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Postpartum

Feeling Like Yourself Again Postpartum

Feeling Like Yourself Again Postpartum

You’ve done it. You’ve done one of the most difficult, but most beautiful things the human body can do. Your bundle of joy is finally here! But often, pregnancy can have a massive impact on the way you see yourself, since your body changes so much in the process.

However, being a new mom doesn’t mean you can’t love the skin you’re in. So in this article we will share some tips to build your confidence in yourself, and your body, postpartum.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

 

Consider Surgery

There’s no doubt that after having your baby, you may not have as much time to focus on getting back into shape. More so, after pregnancy, your skin may droop or sag, which can’t easily be fixed with exercise.

Abdominoplasty, which is more commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is a highly sought-after surgery post-pregnancy. The procedure creates a flatter stomach and a more contoured torso by trimming excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightening the muscles in the area.

Patients are able to resume most of their daily routine two weeks after the surgery, and can expect full recovery from the surgery in just 12 weeks. This makes it a great option for moms. Especially since they can still carry out their responsibilities after a short period of rest time.

The results can have a very positive impact on your self-confidence, and will make you want to show off your postpartum body.

 

Prioritize Self-Care

It’s important to continue looking after yourself after having a baby. You might not feel like yourself, as you are spending so much time making sure the little one is okay, and you may end up neglecting yourself.

The trick is, a little goes a long way. The key to improving your confidence could be getting a new hair-do or sprucing up your wardrobe. Freshening up your style can give you a new lease on life and greatly improve the way you see yourself.

You may wish to seek inspiration from mood-board websites such as Pinterest, where you can search for a new hairstyle depending on your hair length, or the right makeup for your skin tone.

Even a quick face mask or taking yourself out for a pamper day can be the difference between feeling down and feeling amazing.

[Read: 101 Self Care Ideas for Busy Moms]

Take Up a New Fitness Activity

Keeping fit and exercising is proven to improve your mental health and body image since it releases endorphins, also known as the ‘feel-good hormones’.

If going to the gym or exercising from home can feel mundane and boring after pregnancy, you may wish to try out a new way to keep fit.

Rock-climbing, swimming and yoga classes are a great way to invigorate the body but have fun at the same time. Bouldering might be a challenge, but completing this activity can give you a sense of achievement and build your confidence.

Importantly, these exercises and activities are proven to keep the weight off in a way that doesn’t feel grueling. Getting your self-confidence back after having a baby will simply happen without you even realizing!

 

Conclusion

It’s really important to maintain a positive mental attitude after giving birth, because you can easily let yourself go. But, by taking the small or big steps, you can reinstate your self-confidence.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

About the Author

Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.

 

One Handed Postpartum Snack Ideas for Moms

As a mom, you get really good at doing things one-handed! Most of your days are spent snuggling that sweet baby in the postpartum period, which can make it tough to get some real food in your system. So here is a free printable that you can save to your phone, or print out and hang on the fridge, for easy reference. Take advantage of and enjoy these one-handed snack ideas 🙂

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Fed is Best – Breastfeeding versus Formula Feeding

Breastfeeding versus Formula Feeding

 

A Look at Breastfeeding versus Formula Feeding

The first year of motherhood is downright difficult, and the last thing that moms need is more judgement and guilt about how they feed their baby. There are so many different factors at play when it comes to breastfeeding versus formula feeding, and each mom needs to make those decisions based on what is best for everyone involved. Mom’s health, happiness, and well-being are so important when it comes to raising healthy, happy kids. Which means that Mom’s individual needs also need to be taken into consideration! There is no reason to compare breastfeeding versus formula feeding in an effort to determine which is best, because at the end of the day… fed is best.

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Symptoms of Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

 

Many of us have heard about the symptoms of postpartum depression and even postpartum anxiety. We are very grateful that there is increasing awareness about this topic! However, even though we know that many moms suffer from postpartum depression and anxiety, it is natural for us to brush off the symptoms when we are looking at ourselves. We chalk it up to the “baby blues”. Or we rationalize that this is just a difficult phase. We downplay how much these symptoms are truly affecting us.

But this is extremely dangerous, not to mention disheartening…

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Motherhood is Hard, but…

While motherhood is an extremely difficult journey, there should be joy along the way! Each new mom should be granted the gift of enjoying her new baby during such a special time in their life. But when that joy is missing (or fleeting), we blame ourselves instead of reaching out for help.

Please know that things could be better! That there is no harm in simply asking questions and doing some self-reflection. There can be comfort in confiding in those close to you. And it is always better to err on the side of caution (because really… who doesn’t need a little therapy?)

 

Help for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

The lists below provide you with some signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety. We highly recommend that you send this list to your partner during your pregnancy so that they can also be aware of potential warning signs. But before we dive in to the list of symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety…

We are not medical professionals, and you should always consult your team of medical professionals before making decisions about your health. We also acknowledge that this article is not clinical data but is simply shining light and understanding on a complicated topic.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

  • Thinking thoughts such as, “I am never going to be able to do this.” “What have I gotten myself into?” “I don’t have what it takes to be a mom.”
  • Missing that magical bond that other people seem to talk about. Sure, you love your baby, but it is not what you’ve heard about.
  • Feeling like your baby deserves better, and feeling guilty that you don’t feel the happiness that you thought you would.
  • Having very little patience. You feel irritated, angry, or even downright rage.
  • Starting to resent your partner, your friends, and even your baby.
  • Completing tasks, but just going through the motions. You feel numb and empty.
  • Crying all of the time, even when there doesn’t seem to be a clear reason.
  • Blaming yourself and feeling like a failure. You begin to think that you must just be weak, and you will be stuck in this forever.
  • Feeling distant from everyone. You know that people are trying to help and connect with you, but there feels like a barrier there.
  • Eating habits change. Maybe you never have an appetite or interest in food, or maybe food is the only thing that brings you comfort.
  • Sleeping becomes an issue in one way or the other as well. Maybe you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep even when you’re exhausted. Or maybe you feel like you could sleep all day long.
  • Struggling to remember things and stay focused. You may feel like you are in a fog and can’t handle making even small decisions.
  • Trying to pick yourself up and get back on track, but it’s just not working. You may be trying to do everything you can to help yourself “snap out” of this, but you still feel much the same.
  • Wishing for the “old you.” You wonder what has changed, and if you will ever feel the same again.
  • Thinking about escaping from all of this. You may have thoughts of running away, driving off the road, or finding other ways to make it all stop.
  • Knowing something is wrong. You know on a gut level that the way your feeling is just not right.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety

  • Unable to relax. Your mind is racing, and you can’t manage to feel calm.
  • Feeling compelled to keep busy. You feel a need to stay busy and be doing something at all times.
  • Worrying about everything. You feel like the world is suddenly a very dangerous place, and no matter what anyone says, you can’t be reassured.
  • Eating is of no interest. You have no appetite.
  • Having intruding thoughts. You are experiences scary thoughts that just pop into your head unwanted, and they often start with the phrase, “what if…”
  • Not trusting yourself to be home alone with the baby. You are consistently aware of and worried about things in your home that could harm the baby.
  • Unable to sleep. You are exhausted, but you just can’t get to sleep.
  • Checking on things constantly. You feel compelled to check that you locked the doors, turned off the oven, or that the baby is still breathing.
  • Having physical symptoms. You may be experiencing stomach trouble, headaches, or even panic attacks.
  • Feeling a sense of dread. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know that something bad is going to happen.
  • Wishing for the “old you.” You wonder what has changed, and if you will ever feel the same again.
  • Knowing something is wrong. You know on a gut level that the way your feeling is just not right.

 

After reading through this list, we want to assure you that you are NOT alone! 15-20% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, anxiety, or a combination of both; and the great news is that they are totally treatable!

Think of the person that you would feel comfortable confiding in, and then go tell them about your concerns right away. Simply tell them, “Something is just not right, and I don’t know how to fix it.” Once you take that first step, you will be able to continue on in this journey from there. Know that there is no shame in what you are going through, and there are many people out there who want more than anything to help!

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Postpartum Body Image – Why You Should Not Expect to be “Facebook Ready” after Giving Birth

Postpartum Body Image

Even though Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, looked great when she stepped out of the hospital only 10 hours after delivering her daughter, IT’S NOT THE NORM! And seeing these images can be detrimental to our postpartum body image.

After the excitement of childbirth, first-time moms are often shocked to discover that their bodies don’t automatically snap back into shape immediately after their baby is born. The first thing I remember after I got home with my new baby was looking sideways in a mirror and gasping…I still looked pregnant! Was I ever going to see a flat tummy again!?! Wow, how unfair! How come I saw celebrities looking like hot babes shortly after giving birth?

Expecting yourself to be “red-carpet ready” soon after delivering your baby is unrealistic, even for most celebrities.

This article is written by Marianne Ryan PT, OCS
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Be Patient with Your Postpartum Self

It will take time for your belly to shrink no matter who you are. Realistically, it takes at least a month for your body to start to get itself back together, usually longer for most women. Right after birth your body is left with a lot of excess fluid that can take a week or two to lose and it can take a full month for your uterus to shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size. So don’t put yourself under the pressure to be “Facebook ready” right after you deliver your baby – it’s just not going to happen and you have far more important things to worry about! So do your self a favor, and don’t even try to put on  your old jeans, wait.

 

Boost Postpartum Body Image by Steering Clear of the Scale!

Whatever you do, don’t even think of stepping on that scale for at least thirty days after you deliver your baby. I remember breaking down into tears after I weighed myself three days after I delivered my first daughter. I only lost a few pounds! How can that be? She weighed 8 ½ pounds and the placenta and amniotic fluid weighed about 3 or 4 pounds, so I should be at least 12 pounds less, right?

Wrong!

Here is why: Right after giving birth, your body is still going through hormonal changes. The amount of fluid your body retains can fluctuate hourly, especially if you are nursing. It takes a few weeks for your body to lose the excess fluid you build up during your pregnancy and for your uterus to return to normal size. So, as much fun as it may seem to find out how much you weigh, don’t do it; it can drive you crazy.

 

Return to Exercise Gradually after Giving Birth

Most women want to get back into pre-pregnancy shape immediately after childbirth, but it is important to make a slow return to full activity. In my book, Baby Bod®, I explain the effects of pregnancy on the body, offer many more tips, and advise on the best way to get back into shape after having a baby. There is more detailed advice in Chapter 8 for moms who had a vaginal delivery while Chapter 9 gives advice to moms who had a C-section.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Featured Contributor: Marianne Ryan

Marianne Ryan PT, OCS is a physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist. She is an award-winning author of the international best selling book, Baby Bod – Turn Flab to Fab in 12 Weeks Flat (available on Amazon), Clinical Director of MRPT Physical Therapy in New York City and a spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association Media Corps. With more than 30 years’ experience, she specializes in helping women reclaim their bodies after childbirth.

 

Postpartum Body Image

Pumping Hacks: Time Saving Tips for Pumping Breast Milk Efficiently

pumping breast milk efficiently
Pumping sucks… but it doesn’t have to! I am here to share my favorite time saving pumping hacks for pumping breast milk efficiently.

For many families, pumping is an unavoidable activity. You may return to work outside the home, you’re working to increase your milk supply, or baby has special feeding needs. However, it’s no surprise that pumping can feel like a chore. But there are ways to make your pumping routine a little easier on everyone….

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Jewel of Change

This article is written by Tyler E. Johnson
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Cutting my hair was somewhat of an impulsive change I made one day when I was secretly having a melt down. An action that was birthed from a moment of despair has blossomed into something so liberating. I feel empowered, confident, and nothing short of boss. My creative mind is running wild and everyday I become more comfortable with myself and trying new things. The power of change, the different aspects of change, and how amazing continuous elevation feels is very real. …

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Dear First Time Breastfeeding Mother

first time breastfeeding

As a first time mother of a 4 month old, I have found breastfeeding to be one of the most wonderful experiences of motherhood. When my son was 2 months old, I finally let go of the way I thought breastfeeding was supposed to be and embraced the reality of what it actually was. Mothers, here is my advice (based on personal experience) if you are planning to breastfeed.

This article is written by Sandra Noojin
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

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