When you’re a new mother, you’re often overwhelmed, exhausted yet happy, you cry and you laugh. Sometimes all at once! Life now revolves around your new baby and being on your toes 24/7 is your new normal. In the unending chaos that a newborn brings, it can be easy to forget yourself and relegate self-care to the backburner. However, what a lot of new mothers don’t realize is that your body deserves some tender loving care too. So don’t wait until the signals your body has been sending out, turn into desperate pleas for attention.
We talked to some experts about the 5 hardest challenges new mothers face. Here are their strategies for dealing with each one.
1. Struggle With Breastfeeding
Nursing your baby is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world. But the truth is that breastfeeding may not always be effortless. Difficulties with getting your baby to latch, less milk supply, and sore nipples are just some of the hardships new mothers encounter. One of the leading reasons a lot of new mothers stop breastfeeding early is due to discomfort caused by nursing.
Struggle:
- Early Weaning: Sore, cracked, or bleeding nipples might make it so painful to nurse that you no longer want to continue to breastfeed.
- A Low Milk Supply: If you are breastfeeding less due to the pain, this could result in a decrease in your milk supply.
- Breast Problems: Engorgement, blebs, and plugged ducts can result from not breastfeeding often enough.
- Mastitis: Cracked, broken skin on the nipples can allow bacteria to enter the breast and cause an infection.
Your #MomEssentials Strategy:
Whether it’s because of an improper latch or sore nipples, nursing sessions can be uncomfortable.
- Rub your nipple and areola with your breast milk after each feeding to moisturize and soothe sore nipples. If possible, keep your nipples exposed and allow them to air dry.
- Hydrogel pads can be chilled in the refrigerator or freezer and then placed on your breasts after feedings to help heal and soothe your nipples.
- Alternate breastfeeding positions regularly to prevent one area of the nipple from getting sore
- Natural nipple creams can be extremely effective in helping ease the pain. Look for organic formulations that soothe cracked nipples and reduce swelling.
The Moms Co. Nipple Butter comes with the goodness of Calendula Oil and Kokum Butter. It helps soothe cracked, bleeding nipples, and promotes quick healing. What’s more, its 100% organic, lanolin-free formulation makes it super safe for baby. Pair it with their caffeine-free tea to increase milk supply; just the TLC every new mother needs.
Also Read: Postpartum Hair Loss
2. You have your very own hair horror story
Your lustrous pregnancy mane is long gone, leaving behind hair that is fast clogging up the shower. What’s worse, you no longer have the time or energy for an elaborate hair care routine. Along with feeding and caring for the baby, your quickly disappearing hair is probably right up there on your list of worries.
Struggle:
- Hair loss during pregnancy: While concerning, hair loss is normal and can be caused by things like hormones, stress on the body, or medical conditions that accompany pregnancy.
- Postpartum hair-loss: Many new mothers see hair loss within a few months of delivery, generally peaking around four months postpartum. This is not true hair loss, but rather “excessive hair shedding” caused by a drop in the hormone estrogen.
Your #MomEssentials Strategy:
- Regular Scalp Massage: Oiling your hair should become a routine. Try and oil your hair, at least two times a week. Continue this routine even after pregnancy, as the hair is more susceptible to hair fall in that phase.
- Healthy Diet: Your skin and hair reflect what you eat. Green veggies, fruits and lots of water is the perfect hair health recipe.
- Home Remedies: Hair fall can be alarming. But there are a number of home remedies that minimize hair loss and are time savers too.
- Natural hair care products: Invest in natural hair-care products that are toxin-free and won’t subject your hair to further damage.
The Moms Co. Protein Shampoo and Conditioneradds strength to those stressed locks. Enriched with natural proteins from wheat and silk, they strengthen, moisturize and restore damaged hair. And be rest assured, that no chemicals are coming in contact with your little one either when they play peek-a-boo with your hair!
3. Pregnancy glow has been replaced with perpetually parched skin
You probably long for those pregnancy days when your skin glowed with a beautiful luminescence; a combination of hormones and enough time for skincare. Now you feel accomplished when you’re just able to wash your face. A lot of new mothers experience extremely dry, flaky skin. This is because of the hormonal changes that can deplete the skin of lipids during and immediately after pregnancy.
Struggle:
Usually, skin appears dry during the initial months of pregnancy or in the first trimester and may linger on till the third trimester in some cases.
- Dryness: The neck, hands, and face are the most commonly affected parts. But other parts like elbows, knees, and heels may also get affected by skin dryness. Some pregnant women may develop dry skin on the stomach and the breasts as well.
- Itchiness: Dry skin is more likely to become scratchy or itchy. Scratching the skin can lead to small tears or cracks in the skin, thus making it susceptible to infections and scarring.
- Eczema: If a pregnant woman already has a history of eczema, in such a case, dry skin can also cause an eczema outbreak. Acute and widespread dryness of the skin which does not get cured by home remedies will need professional medical evaluation and treatment.
Your #MomEssentials Strategy :
- Stay Hydrated: Extreme dryness of the skin is caused by a lack of hydration. Drink adequate water and stay hydrated.
- Hydrate & moisturize: Hydrators will add water to the surface of your skin while moisturizers will prevent moisture from going away. moisturize right after a shower when your skin is most receptive to aid. Add these in your routine skin care regimen to avoid dry skin.
- Use a hydrating product for particularly raw patches, with natural lipids like shea butter and for dry, reddish patches look for products that contain sea buckthorn.
- Do not rub your skin harshly with a towel, pat dry instead.
- Natural body care products: Stay away from chemical-based treatments (e.g. peels), which can potentially be absorbed through the skin. Use products that are allergen-free and toxin-free and double up to offer multiple benefits in one solution.
The skincare range from The Moms Co. has natural body care products that will help you make the most of those precious few moments you get for yourself. Their Natural Calming Wash with gentle, coconut-based purifiers cleanses skin without stripping it of its natural moisture, while the unique blend of Patchouli and Lavender essential oil helps relieve stress. Follow it up with the Natural Body Lotion, which deeply moisturizes with the goodness of Shea Butter and a deeply nourishing blend of organic oils.
4. Stretch marks overwhelm you
Nearly 90% of all new mothers are bound to get stretch marks, and genetics have a huge role to play here. While those beautiful birth stripes are a testimony to the miracle your body has created; it is natural for a lot of new mothers to struggle with a feeling of overwhelm over stretch marks. Postpartum, remember that stretch marks will become less visible 6-8 months post-delivery and will fade gradually, though they may never disappear completely.
Struggle:
- You gain about 13 kilos during the 9 months you are pregnant. Rapid weight gain can stretch your skin and cause stretch marks, especially on your belly and breasts.
- Stretch marks can also show up on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms.
- The marks often start out reddish or purple, but after pregnancy, they gradually fade to white or gray.
Your #MomEssentials Strategy:
- Water detoxifies and keeps the skin cells hydrated. This reduces the occurrence of stretch marks.
- Maintain hydration levels of the skin by drinking herbal teas, fruits, fresh fruit juices, and other fluids.
- Exercising also increases blood circulation which helps the skin in retaining its elasticity. Consult your healthcare provider before embarking upon an exercising regime.
- Use a toxin-free good quality stretch mark cream for pregnancy. The best way to prevent stretch marks is to moisturize the skin thoroughly. Ardently follow a moisturizing regime from the day you come to know of your pregnancy. Choose natural body care products that are toxin-free to avoid harming your body or your little one.
Experts suggest that natural products are by far the best option to deal with stretch marks, especially if you are breastfeeding. This is because the chemicals in other formulations seep through the pores of the skin to assimilate in your body. Organic products with ingredients like Sea buckthorn and Vitamin E, revitalize stretched skin and promote skin regeneration.
The Moms Co Natural Stretch Oil is a toxin-free combination of powerful essential oils and natural Vitamin E that stimulates collagen synthesis and restores skin damage. Their Natural Body Butter, a rich blend of Cocoa and Shea butter, and moisturizing oils increase skin elasticity while providing nourishing moisture. Make these your new BFFs and kiss those worries over stretch marks goodbye!
4. Sleep deprivation
Feeling zombie-like pretty much comes with the territory when you have a new baby! And this isn’t the kind of sleep deprivation that comes with a binge-watching spree on Netflix when you have an 8 am meeting the next day. Instead, it may cause a chronic feeling of exhaustion, headaches, and irritability and can make dealing with your new mother’s routine that much harder.
Struggle:
Poor sleep can adversely affect health, and it also has a critical impact on pregnant women. Symptoms that can lead to postnatal insomnia include feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day responsibilities, worrying about future events, or feeling overstimulated by all the new experiences that you are going through.
Your #MomEssentials Strategy:
- Understand and accept that sleep deprivation is a part of the course.
- The age-old advice of sleeping whenever you can does ring true to cope with this. You may not get the full eight hours, but every little bit adds up.
- Pump, so that someone else can feed the baby when you are asleep.
- Also, feel free to accept help from whoever offers; the husband, parents, even unsuspecting friends. You can thank them later when you’re feeling more human!
Related topics for new mothers:
Top techniques to get your Newborn to latch on
Breastfeeding Positions: Tips for Moms and Babies
Top 10 Home remedies for postpartum Hairfall
Under-eye Dark circles and Puffiness