Becoming a mom for the first time is pretty nerve wracking, so many questions, so many expectations, and a whole host of “unknowns” seem to await you! Here at The Wholesome Seed, our wholesome mamas are just like you and they have new mom advice to share with you.
From one mom to another, new mom advice from our very own!
Be Kind to You, Dear Mama
Nurture yourself. My beautiful friend really tried to instil this into me in the early days. She turned up with homemade broths, teas, and herbal remedies to help me with my recovery. My sister also did this with juices and soups etc as well as my best friend who I rang up crying one day to finally accept the offer of a home-cooked meal.
It’s easy when you have given birth to go for quick food when you feel exhausted and don’t have time to make a delicious meal, and it’s also easy to feel the need to turn down help when offered. Your body will love you for choosing a healthy option, as will your hormones when they are trying to get back on track.
Prepare a freezer of nutritious food before birth and ask friends to drop over home-cooked healthy meals if they ever offer you any help. Also, get out and try to get some fresh air and gentle exercise each day. It works wonders for the mind and body! –Charlotte
Trust Your Intuition
Trust yourself and listen to your intuition. NO ONE knows how to be a mama to your child the way YOU do. No book, blog, podcast, or article can tell you what your intuition will so trust it. –Bianca
You have your own mother’s instinct. Nobody can beat that.
“This ‘maternal instinct’ of a sixth sense for one’s child and what they need come from intense closeness and deep love, spending hours with and thinking about the child,” says Monk.
It involves seeing the signs because of a connection you’ve built with your child, not an instinctive understanding of motherhood. –Emmelina
Delay Visitors and Soak Up Family Time
Rest and take the first few days or weeks to truly enjoy your new baby with just your husband and any other siblings. Don’t worry about the untidy house, entertaining visitors, or the pile of washing or unwashed dishes and just lap up that time with your baby being cosy and rest. This is an invaluable time and I wish I had done that sooner. You will remember that time far more than the unwashed clothes on the floor. Interact with your baby, hold them and enjoy it. –Charlotte
Listen to Your Gut & Never Stop Learning
Always trust and back yourself, question things, and research! There’s no more important work you will do than raising your babies. This time is incredibly precious, and it really goes SO fast. –Tam
Make Time For YOU
I think the most important new mom advice is taking the time for mom breaks. The days we have can be very long and it is easy to become burned out when juggling the busy daily routine of caring for little ones. I really struggled with this with my first born and I felt immense guilt for wanting to leave him just so I could focus on fulfilling my needs. However, I found that the time I spent away from him, made me a much better mother. Just fifteen minutes alone was enough for me to recharge for the day. I didn’t realize how easy it was to implement this into my daily routine! For me it is the small, simple things like going to the grocery store alone, taking a short nap or soaking in the bathtub which allow me to relax and helps me reset for whatever else the day brings my way. –Jessica
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
It’s ok not to feel ok and over the moon the whole time. I found after birth that even when you are surrounded by loved ones and with your baby 24/7, it can feel lonely and you can feel a little lost. This gets easier over time and don’t be ashamed to reach out and communicate this to your friends and family. It’s ok not to feel happy the whole time and to admit your struggles or mourn your old lifestyle. Sometimes people assume that because you have a baby, you have changed and you may be excluded a little from some things, and that’s tough. You also go through so many life and hormonal changes all at once. It’s a lot some days!! –Charlotte
…And The Most Important New Mom Advice!
Don’t overthink it! –Melissa
