Bringing a new baby into this world is an amazing time in a woman’s life, but it’s also an incredibly stressful time. Learning how to successfully handle all the challenges you’ll face is imperative for your mental and physical well-being, but managing stress is easier said than done.
We want to give you all the tools you need to manage any postpartum stress you’ll face as you and your baby get used to your new reality, so in today’s blog, we want to share a few tips for effectively handling postpartum stress.
How To Handle Postpartum Stress
Everyone will face unique challenges as they adapt to life with their newborn, so there is no perfect playbook for handling postpartum stress. That said, if you are willing to talk through these challenges with your healthcare provider and you keep these tips in mind, we’re confident that you and your baby will be better off because of it.
-
Ask For Help – Don’t feel like you need to do everything on your own. It doesn’t matter whether this is your first child or you’ve gone through this process in the past, every experience will bring new challenges, and you’ll want to lean on a support system to get through this. Whether that’s a husband, boyfriend, mother, sister, friend, neighbor or healthcare professional, please don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your support system will be more than happy to help, you just need to ask!
-
Eat A Healthy Diet – A healthy diet can help give you the energy to get through the day when you’re running on a few hours of sleep, but it’s also helpful at preventing other sources of stress. A poor diet can lead to constipation and increase your risk of hemorrhoids, making your time in the bathroom more stressful. It’s easier to fall into bad eating habits when we’re stressed, but use a healthy diet to help keep you energized and ward off other potential sources of stress. Eating a healthy diet can also help with the next point.
-
Stay Active – We know this is easier said than done, especially while your body is recovering and you may want to sleep when the opportunity presents itself, but don’t overlook the benefits of staying active. Going for a short walk or doing a simple activity that gets your heart rate up can help to release chemicals in your brain that act as natural stress relievers. Don’t take this to mean that you need to be active when all you want is 30 minutes of sleep while your newborn is napping, but make sure that you are squeezing in some light activity when you’re feeling up for it, because it will help you manage any stress you’re experiencing.
-
Rest – We know that we just told you to be active, but it’s also critically important that you get plenty of rest when you can. You’re going to be up in the middle of the night feeding your newborn, and that’s going to have a major impact on your sleep schedule. It’s easier to be stressed when you’re fatigued, and while we know it’s easier said than done, really try to prioritize restful sleep when possible. Nap when the opportunity arises, and ask for help if lack of sleep is causing you increased stress. Things will get easier, but try to give your body the rest it craves when you have the chance.
-
Talk With Your OBGYN – You’ll have at least one postpartum checkup during your recovery period, but don’t feel like you need to wait if you have questions or just want to talk to a professional. As we’ve said on the blog in the past, we want to be your professional resource now and in the future for any women’s health issues you’re facing, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns. We know the challenges that you are facing are unique, and we want to give you the individualized attention you need to overcome these new stresses in your life.
For more tips on how to handle postpartum stress or any of the other challenges you’re facing after welcoming a child into this world, please reach out to the team at MetroPartners OBGYN today at (651) 770-3320.