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New mom? Here’s how you can deal with all the stress

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By Pooja Duggal, Founder, Healthhunt.in

My mother always told me ‘motherhood is an emotion that can be understood only after you’ve experienced it’. Now I know what she meant. Motherhood is empowering and blissful. I will be lying if I don’t say it is stressful. Having a baby can leave you burned out but it is completely worth the headache. By the way, herbal teas are great for a headache. So keep them stacked in your pantry if you are a new mom. Being a mom, I am always on my toes. However, I do manage to sneak out some time for self-care. I believe, in order to give a child the best, a mother needs to be her healthiest physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you are a new mother too, here’s how you can manage even the most crippling stress and be happier and healthier.

Baby cries
Baby cries have been the most common of all baby problems mothers have faced since the beginning of time. Your baby cries to communicate to you all sorts of things and you have to be practical about it. Crying doesn’t hurt your baby. Take time off to keep your cool.

Lack of sleep
‘You sleep when the baby sleeps’, is gibberish. Even when your baby is sleeping, you have to work around the house to keep the environment baby-proof. Staying at home, your focus isn’t just the baby, but all the things around it too. But even after all the hard work ensure that you get your eight hours, by hook or crook.

Resenting your baby
You would have to be a bomb squad specialist to not let baby care get to you. It is natural to be resentful about catering to all its needs, and yes, you will also feel guilty if you didn’t too. But remember, your baby is only little for about 12 months. Keep reminding yourself that and take things one day at a time.

Losing the baby weight
I understand if you don’t have time for a fitness regime since baby care is a 24-hour duty. Even if you aren’t looking to get back in shape, you still can’t afford to be undernourished and weak since the baby depends on you for food. Incorporate lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and short snippets of regular and light exercise into your lifestyle. Take a walk when you can and it would be fantastic if you can squeeze in some time for yoga.

Trusting instincts
As a new mother, you may always rely on your experts for guidance. While you may want to desperately get things right you should not forget that you spend the most time with your baby, so at the end of the day, it’s you who knows what is best for your baby. Just trust your instincts.

Messy home
The solution to a messy home is simple. Just hire a house help. Alternatively, treat cleaning up as a light exercise, so you can relax when the baby takes rest.

You need to remember that as a mother there is nothing you cannot face. You’ve managed the noble and unthinkable deed of bringing a being into the world. You’ve come so far, the rest is just cakewalk! Just know this that it is okay to not know everything. It is okay to ask for help. It doesn’t make you any less amazing. In fact, you will end up learning a new thing or two.