10 Easy to do Suggestions to Help Mums with Newborns

Once you have givin birth and become a new mum your life will start a whole new adventure. Aside from the buzz of new emotions and a stack of new challenges, most mums soon struggle to find time for themselves.

It can be so easy in those first few weeks just to forget about yourself and your own personal needs. It is understandable though; there's so much to do and you now have a new little person that is very demanding! Many new mums find themselves so busy they completely forget about themselves. It's quite common to find yourself still in your nightwear at lunchtime and grabbing quick snacks to eat when and where you can. It is very important to keep yourself fit and healthy; not only will you have more energy but you'll be able to cope better.

1) Quality Mum Time:


It is essential that you give yourself some quality time just for you. Whether it be taking a relaxing bath, reading yor favourite book, or going shopping; these occasions help you rewind and re-gather your strength. Hopefully you have others around you, who can help with baby, so take any opportunity when you can. And remember, it's good for baby to bond with dad, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc.

2) Plenty of Rest

Your body will have been through a very strenuous experience, it will require rest and recuperation. It could be tempting to use any time when the baby is sleeping to address all the other things that need doing, like housework. But When the baby is sleeping its the perfect time for you to also get in some rest, so forget about the other things – these can wait! Your body will repair itself quicker if you give it plenty of rest.

3)Speak with other new mums


Meeting other mums in the same situation can be a great way to share your worries and get advice from others. In the UK there are charities that support parents and babies, and they organises various Mums & Dads meetings, look up local mums and babies groups and join one.

4) Healthy Eating

Your new born Baby needs a mum that is fit and healthy, so it's very important that you eat well. During such a busy period with a demanding little person, it's sometimes hard to eat properly. In the long term this isn't great for you or your baby. Especially if you are breastfeeding, you must keep your body well stocked up with healthy food. Have plenty of fruit and vegetables handy to snack on. Eating healthily will also help avoid adding on the pounds!

5) Try to Keep Active

Even if it's just taking your baby for a walk in the pram. The fresh air will do wonders for both of you, as will the exercise. If you can, yoga and pilates, are great for new mums in th eperiod just after childbirth. There are many helpful DVD's available to assist either before birth or after.

6) Allow time to be pampered


You've just done a great job delivering a wonderful little baby, and you deserve some pampering. Not everyone can afford to go off to a luxurious spa, but you can always get yourself some wonderful bath salts, a few candles and create a little home spa for yourself. (But Be careful with fragrant bath liquids as these can be painful if you have any stitches). Get your partner to give you a sensual backrub or foot massage! Again, be careful with any oils that contain perfume near any stitches.

7) Minimise the housework

No one expects any house with a new baby to be immaculate so don't stress about all the housework. Clean clothes are great but ironing them is not a necessity. Try and cut back on the ironing, and get your partner to do a quick wpeep of the house with the vacuum cleaner now and then. He might not do the greatest job but it will do!

8)Accept any offers of help.


No mother is an island! If someone offers to help, let them, and if they offer to take the baby out, but for whatever reason you don' feel it is needed, then say "thanks, that's really kind, but what I could really do with some help with is the shopping/cleaning/washing etc".

9) Don't let little things worry you.

Nobody is perfect, if it all goes pear shaped, just chill out, take the cat out of the washing machine and the laundry out of the cat basket, smile and say "tomorrow is another day", then if it all goes very horribly wrong send your partner for a large bottle of wine and tell him he's in charge for the rest of the day!

10) Not so much Baby Books

Don't pay too much attention to 'baby books', you know the sort, the 'how to' types. Do whatever suits you, your baby and your family. Dont try to do everything by the book - there were babies before there were books.