Congratulations! After months of growing, waiting, dreaming and preparing, you’ve successfully brought a new life into the world. A whirlwind few days in the hospital and then you make the monumental first trip home with baby in tow. Once you get home, reality sets in.
The dishes in the sink start to accumulate, and taking care of them would require two hands and energy. You want to get a load in the washer, but that would require at least one hand and a trip upstairs. People are offering to visit and bring meals, and while it sounds nice that would necessitate a shower to de-grease, nursing pads, and finding a pair of clean pants (which wouldn’t be a problem if you had been able to get that load in earlier).
We’re going to let you in on a little secret:
It’s not selfish to make the early postpartum period about you.
Phew – cat’s out of the bag.
And not that you need any reason to justify it, but in case you do, here are five reasons we say it’s okay:
1. A rested mom is a safer, more capable mom. You’re responsible for this tiny person’s life and limb. From a quick drive to the store for necessities to placing a sleeping (ok, maybe fussing) baby in the swing, these little things can be made safer when you’re doing them rested.
2. You just birthed a baby. There are a lot of other changes happening other than the diapering sort. By focusing on your own self care, your body can heal as swiftly and easily as possible.
3. This time is precious and finite. Let yourself indulge in moving slower and laying in bed together a little longer. As bittersweet as it is, your baby won’t be a baby forever. For most parents, the next 18 years won’t be about you. Life isn’t on hold, but it can adjust to your new routine, at least for a short while.
4. While point three may worry you that your partner will be encumbered, taking care of yourself really benefits the whole family. Have you heard the phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty vessel”? Sleep deprivation can lead to lashing out and impulsiveness among other things. By nurturing you, you’re nurturing your family’s well-being.
5. You’re building for future success. Think of it as the start of a really (really) important job. You wouldn’t want to start run down or apprehensive. You’d want to be enthusiastic and confident! Take the steps in the beginning to have strong building blocks for success as a parent in the future. (In case no one told you yet, self care is an essential part of parenthood – no matter the stage.)
Our professional postpartum doulas are trained to provide the highest level of personalized support to you and your new baby so that you can be the best version of yourself. Get in touch using our contact form here to learn more about what this might look like for you!