Giving birth is a life and body changing experience and as you get used to your new role as a mother, it's good to know how to take care of your new body.
While you were pregnant, many changes happened to your body. Your feet are probably wider, your skin may have broken out due to hormones, and both your waistline and breasts may take a while to return to their normal size and shape.
The first rule for skin care for a new mom is this: don't judge yourself.
You just had a baby. Stop worrying about your changed body and how you look for a few days. Just concentrated on your new baby and being a mom. Chances are this will be all you have time for anyway between caring for your newborn and catching up on sleep yourself.
Once you've established a routine here are some basic skin care tips to follow:
1. Natural skin care is a must - This is especially important if you're breastfeeding because some of the things you use on your skin can end up in your bloodstream and eventually into your newborn. Make sure that you're using only safe, natural products that don't contain harsh chemicals which could potentially hurt your baby.
2. Love Yourself - Get in front of the mirror and look at yourself. Instead of judging what you see, embrace it! You are now a mother and your body has undergone a dramatic change in a very short space of time. Your body will feel and look totally alien for awhile, but this is normal. Accept yourself and what you see. Don't lament for what you've lost, but instead look forward to regaining your beautiful body one step at a time.
3. Massage, massage massage - When your pregnant, your skin is stretched tight over your baby's body. Once your baby is born, that skin needs encouragement to relax back into shape. The best way to get your loose skin back to normal is by massaging your stomach. You can also massage your breasts as well to help lessen the pain and swelling when your milk comes in.
4. Exfoliate to Remove Baby Marks - Hyperpigmentation is a condition very commonly associated with pregnancy. If you've noticed a dark line running down your belly or slightly darker toned skin on your face and neck, chances are you have a slight hyperpigmentation caused by pregnancy hormones. Once you've given birth, you can easily remove this darker skin by exfoliating regularly with a natural body scrub in the shower.
5. Take a Daily Shower - No matter how busy you are with your new baby, always take time for yourself to take a shower alone. Having downtime to yourself is essential for you own mental health and well being. Apart from making you feel a lot better, taking a daily shower will ensure that your skin stays clean, clear, and healthy, despite the milk, spit up, poo, pee, and other bodily fluids you're now getting on yourself every day as a new mom.
Sharing your body with a baby for 9 months is definitely going to cause changes that you will not bounce back from immediately. Take your time, enjoy your new baby, and try not to focus too much on what you think you should look like.
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