Taking care of a newborn is a full-time job. It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself in the process. But you can't look after the needs of your baby properly if you’re not taking care of your own needs, too.
Here are some self-care tips to keep you healthy and ease stress:
- Sleep when the baby sleeps, even just for 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Laundry, dishes and posting cute baby pictures on Instagram can wait—for real!
- Take it easy! A day spent on the couch, breastfeeding and watching Netflix, is a day well spent during early infancy.
- Drink plenty of water. You should be drinking at least 8 ounces with every nursing session.
- Eat. Get in 3 meals containing healthy, unprocessed food every day, and snack healthily when you're hungry. Be sure you’re getting plenty of fat and protein, rather than just carbs.
- Ask for help. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and support from your family, friends, other nursing moms, healthcare professionals and resources available in your community.
- Find your community! Look around for new-parent groups to join, especially breastfeeding-focused ones. La Leche League has a large presence in most areas, but our hospital may also offer a support group. Even if you know you’re heading back to work in a few months, meeting other moms in the same situation will be helpful.
See also ...
• Types of breastfeeding support professionals
This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.
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