Mothers On The Go

The moment a child is born,
the mother is also born.
She never existed before.
The woman existed, but the mother, never.
A mother is something absolutely new.
OSHO Rajneesh

Congratulations! You are a Mommy! If you thought that the hard work is all done, brace yourself for more. I am laying down a few tips to  help you tide over the initial days in the baby center/hospital. With your doctors, care givers and close relatives around to help you, it will pay to keep the following in mind.

Rest: With your body still week after giving birth, you require ample rest. Be it your first, second or third baby, rest and give time for the abdominal muscles to contract and the ligaments to tighten. Do not worry too much about the shape or your body, you will all the time later to work on it.

Kegel: Don’t forget to do your Kegel exercises, which are important for the initial weeks. It is like holding your pee, although not exactly holding your pee. This should be done  every now and then  to strengthen your pelvic muscles which are now weak due to contractions. Try doing the Kegel at least 10 times in a row, at a time.

Sleep: Feeding and attending to the baby all the time is tiring. So sleep when the baby is sleeping and keep awake when they do. this rhythm will prevent sleep-deprivation that young and first time mothers generally go through. invest in a baby monitor if you are worried that you wont wake up when they do.

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.  ~Leo J. Burke

Seek help: Most often grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends want to involve in the initial days of the baby’s life. Allow them to help around like folding the laundry, bathing the baby, changing diapers, cooking meals or even tidying the house. This will allow ample rest to you.

Shopping and Time out: If your feel like it, take some time out and go out of the house for a drive and fresh air. Take turns with your partner to shop at a nearby supermarket. This will give you the necessary private time and peace.

Join a group: Postpartum, women undergo several issues like post natal depression, taking care of children with special needs and require a sounding board with like minded parents. Join a local community or online group to take the additional pressure of your shoulders.

Self Motivation: Constant feeding, sleepless nights and burping, puking and the rest can take a toll on your emotional and physical  reserves. Partners can be of help in such a circumstance, but you need to do some self introspection and yoga, meditation and read such books to deal with this time.