If you’ve just given birth, you’ve already noticed that your life has changed completely from the way it was before you had your baby. Indeed, things are different for you both physically and emotionally, but it’s the physical changes that many new moms notice first. If you feel like your body will never get back to the way it was before, don’t despair because there are things you can do to change that.

What Do Mothers Need After Giving Birth?

The word “postpartum” usually refers to the first six weeks after childbirth, and to be sure, mothers need a lot during this time frame. With all of the physical and emotional changes taking place, a new mother’s needs are extensive. To make things a little easier on you, here is a helpful postpartum checklist you can follow to help feel better both physically and emotionally.

1. Eat Healthy Foods

As a new mom, it’s crucial that you eat healthy whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Keep certain “power” foods around and eat them as often as possible. These foods include veggies such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, asparagus, and kale; fruits that include pumpkin seeds, cantaloupe, and mangoes; and foods such as lean meats, beans, rice, and eggs. What you put into your body right now is more important than you think.

2. Keep Taking Your Prenatal Vitamins

You’re going to feel better if you continue to get a lot of vitamins and minerals, and prenatal vitamins have everything your body needs to be healthy. You can take a standard vitamin supplement if you prefer, but taking a prenatal supplement will ensure your recovering body gets what it needs to survive and thrive. The supplements also help on those stressful days when you can’t or simply don’t eat right.

3. Sleep When the Baby Sleeps

When your body is healing, it needs a lot of rest, but if you don’t sleep when the baby sleeps, you might not get the amount of rest you need. For at least the first six weeks, ask your partner or family to help with housework and laundry so that you can nap whenever the baby is napping. If you don’t have any other children, this is much easier to do, but you can also have someone babysit the older child so you can get some rest.

4. Try to Exercise When You Can

Make sure you check with your doctor regarding when to start exercising again, and keep in mind that you’re not training for a marathon. Just a short walk daily can help a lot, or you can do some stretching or step exercises. Don’t overdo it, but a little bit of exercise at least three or four days per week will go a long way in helping you feel better.

5. Don’t Be Shy About Asking for Help

It’s normal for things to feel overwhelming when you first get home with your new baby, so it’s a smart idea to ask for help with household chores, errands, babysitting your other children, and even cooking a meal once in a while. The more help you get, the faster you’ll recuperate both physically and emotionally from childbirth, so don’t hesitate to ask friends and family members for assistance.

6. Recognize the More Serious Symptoms

Moms don’t always know when they have postpartum depression, but if you’re crying uncontrollably, feel extreme sadness, have frequent mood changes, or you’re having a lot of trouble sleeping, it’s time to consult with your doctor. You may be experiencing postpartum depression, and the doctor can help you get through it.

7. Drink as Much Water as You Can

It’s easy to become dehydrated when you’re recuperating from childbirth simply because you’re too busy to concentrate on drinking enough water. Muscle soreness is one of the symptoms of dehydration, but if you concentrate on drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water per day, you’ll stay hydrated and therefore, your body will heal much faster.

8. Try Some Herbal Teas to Help You Relax

In addition to your physical health, you need to also concentrate on your emotional health. It might sound difficult but it’s easier if you tell yourself that you are worth caring for when you’re a new mom! Drinking some herbal teas can help, and some of the best ones include Mother’s Milk tea, chamomile tea, and red raspberry tea. And make sure you check the labels because not all herbal tea is caffeine-free, and you don’t need caffeine when you’re healing.

Other Things to Remember

When thinking about your postpartum recovery essentials, keep in mind that you need to take good care of yourself both physically and emotionally. Your hormones are running amok right now, and you don’t have control over everything they’re doing. Nevertheless, one of the things you should remember is to recognize when you need to call the doctor. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible:

• Sadness and crying that last more than two weeks
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• The desire to withdraw from your family
• Lack of interest in your baby

Conclusion

When you have a baby, both your body and your mind go through a lot of changes, and if you feel like you’ve been put through the wringer, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are things you can do to start feeling better quickly, and it starts with taking care of yourself.