Few things are as challenging as giving birth, and once the baby arrives, new moms can feel overwhelmed both physically and emotionally. The thing is, if you take good care of your physical health, you’ll feel better emotionally as well. But how? A new mommy needs all the help that she can get in those first few weeks, but below are 10 tips that can help.

1. Take Good Care of Your Lower Back

When your body is preparing for childbirth, a hormone called relaxin will relax the ligaments in your lower back and the hormone stays in your body for about five months. You can help strengthen those ligaments by concentrating on your posture, switching the hip that you use to hold the baby, and gentle stretching or yoga so they can get back to normal.

2. Develop a Support Network

If you’re an at-home mom, try to get together with other at-home moms at least periodically, which can be both fun and helpful. It will allow you to have some adult company with others who are in the same boat as you, which means that you can talk about the challenges that new parents face and maybe get a little advice on the issues that you’re facing yourself.

3. Eat Nutritiously

This is important whether you’re breastfeeding or not. Always eat three meals a day and a snack, and try to eat mostly lean meats, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. When you’re a first-time mom especially, you’re going to be exhausted, which means that skipping meals might cross your mind. The thing is that this is when you need to pay attention to your diet the most, and you need to eat to keep your energy levels high.

4. Try to Plan Your Day

This may sound crazy, but if you have a to-do list each day, you’ll likely get a lot more done. Even if your list only has two items on it, it’s still a start. Are you going to get all of those items done each day? Maybe, maybe not, but it’ll help you feel more organized and more like yourself if you at least try.

5. Reconnect with Your Mother

Regardless of your relationship with your mother, she can be a huge help when you first get home with your baby. After all, she raised you and possibly your siblings successfully, so she must’ve been doing something right! If this is your first time with Mom as a mentor, it might feel a little awkward at first, but even if you have a strained relationship with her, now is a great time to change that.

6. Nap When the Baby Naps

It’s likely you can only do this with your first child and not the others, so it’s important to take advantage of it. When you put the baby down for a nap, you should take a nap, too. This is a great way to get more energy and get the rest you need. It’s especially important if your baby only sleeps for a few hours at a time. Even a 10-minute power nap can make a world of difference by the end of the day.

7. Ignore the Housework

Housework and laundry will always be there, and the best advice for new parents is to leave it alone as much as you can. If you’re used to your home being spotless, this tip can drive you crazy at first, but you should concentrate on resting and eating more than cleaning your kitchen or washing your clothes. You’ll thank yourself later for it.

8. Eat to Boost Your Immune System

Boosting your immune system can help you have more stamina, and it helps if you eat foods that have lots of antioxidants in them. Foods such as apricots, all types of berries, broccoli, cherries, and watermelon are both delicious and extra good for you. If you’re breastfeeding, these nutritious foods can also help make healthier breast milk, but either way, they are incredibly good for your immune system.

9. Make Sure That You Involve Your Partner

The second parent can feel a little left out once the baby arrives, but if moms include them in everything, it won’t be this way. You should try to do as much as you can with the baby’s other parent so it’s easier for the three of you to bond and feel like a family. If you’re not breastfeeding, you can share the feeding duties, for example, so you can get some rest.

10. Concentrate on Yourself

If you look at suggestions for the best new mom gifts, you’ll notice items made for pampering the mother, and there’s a reason for this. You need to make sure you’re pampering yourself whenever possible. Wear those fluffy slippers or that nursing top, use those bath products, and buy that breastfeeding pillow so you can get into a comfortable position every time you nurse. You deserve it!

Conclusion

Naturally, there are many other first-time mom tips that you can utilize, but these are some of the most important. Taking care of yourself both physically and emotionally after having a baby is imperative. You’ll need your energy now more than ever, so taking good care of yourself goes a long way in being healthier both physically and psychologically. Your baby is depending on you, but it’s also fair for you to get the care you need as well.