by Nichi Hirsche Kuechle, My Healthy Beginning
The first two weeks after giving birth is a time for a mother’s body to heal and recover, so it’s important to rest. If you’re in postpartum or expecting these 10 tips will help you recover and restore naturally. And, of course, if you know of someone who’s a new mom or about to become one, please share!
10 Tips for Postpartum Wellness:
- Stay tucked in for 2 weeks. (Yes, YOU, in bed, with your baby-getting to know his cues for hunger, comfort, fear, cold and to slowly transition into this world. For you, it’s all about healing, recovery and sleep.
- Take 2-3 quick sitz baths per day to heal the perineum and any tears or stitches you may have. Even without any tearing, a quick sitz bath can feel soothing to the newly postpartum bum. You could slowly stand after this bath for a quick shower rinse to freshen up.
- Don’t leave your house for 3 weeks. You will NEVER get this time back, and it is beyond precious. Sometimes we don’t see that until it’s too late. Protect your energy and take care of yourself.
- Set up a bodywork session for you and baby. A light massage or craniosacral therapy can reset the nervous system from the hard work of birth and help to remind you to be gentle with yourself.
- Eat light meals throughout the day, similar to when you were pregnant. Your body needs the energy and balance that whole foods give you.
- Utilize your community and reach out before the baby is born or during your blessingway or baby showers to request healthy meals dropped by with or without a brief visit. This gives you good food and much time together as a family without your partner spending too much time in the kitchen.
- Keep your undies off. Come on, if you’re in bed, you can pull this off. At least for a couple hours during the day. If you’re still bleeding, set a chux pad underneath you (you can grab them at the drug store) and set a light cotton pad (think cloth diaper liners) against your bottom. This will “catch” the bleeding, but you’re bathing a handful of times anyway, so let your bottom get some air and heal up nicely.
- Breastfeed if possible. Breastfeeding is healthy for many reasons, including staving off postpartum depression and anxiety. There is nothing more convenient than breastfeeding: no bottles, no mixing, no carrying around of extra tasks. Just sit back and nurse your wee one.
- Return to making love when your bleeding has stopped and you feel ready. For some of us that means weeks and for others it may mean more time than that. There are other ways of being intimate with your partner until your body is healed. When you do decide the time is right, take it slow.
- You’ll experience afterpains. After birth, your uterus has to “involute”, or return to its regular shape. This will cause after birth contractions that are sometimes painful and typically more so if this is not your first child. To ease this discomfort, you may gently massage your lower abdomen.
You can get Nichi’s New Parent Tool Kit, for free ($30 value!), by going to MyHealthyBeginning.com.
Nichi Hirsch Kuechle supports moms from pregnancy to parenthood as a Bradley Natural Childbirth Instructor, Parent Coach, Craniosacral Therapist, and Doula in Minneapolis. She publishes a weekly e-zine called Raising Healthy Babies, which offers tips and ideas to bring ease, clarity and understanding to your parenting. She also teaches a variety of live and virtual workshops. If you live in the Twin Cities metro area, Nichi offers complimentary consultations. To set-up your no-obligation 30-minute phone consultation, please email her at: nhirsch@myhealthybeginning.com If you live outside of the Twin Cities, she also offers support over-the-phone and via Skype. Click Here for more information on Parent Coaching.
