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Those days right after your baby is born can be
grueling. You’re likely in some pain from the delivery,
and the baby is keeping you up all night. Here are some
tips to help you cope in those first few weeks.
Let some things go:
Prepare yourself ahead of time to focus on yourself
and the baby, and let some things go undone. If you need
a clean house in order to relax, have someone come in
and clean for you. The last thing you need to do is try
to keep everything going, plus care for a new baby.
Rest:
Send the visitors away if you need to and take the
time to rest. Everybody will tell you “sleep when the
baby sleeps”, but for me that was a real problem. No
matter how tired I am, I cannot necessarily “sleep on
command”. But, I did learn that half an hour on the
couch with a magazine helped me feel better, even if I
didn’t sleep.
Ask for help:
Having some help around the house can be a godsend.
My husband took two weeks off work after our daughter
was born, and it was wonderful. He totally focused on
taking care of the both of us, making me feel much less
guilty about getting some rest. But, even if you can’t
have someone with you full time, there are certainly
people in your life that would be glad to come and spend
some time helping you out with the baby and with
household chores.
Take a shower and get dressed:
Sounds crazy, I know, since all you feel like doing
is lying in bed in your bathrobe. But, if you get up in
the morning and get dressed for the day, fixing your
hair and makeup the way you normally would, it’s likely
to leave you feeling more like your old self.
Eat and eat well:
You may not really feel like it, but getting back to
a healthy diet as soon as you are able will help you
regain your strength. Drink plenty of fluids, to reduce
swelling and help you get your system functioning
normally again.
Finally, slow down and enjoy. The time will come, and
very soon, when you won’t believe your baby was ever
this small. So, just rest and enjoy this special time,
and let your body heal.
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