It’s as important to take care of yourself as your new baby. Find out how to do the most for yourself in the least amount of time.
Becoming a mother is one of the most massive changes you can introduce into your life, and that includes an interruption of the self-care routine you’re used to. If you were in a groove of prenatal yoga, long naps, and sitting with your feet up to relieve your swollen ankles, the around-the-clock schedule of taking care of your newborn as well as your postpartum body can feel overwhelming (to say the least). But there are easy ways to make sure you’re taking care of your mind and body during your baby’s first year. After all, a happy and healthy parent is a baby’s greatest asset. Check out self-care tips for new moms below.
NEWBORN
From the moment your baby is handed to you, you are forever transformed. Unfortunately, at the very beginning that goes hand in hand with some pretty big physical transformations too. Whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or a c-section, your body needs time to recover in those first few days (and weeks) after birth and that’s where implementing some space for self-care for new moms comes into play. It’s worth at least attempting to sleep when the baby sleeps (we know it’s easier said than done, but the dishes can be done by someone else), and remember to lean on friends and family to help out with household tasks or baby-holding duties when they offer. Postpartum doulas can also provide professional support, and can help advise you on how to navigate the early days with your newborn. Taking a few minutes for a hot shower can calm you when you’re at your most frazzled. Our best gifts for new moms include the Pipette Relaxing Body Wash and Relaxing Body Lotion—each specifically designed with moms’ skin in mind, with gentle, moisturizing ingredients great for pregnancy and postpartum, and a citrusy, 100% plant-derived aroma clinically shown to chill you out. Postpartum bellies are often very dry and itchy (and still recovering from pregnancy), so make sure to keep applying Pipette Belly Butter and Belly Oil while skin is still damp for maximum absorption. Having a dedicated moment in your day where you’re focused on yourself and not that amazing, all-consuming newborn goes a long way.
You’re in the thick of the “fourth trimester” now! The fourth trimester describes the time it takes for your newborn to slowly adjust to life outside of the womb—generally about three months (i.e., the length of time of a pregnancy trimester). During the first three months, a baby still feels most comfortable with womblike conditions like white noise, rocking, and a lot of close contact. Amazing? Yes. Relaxing for parents? Well, not exactly. As your body recovers, you’ll want to start moving more—not to mention, your baby will like it, too. Wearing your baby in a carrier and taking her out for short walks in the morning or late afternoon when the sun isn’t strong is a great way to start introducing movement back into your routine. If you can get a quick (or not so quick!) postpartum massage, your muscles will thank you, as breastfeeding and carrying your baby can give you a stiff neck and shoulders. Ask your partner for a neck rub at the end of the day with Pipette Baby Oil (if you like fragrance free) or Pipette Belly Oil (if you like gentle, citrusy scents); both can do double-duty as massage oils, and are full of calming, nourishing ingredients for postpartum skin too. Light stretches, like pulling your shoulder blades together, can also give you some relief. You may find that your hands are becoming dry from the incessant washing (especially if you are using bottles). When you use Pipette Baby Balm on your little one, rub some into your cuticles to keep them supple. You can also sneak in a mini-facial by putting on a face mask right before breastfeeding. No one multi-tasks like a mother, after all.
“Ask your partner for a neck rub at the end of the day with Pipette Baby Oil (if you like fragrance free) or Pipette Belly Oil (if you like gentle, citrusy, scents); it can do double-duty as a massage oil, and are full of calming, nourishing ingredients for postpartum skin too.”
THREE MONTHS
You made it! At three months, you’ve reached the end of the fourth trimester. As your baby graduates from this intense first phase of life and starts to engage more with the world around her, you can involve her more in your self-care routine. Mom-and-baby online yoga classes are a great way to stretch your muscles out, work on your postpartum core strength, and bond with your little one. Your baby will enjoy her portion as much as you do, and you can keep her clean after all that floorwork with Pipette Baby Wipes (great for mom skincare too, as you can wipe your own face and hands as well). Find other parents for outings, especially easy walks in your neighborhood or in the park. Comparing notes with other parents going through similar stages is so helpful, even just as a sanity check.
SIX MONTHS
Whether you’ve gone back to work full-time or not, you’ve probably started getting back into the swing of things. So you need to make time for yourself now more than ever! Make sure to do something that feels like the “old you” at least once a week: schedule some one-on-one time with your partner, meet up with friends for coffee, or just take a long, luxurious bath. (Pro tip: Pour a drizzle of our Relaxing Body Wash under running water in the tub to create a restorative, good-for-mind-and-body soak). Incorporating exercise into your routine is important for taking care of your body. Try exercise balls at home for working on stability, or bridging to release stiff lower backs. (Added bonus: Bouncing on an exercise ball is one of the quickest ways to calm a fussy baby). A jogging stroller means your baby is having as much fun on your run as you are, and it’s a great way to get an arm workout in the process. If you’re experiencing physical aches and pains from carrying an increasingly robust baby, you can also consider acupuncture to release tension and loosen tight muscles. And if you’re still feeling like you’re not yourself, postpartum support groups in your area can be a great resource for finding community, therapist recommendations, and more.
NINE MONTHS
Congrats—you’re the mother of an almost-one-year-old! Hopefully, your child is on a regular(ish) sleep schedule at this point, so you have a little more time to yourself in the evening. Unwind with a lit candle, a good book, maybe a glass of wine—and see if you can enlist a babysitter or family member to help you and your partner to have a night out every so often. The ultimate in self-care at this point may be in knowing how much you’ve accomplished in the past year. As your baby starts to approach toddlerdom and the new challenges and joys that this phase holds, remember that there are a million different ways to parent, and just as many ways to care for yourself. Go gentle on yourself, and concentrate on what you are doing and not what you aren’t doing.
Disclaimer:
The information provided by Pipette is intended solely for educational purposes. The information is not to be used for medical diagnostic purposes and is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment and/or management of any medical/surgical condition. Most of all, this information should not be used in place of a physician or other qualified health provider. If you believe you or your child have a medical condition, please contact your physician immediately.
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