How To Ensure Proper Mental Health For First Time Mums

April 9, 2020

Becoming a first-time mum is likely to take a toll on anyone. Having never been a parent before, you might struggle on how to deal with the situations arising. Stressing over the need to become the perfect mum can also be quite tasking on your body and mind. You end up failing on what you ever wanted, which is being a perfect mum.

Here is all you need for a proper prenatal mental health:

Eat Healthily

Food is one of the main concerns when it comes to being a mum. Immediately after delivery, you need food that supercharges your recovery and ensures optimum nutrition. Lactating also means you need to keep your body in shape. You also need a diet for more than just physical needs. The food you eat determines your moods due to the production of receptors like serotonin and reduces the risk of other infections.

A healthy postpartum diet involves warm, digestible foods that does not put much pressure on the recovering digestive tract. Eat a balanced diet full of healthy proteins and fats. You should also include grains and other colorful produce for body nutrient needs. Do not be afraid to try out food supplements. There are several food-based supplements like vitamins and collagen that are healthy for your body.

To complete your healthy eating routine, keep hydrated. Enough water in the body helps in milk production and faster body rebuilding and regeneration. During the recovery, your body is sensitive, and you need only clean water. Click here to understand how to filtrate your water for the recovery. The right meals are not only great for your body but also improves your mood and wellbeing.  

Ask For Help

Does the term “super mum” sound familiar to you? Well, you are not mistaken if you feel you have heard the term of late more often. The recent increase in the feminism and women empowerment wave has seen mothers look to prove self-reliance. In the quest to be self-sufficient, they fail to realize nobody can be a master in everything. While it is okay to want to do everything on your own, be open to letting others assist when necessary. 

The other reason why most mums shy asking for help is the belief that every other mother cope. Most mothers always give the impression that they are handling the new state; hence new mothers feel like failures for asking for help. Other new mothers, on the other hand, do not believe they can trust anyone else with their child or fear disturbing others. While they seem legit, most of these reasons are unfounded. Nobody will judge you for seeking help; neither does it make you a bad mum.

Raising the kid is quite exhausting, letting others help you give you the time to rest and do other tasks you need. The rest and normal activities come with mind relaxing effects for emotional control.

Have Enough Sleep

If you are looking for a stable mental state after giving birth, then you have to prioritize sleep. Most people picture motherhood as a full-time job where a little sleep exposes the baby to the unforeseen dangers. While looking after the baby is quite involving, you can only accomplish it with a clear head and a healthy body. The sleep time allows the body to produce the bodybuilding hormones for quick recovery.

Failure to get enough sleep leads to strain on the body and mind that might lead to mood disorders and depression.

Do Not Compare Your Parenting To Others

The social media age has made it easier for parents to share online their journey into child-rearing. Most people tend to document only the great moments. Rarely will you see those moments when the kids wailed throughout the night, and they felt like giving up. Compared to yours, you are likely to think that you are not getting it right.

The other concern is also on baby development. Comparing your kid to others can make you feel yours is developing slower, which makes you question your parenthood. You need to understand that kids develop differently. To avoid the stress that comes with the feeling of failure, avoid the comparisons.

Have A Plan

The best way to ace your parenthood is by planning what you tend to accomplish. Outline you want to spend with the kid and perform other activities. Having a plan helps you create the necessary alone time that you need for recovery and relaxation. Remember to stay as realistic as possible when making your plan.

Bottom Line

Being a first-time mum is never easy for anyone. No matter how much you read online or get from people on how to be ready, you can’t get it all right. Do not freak even if you think you are not getting it. Be easy on yourself as you keep doing your best for the child. Ultimately, stay healthy, have enough sleep, and do not shy from seeking help.   

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *