Having a new baby is one huge emotional rollercoaster. You can experience joy, frustration, and worry in a matter of minutes, which is all part and parcel of the challenges of bringing new life into the world. However, it is also common to experience the likes of severe anxiety and postpartum depression following birth, which can, in some cases, impact your capabilities of caring for your baby may require you to seek professional support.
While you have a heap of brand-new responsibilities on your plate, you should never ignore your own needs. Acknowledging these needs will not only help you stay sane but may also help you become a better mom—which is of course, what we all strive for.
Below, you’ll find some useful tips on how to take care of your mental health after having a baby.
- Reduce your use of social media
When you have some downtime, it’s easy to find yourself scrolling through social media as a time-passer, whether feeding your baby or waiting around while they nap. Yet, doing so should be avoided at all costs if you’re striving to keep your mental health in check. Most people find they compare themselves to others on a day-to-day basis. However, this is even more the case for new moms who are dealing with a lack of body confidence or who are insecure about their mothering skills after viewing other people’s “perfect” posts. As a result, it would be in your best interests to undergo a digital detox for several weeks or months. Not only will you feel much happier in yourself, but you’ll have more precious time to spend with your newborn.
- Have your hair done
Believe it or not, there are studies to show that having your hair done by a professional hairdresser such as julia-lampard.co.uk can be of real benefit to your mental health. This is certainly true for new moms who have neglected their own needs to prioritize their baby, but are now feeling as though they have lost their pre-birth sense of identity. Not only is having someone else pamper you therapeutic, but you’re also sure to feel much more confident in your appearance which in turn, helps you become more self-assured and positive in your everyday life.
- Appreciate your body
Your body has been through so much over the past nine months—it grew and birthed a baby, and that is a mind-blowing achievement in itself. Your body may also have gone through many other ordeals including taking fertility treatment, experiencing morning sickness, and now, breastfeeding. Instead of worrying about the change in body shape and weight, appreciate how much it has gone through. It’s reasonable to acknowledge that it’s going to look slightly different to what it did before, but it is a small price to pay for the gift you have received. Limit concentrating on the flaws, and instead, practice gratitude. It will change your whole outlook on your body and even help you come to terms with some of your largest flaws.
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