How to Plan for Recovery after delivery

New mother care - Plan before baby arrives 

In planning for newborn baby mothers often neglect self care. But care and recovery of new mother during initial days is important for herself as well as baby. The health and mind of new mother affects the baby likewise. While it is but natural to prioritize needs of baby, take out few minutes for care for self as well. Here few quick tips how you can plan in advance and ensure self care with ease after baby arrives:

1. Being mentally prepared – Having joy, anxiety, excitement and fear all at same time are part and parcel of parenthood. Accept your feeling, share with your partner. Post baby depression is very common; ensure to have friends/family to help you at this time. Most of the first time moms expect initial baby days to be filled lot of happiness and most of baby care. But most moms have few initial difficult days dealing with pain, mood swings, anxiety, dealing with baby needs all the time. These last for around 2- 3weeks, Ensure to get maximum help during this time.

1. Planning ahead of time – Plan ahead of time and get ready with supplies and services you will need after baby. Ensure all baby shopping is done, Hospital needs are taken care off, also look into services like lactation consultancy or baby care classes you may need.

1. Shopping - Start with making shopping lists when shopping for baby essentials, baby gear, self-care. Ensure comfort as for-most when buying for self or baby. Take inputs from friends and family, internet regarding baby supplies. Go over the list with your partner to ensure all gets covered

1. Caring for self and being connected – Get help with watching over baby for few initial days as you recover. Plan for a time daily to get a hour for yourself so you can exercise, take bath, meditate, connect with friends and family.

1. Information that helps- Gather all the information that might be helpful after baby. Find a lactation consultant, good paediatrician nearby, Join forums where other mothers can help you out and cope with change. 

1. Social commitments – Ensure to take proper rest for first couple of months. Minimize socialising and travel along-with baby. Let people at work, friends and family know in advance that you will be busy with baby and will not be able to present yourself at a near occasion. New parents might have visitors but as a new mother feel free to excuse yourself as you will need your rest the most

1. Ensure to have support – Ensure to create a support back up before baby arrives. Have family, friends, neighbours, colleagues to help with you in emergencies. Collect helpful information like emergency numbers, Call drivers, call cabs, hospitals, Delivery supermarkets, Food deliveries etc all important numbers.

1. Eat Healthy - Plan to eat healthy even after delivery. Do not plan for diet regime in first 6 months after baby. Recovering from delivery requires mother to have healthy food 

1. Doctor's schedule - Post delivery you will required to your visits often for few intial days for regular check ups. Ensure to stick to these and follow instructions by doctor. Take care of having all medicines as advised by doctor. Post delivery there is lot of changes in body, always discuss with your doctor in case of any doubt

1. Activity and Exercise – After initial couple of weeks rest, resolve to remain active every-day. Ensure daily routine, take care of your grooming and be active. Ensure to continue your habit of a bit of exercise every day. Starting with third week after delivery ensure to get a bit of fresh air and do slow walking just 10 minutes a day. Take advice from health care on same after delivery. Exercise helps recover fast and get in shape

1. Keep a Diary - Keeping a diary will help you stay sane even in all the chaos of parenting. Write down things you want to do when baby comes and make effort to follow it up. Write your resolutions, write about near-ones, who helped, write about your preparations, write about your experiences. It is a great way to keep your mind clear

Motherhood is full of joys. If you want to enjoy it fully, take care of self with baby. Recovering from delivery, will be easy if you are positive and are easy on yourself .It is best not to try to do too much for few initial months and just take rest, bond with baby, eat healthy and love yourself 

Also read my post  about Making home ready for baby

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