Your baby is finally here!

The joys and challenges of motherhood are about to begin. It is important to remember to take care of yourself as well as your new baby. Caring for a new baby can be fun, but it is also hard work. How much and how often should you feed the baby? What do you do when the baby is crying, or sick? How do you prevent accidents? These questions can be overwhelming at first, but you will quickly adjust. A new baby needs constant care, but you will be skilled at taking care of your child in no time. There are people out there, including your family, friends, health care provider, and support groups that will help you get through it. You are not alone. You have experienced nine months of changes in your body. Those changes will continue in the next couple of months as you decide whether or not to breastfeed and as your body starts to recover from having the baby. It is important to follow your health care provider’s advice and take care of yourself during this time. 

Getting Rest
The first few days at home after delivery are a time for rest and recuperation, both physically and emotionally. You need to focus your energy on yourself and on getting to know your new baby. Even though you may be very excited and have requests for lots of visits from family and friends, try to get as much rest as possible. Don’t expect to keep a perfect house. You may find that all you can do is eat, sleep, and care for your baby, and that is perfectly okay. Learn to pace yourself from the first day that you arrive back home. Try to lie down or nap while the baby naps and turn off your phone at this time. Don’t try to do too much around the house. Allow others to help you and don’t be afraid to ask for help with cleaning, laundry, meals, or shopping. 

Physical Changes
After the birth of your baby your health care provider will talk with you about things you will experience as your body starts to recover. You will have spotting or bleeding off and on for up to six weeks. You might also have swelling in your legs and feet. You can reduce swelling by keeping your feet elevated when possible. You might also feel constipated or have hemorrhoids from the pushing during delivery. Try to drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Menstrual-like cramping also is common, especially if you are breastfeeding. Your breast milk will come in within three to six days after your delivery. Even if you are not breastfeeding, you can have milk leaking from your nipples, and your breasts might feel full, tender, or uncomfortable. Follow your health care provider’s instructions on how much activity, like climbing stairs or walking, you can do for the next few weeks. It is usually recommended that you abstain from sexual intercourse for four to six weeks after birth. Before resuming sexual intercourse, talk with your health care provider about your plan for birth control since you can become pregnant again. Know that breastfeeding alone does not protect you from getting pregnant again. 

Regaining a Healthy Weight and Shape
Both pregnancy and labor can affect a woman’s body. If you are trying to lose some additional pregnancy weight, make sure you do it in a healthy way and consult your health care provider before you start any type of diet or exercise plan. If you want to diet and are breastfeeding, it is best to wait until your baby is at least two months old. During those first two months, your body needs to recover from childbirth and establish a good milk supply. Then when you start to lose weight, try not to lose too much too quickly. This can be harmful to the baby because toxins that are stored in your body fat can be released into your breast milk. Losing about one pound per week (no more than four pounds per month) is a safe strategy and will not affect your milk supply or the baby’s growth. You can safely lose weight by consuming at least 1800 calories per day with a well-balanced, nutritious diet that includes foods rich in calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6, and folate. Diets of less than 1500 calories per day are not recommended at any point during breastfeeding. This can put you at risk for a nutritional deficiency, lower your energy level, and lower your resistance to illness. 

Feeling Blue
In addition to the physical changes to your body, you may feel sad or have the “baby blues.” This can be a very normal phase following childbirth. After giving birth, 50-75% of new mothers feel a little sad or depressed. Your hormone changes, feelings of anxiety about caring for a new baby, and lack of sleep all affect your emotions. Be patient with yourself. These feelings are normal and should get better over time. Be aware of your feelings and continue to talk with your family, friends, and your health care provider. If you are extremely sad or are unable to care for yourself or your baby, call your health care provider right away. You might have a serious condition called postpartum depression. Other signs of postpartum depression condition include: 

This condition can be successfully treated with medication or therapy, which can help you feel better and get back to enjoying your new baby.