resting enough, doing
postnatal exercises, and taking personal time for yourself will ensure
mums health and babies health are excellent.
Newborn Baby provide help and information to thousands of Australian parents every month looking for information on maternal mortality and newborn health If you would like to get your free Parent guide visit today.
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