Even if you had a smooth delivery with your pregnancy, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the recovery process will be easy. In fact, if you think you can instantly go back to regular everyday life, then you’re 100% wrong. It takes time, and postpartum recovery is needed! The postpartum period is a critical time for recovery and healing, yet many new moms inadvertently engage in habits or behaviors that may unknowingly delay their recovery process.
You need to have a smooth recovery, and sometimes, not knowing exactly what needs to be done within itself can affect it. With that said, what could you be doing to indirectly setback your recovery? Well, here’s what you need to know!
Ignoring Self-Care Needs
You’re dealing with this whole whirlwind of caring for your newborn. They do require a whole bunch of attention. So, it’s easy for new moms to prioritize their baby’s needs above their own. Just about every mom does this, and it’s instinctual, too. However, neglecting self-care can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being, ultimately slowing down your recovery process. So this is where so many moms go wrong!
There’s a whole long range of things like skipping meals, neglecting hydration, not taking a bath, not asking for help, or forgoing rest; remember that taking care of yourself is essential for your own health and your ability to care for your little one. You 100% absolutely NEED to prioritize self-care!
It’s hard to take care of a baby if you’re struggling to take care of yourself. So, with that said, carve out time for nourishing meals, stay hydrated, and seek support from loved ones to ensure you’re able to rest and recharge.
Neglecting Pelvic Floor Health
Even to this day, there’s still a lack of information and awareness when it comes to pelvic floor health. It’s usually overlooked and neglected. Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken the pelvic floor muscles, leading to massive health issues. This within itself can lead to chronic issues, questioning what is acute care, and having that as an option for treatment. Just so many new moms fail to address pelvic floor health during the postpartum period, which can hinder your recovery and exacerbate pelvic floor dysfunction- you do not want that!!
Overexerting Yourself
There’s pressure on yourself, society, your work, and sometimes even your family to just get back up and act as if everything is normal. Women, particularly new moms, are normalized to do it all even though they just went through one of the most painful experiences of their lives. But you can’t do that, nor should you. Pushing yourself too hard too soon can impede your body’s natural healing process.
You just won’t be able to recover the way you want to. Overexertion, whether lifting heavy objects, engaging in strenuous exercise, or pushing yourself to do too much too soon, can strain your recovering body and increase the risk of injury or complications. You need to be gentle with yourself—that’s so important to realize! Remember, recovery is not a race, and it’s okay to take things slow and steady.