AD* | Looking after your mental health is so important, but it can be all too easy to let your usual self-care routine slide when you're caught up in parenthood. However, with all the fluctuating hormones and sleepless nights, the postpartum period is a time when you need to take care of your mental health more than ever. If you're a new parent struggling with your mental health, these tips might just help you out.
1. Go Outside
Getting out of the house and spending some time in nature is always the best cure whenever I have a bad mental health day. Of course, you will likely be limited in how far you can go and what you can do when you're also still recovering physically, but even just a short walk can work wonders. Get baby settled in the pram, pull on your trainers, and grab a raincoat if the Great British weather isn't being cooperative. If you're not up to walking just yet, sitting in your garden and just getting some fresh air will help - being cooped up indoors for extended periods is never much fun.
2. Keep It Comfortable
Cosy clothes and comfortable fabrics are king in those first few weeks. Don't worry about having to dress up for visitors, and make sure you're wearing comfortable clothes to aid your physical recovery as well as your mental health. If you live in stretchy leggings or spend the whole day in your dressing gown, who cares? Embrace the messy hair and make-up-free face - your little one won't care what you look like, and neither should you.
3. Accept Help
The familiar saying that "it takes a village to raise a child" is definitely true. Once you bring baby home from the hospital you're likely to be inundated with visitors wanting to meet your newborn, and in amongst the cuddles and well-wishes, the chances are you will also get plenty of offers of help from family and friends. My advice? Take up those offers! Whether it's picking up some groceries or doing the washing up for you, every little really does help when it comes to those hectic early days. Plus, fewer errands to run and chores to do means more time you get to spend with your new arrival.
4. Talk
Find someone you can easily talk to and are comfortable in having honest, open conversations with and set aside regular time to chat with that person. You could use it as an opportunity to discuss how things are going, take advantage of a sympathetic ear, or just take the time to vent - whatever you need at that moment. Every new parent will experience extreme highs and lows, but just talking through the good and the bad can be massively beneficial in helping you deal with the rocky patches.
5. Make Time for You
Admittedly, this one is much easier said than done when you have a demanding newborn, but making time for yourself is always important - even when you're a new parent. Even just taking 10 minutes out to breathe, scroll through your phone, and enjoy a hot drink (for a change!) can be massively beneficial to your mental health.
It's also important to try and do the things you used to enjoy before you became a parent. In the early days, it can be easy to forget that you're a person beyond a mum, so when you feel up to it, let baby have some time with your partner or a trusted friend or family member, and take a little longer to yourself. Whether reading a book, going out for lunch, or working on your garden, some 'me' time away from baby will surely provide a welcome reset.
While the baby blues and mood swings are to be expected in the postpartum period due to all those hormones, feeling consistently low or severely struggling with your mental health can be indicators that something more serious is going on. Make sure you know the warning signs of postnatal depression and anxiety, and always get help if you have concerns. Remember, it's okay not to be okay.
The following resources may also be useful:
* This is a sponsored post and I received products in exchange for inclusion in this post
Do you have any additional tips to share? Let me know in the comments below!
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