Bringing a new baby into the world flips your routine upside down and adds a seemingly endless amount of new responsibilities to your plate. Here are seven self-care tips to help you navigate postpartum.
As a society, we tend to support mamas the most during pregnancy. Once the baby is born, all of that energy switches to the baby, leaving many new moms grappling with how to take care of themselves and their child.
Why is self-care something you should prepare for during pregnancy?
The newborn days are a blur for most new parents. Self-care will feel like a buzzword from a past life, and it’s unlikely you’ll have the headspace to contemplate what that would even mean, all while getting to know your baby and finding your new rhythm. Your child is your new number-one priority, and everything else seems less important.
However, with all the love and energy that bringing up a baby takes, you must carve out some small and precious moments to restore your energy levels. You and your baby will benefit from how it can boost your mood.
The early days are a whirlwind of working out what your baby needs, so we suggest adding some simple self-care moments into your day while still pregnant. If you add these practices before birth, they will become habits that are much easier to keep going once the baby arrives.
Seven self-care rituals for pregnancy and postpartum
1. Move your body
Do this for at least 10 minutes a day. Do what feels nice for you. That might include gentle cat-cow movement, pelvic floor exercises, and a good downward dog stretch. It could be a daily walk that you build into your routine.
2. Create a sanctuary
Having a space in your home where you feel safe and relaxed can help you feel grounded and be a spot for meditation or unwinding. Make it a cozy nook with all the Hygge vibes, and think about soft lighting, natural light, and green plants.
It doesn’t need to be big, just a comfy corner where you can pop some headphones in and unwind for 10 minutes.
3. Try journaling or practicing daily mantras
You could use an app that sends you a daily affirmation or find inspiration from Pinterest. Perhaps you find one that resonates with you and then saves it as your phone backdrop—something simple, reassuring, and uplifting to get you through every day.
If you enjoy writing, build your journal into your daily routine and try to write a few sentences each day.
Read next: 9 Encouraging Postpartum Affirmation Card Decks for New Moms
4. Get ready for the day
If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is the power that getting prepared for the day can have on your self-esteem. Throwing a baby into the mix takes it to the next level.
Although it may take a few weeks, carving out time to shower, wash and blow-dry your hair and get dressed (even if you’re not going out) will lift your mood and mental well-being.
It’s not selfish to want to feel confident and happy, and although your getting-ready routine will be a lot quicker, it will still boost your confidence.
5. Schedule some beauty appointments
Do this while you’re pregnant for your postpartum. Getting your hair cut and colored before the baby arrives is a lovely way to feel pampered and prepared, but it shouldn’t stop once you’re a new mom.
We recommend booking a hair appointment for the second month after the baby is born. It will be fun to look forward to and make you feel more like your ‘old self.’
If you usually get manicures or facials – add those back into your life, too! You could even book an on-demand massage if you’re feeling up to it.
6. Find ways to laugh
It could be watching old classic stand-ups on YouTube, listening to a podcast, or sharing funny memes with friends. Try not to take life too seriously postpartum and keep your mindset lighthearted, looking for the funny moments as a new parent.
7. Stay hydrated
Get in the habit of having a water bottle with you always. It’s easy to get dehydrated when making a baby and just as easy when breastfeeding or nursing.
An excess of caffiene is likely still off the menu, so staying hydrated will keep your energy levels up and support the healthy growth of your skin and hair condition.
Tips for postpartum hair and skincare
Throughout pregnancy and postpartum, your hormones undergo many changes, impacting your hair and skin. Postpartum hair loss, anyone?
All pregnancy stages are different for everyone; you can’t anticipate how your hair and skin will change, so start being extra careful with your beauty routine during pregnancy to give yourself the best possible postpartum hair and skin.
Read next: Your Postpartum Hormone Timeline
We’d suggest setting a goal of trying to keep your hair damage-free. Avoid heat styling tools as much as possible and always have a heat protector on your hair to ensure it doesn’t overheat or burn.
Avoid brushing your hair when wet (and use a gentle comb or tangle teaser), and try to resist pulling your hair back too tightly. This will help get your hair in the best condition once the baby arrives and for a few months after when you might experience postpartum hair loss.
You can think of caring for your skin and hair in similar ways. Your scalp is an extension of your skin, so treat your hair as well as your skin. Body brushing is a great way to help with water retention, and gently brushing your hair daily will encourage microcirculation, stimulate the scalp, and help distribute your natural oils through to your mid-lengths and ends.
A clean scalp and face will make it easier for your hair to hair, and your skin will more likely be blemish-free. Try combining a weekly scalp cleansing scrub and hair mask with an exfoliating cleanser and face mask. Intensive treatments can be a quick and instant way to add hydration.
Nutrition is key. Think of this as beauty and self-care from the inside out. Nutrition and diet play a huge role in your hair and skin’s health, energy levels, and happiness.
Eating lots of fresh protein, oily fish or nuts, fruit, and vegetables (especially those with iron), as well as yogurts and milk, will ensure you get all the nutrients you need.
If you have hormonal hair loss or acne, it is vital to keep using treatments (we’d recommend those free from hormone disruptors) and follow a consistent routine. Just don’t expect immediate results.
With hair care especially, since it takes so long for the results to be visible compared to skincare, it’s easy to give up or try something new before you can see whether it is working for you. After about three to four months, you should start seeing baby hair re-growth.
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