A baby is guaranteed to change every aspect of your life. You now have to think about everything in consideration of how your decisions will affect both you and the baby. It will seem like your life now revolves around them, and most of your efforts will be directed to ensuring their comfort and safety. It is easy to get lost in all that, and your sanity will always be at stake if you don’t know how to take care of yourself too. Here are a few ways you can watch out for yourself to maintain a healthy emotional balance when raising a baby:
EAT WELL
It may surprise you just how much your food may affect your mental health. Restrictive diets that you don’t even enjoy may just make you less comfortable and make your motherhood less enjoyable. This is not to say that you should go out there and eat whatever your heart desires – sometimes the problem is with the food that you enjoy.
Healthy diets are essential not only for your body but for your baby too. If you eat well, your baby will not be underfed and will get all the nutrients they need to stay healthy, contented, and at peace. A hungry baby is always a stressful baby.
It would be safe to stay away from inorganic and processed food – they may contain chemicals in terms of flavors, additives and preservatives that may affect your hormones and lower not just your physical but mental health as well.
ASK FOR HELP
Parenting is not a one-person job, and even the people considered to have the strongest will and emotional balance have been known to fall in such tremendous pressure.
Babies are frankly very demanding, and the whole experience can quickly become overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. You have to change your schedules, plans, and basically your way of life to accommodate them and make sure that they are safe and unbothered. You no longer have that much free time and me-time when you could just go out for a stroll in the park with no worries.
Whenever you get tired, feel free to ask for help from a capable person. It could be your partner, your family, neighbors, coworkers, and basically, anyone who is close enough for you to trust with your baby. Let them babysit for a while as you take a breather and refresh it. Get your favorite ice cream and a short (or long) walk. You’ll see just how much that will restore you and make you a happier mommy.
You can also go online and find further information to help you figure out some things about motherhood.
SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP
No, you’re not crazy. Society has made it look that people who seek professional help for their mental health are mad, and this doesn’t seem right. In any case, this is the best place to be when you are in an emotional crisis because these are people who have studied for this, and have learned ways that are proven to help you.
One of the most common causes of emotional instability after delivery is post-partum depression, which causes severe anxiety and stress on the new mom. It is triggered by factors such as panic, inadequate preparedness for the baby, and even the overwhelming realization that you are a mom. You may never know it – some mums have experienced a mild case of it and gotten through without assistance. Other cases have ended rather disastrously.
If you feel like you are having a hard time keeping a healthy emotional balance, it would be really wise to see your doctor so you can get the counseling and guidance you need and deserve. Motherhood is supposed to be a wonderful thing that should be enjoyed and not suffered.
WORK ON YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
There is a direct link between how you feel about your body and your mental health. Gaining weight during pregnancy and having a completely different body after delivery is not uncommon, and no one should ever make you feel bad about it.
Some mums are very comfortable with it and prefer letting time work for them, and others prefer working out and dieting to get their old bodies back. What really matters is whether you are okay in your own skin. You need to understand that you have the power to change your body however you like and that you should go for whatever will make you happy (as long as your choices don’t affect your baby’s health negatively.)
BUILD A SUPPORT SYSTEM
Everyone needs some support, especially from people who understand what they are going through. You can seek help from people who are close to you whenever you feel like you are being overwhelmed by the new state of things. It could be your family, your partner, your close friends, or even a professional network.
One of the best places to get support is from women who are going through the same thing as you. There could be a post-maternal group of women around you, in your neighborhood or even at your local health center. Such groups are beneficial for restoring emotional health and helping you adjust. This is probably because you get to discuss what is bothering you freely and get answers to questions that not even the people closest to you may be able to answer.
You could also ask women in your family who have given birth before to support you. You could tell them how you feel about things and let them advise you on how to handle matters.
In conclusion, your mental health should always come first. If you feel like you are suddenly or gradually being overwhelmed with motherhood, feel free to reach out to people who can help. Most importantly, remember to create some free time for yourself where you can do something you love and refresh your mind without worrying about your baby. You can go online and shop some lovely rompers and bodysuits for the baby and yourself or just get some ice cream from your favorite shop. Don’t be afraid to seek professional counseling or to reach out to people who may have answers to the questions that are bothering you.
