Life as a new mum can be stressful. This stress isn’t good for you or your baby, so it’s important to try and find relief. Here are just seven ways in which you can beat stress as a new mum.
Surround yourself with the right people
Some new mums feel happier when surrounded by friends and family. Others prefer to have more alone time for relaxing and bonding with their baby. Decide who you want around you after the birth and don’t be afraid to put limits on visitations.
It’s important to surround yourself with supportive people. Don’t surround yourself with draining people – you’re likely to already be drained and you don’t need these people further sapping away your energy.
Make sleep a priority
Stress and sleep deprivation can form a vicious cycle. While you may not be able to get a full night’s sleep as a new mum, you can still make up for this by napping in the day while your baby is asleep (or you could get a partner or family member to kindly babysit for a couple of hours while you get some rest).
This guide offers more information on preparing for sleep regression. The lack of sleep is often the aspect of being a new parent that causes people the most stress and preparing for it in advance can help to make it more manageable.
Maintain a healthy diet
It’s too easy to rely on microwave meals and junk food as a new parent. A healthy diet will help you to feel better (and, if you’re breastfeeding, it will make sure that you’re getting all the essential nutrients for your baby). A good diet will also help you to shed the baby fat.
You can find ideas for easy healthy meals to eat as a new mum online. Healthy meals don’t have to be complicated – don’t feel that you have to stress yourself out in the kitchen.
Be physically active
Exercise is a great stressbuster. You don’t want to exercise too hard as a new mum (and probably won’t want to), however, you should try getting some physical activity into your day.
There are lots of exercises that you can do with a baby. Even going for a simple walk is a great form of postpartum exercise. Don’t be afraid to venture out of the house with your baby – the fresh air will be good for you and your baby. Equipment such as a baby sling could give you more freedom as to where you go rather than relying on a pram.
Develop a routine early
A routine is also essential for relieving stress. In the first few weeks, your baby won’t know the difference between night and day, so you might find it hard to establish a bedtime routine. However, after a couple of months, you should be able to start developing a bedtime routine, which will help you to get back into a natural rhythm and feel human again.
A routine could include giving your baby a bath, getting them into their night clothes, feeding them and then trying to settle them down. It could also be worth developing a morning routine to avoid lazing around in your pyjamas all day (there’s nothing wrong with this if you need a lazy day, but you don’t want to be doing it every day).
Make time for yourself
You must be also getting time to yourself without your baby. This could be as little as half an hour to yourself while you take a relaxing bath or watch some TV while your partner or a family member looks after the baby. Or take yourself on a shopping spree for a new postpartum wardrobe.
It’s not just babies that develop separation anxiety but also parents. As hard as it may be to detach yourself from your baby, it’s important in the long run. On the opposite end of the scale, make sure that you’re not continuously giving your baby to anyone who will have them and that you’re getting time with your child to bond.
Know when to get professional support
If stress starts to turn into mom anxiety and depression, it could be time to consider professional support. Admitting that you’re not coping isn’t a sign of weakness – if anything, it takes strength to admit this and take action.
Your doctor or your midwife will be able to recommend the best option for you, whether it’s taking antidepressants or talking to a counsellor. Support from friends and family can be good but it is not always enough.