Practicing Self-Care After Childbirth

This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com and other Amazon websites.

Entering motherhood takes everything you have. Between all your newfound responsibilities and your continuing ones, finding and devoting time to yourself can seem nearly impossible. It’s no secret that postpartum depression looms over many new mothers as they deal with all the sudden and drastic changes. With a few ideas for practicing self-care after childbirth, you can smooth out the road before you and better enjoy the positives that motherhood has to offer.

Table of Contents

Stay Hydrated

It’s almost redundant at this point to suggest drinking your eight glasses of water a day. Still, as the body repairs itself, proper hydration is crucial for everything from mental acuity—you must stave off the dreaded postpartum fog—to organ function. Try to keep a glass or bottle of water by your side at all times.

Realign Your Spine

Carrying and delivering a child reshapes your body, particularly around the spine and pelvis. But the human body is a terrifically resilient entity, and it does try to get itself back to normal after delivery. If your body, resilient as it is, still needs a little help getting everything back in its right place, you may want to visit a chiropractor to help restore your spinal alignment. By dealing with some of the aches, pains, tingles, and diminished range of motion that can come from a misaligned spine, you can begin to take further steps toward feeling your best.

Exercise

After all the necessary readjustments, you can begin to reintroduce exercise into your life. Take things one day at a time, and don’t feel like you need to overdo it—at this stage of the game, your workouts are more about feeling good about yourself than just burning calories. If you can, take turns between exercising independently and bringing your baby along for some valuable bonding time.

A Room of One’s Own

One of the best ways to practice self-care after childbirth is to set aside space in your home, if possible, for meditation, reading, or quiet contemplation. Just as your baby will need their own nursery, you too can benefit from a separate space you’ve designed for maximum relaxation to catch some moments for yourself. Consider greenery, soothing colors, your favorite books, and room enough for some stretching and light exercise.