3 Tips to Improve Your Mental Health as a New Mommy

The joys of motherhood are unlike any other. From the moment you become aware of the new life within you, your life changes in multiple ways. Your physical, mental and emotional well-being becomes a priority for the whole family. 

As you move through each trimester of your pregnancy, you tend to focus more on your physical health. Before and after birthing, you have a wonderful time bonding with your little bundle of joy. However, in this entire process, what is often ignored and not paid much attention to, is the mental health of new mothers. 

While this new life-altering event unfolds, it is natural for you to feel overwhelmed with the demands of the baby and the stress on your own body. In this regard, your mental health plays a vital role in ensuring that you have a healthy pregnancy, labour, and delivery. 

Therefore, it is important not to ignore your physical and mental well-being. If neglected, issues of postpartum depression, anxiety and chronic stress may set in. This can take a heavy toll on your body and affect your sense of well-being.

In order to care for your baby, you need to take care of yourself first. Failing to do so will unintentionally impact your ability to care for your child. Alterations in your daily life with a step here and there can help you cheer up big time and enjoy this phase of motherhood thoroughly. Let's take a look at what you can do:

Realistic Expectations

Parenting is a hard job that requires constant work. And let’s face it, a new mom has a gazillion tasks to cover every day. From feeding the baby, doing the laundry, to cleaning and cooking, besides bathing the little one with a natural baby wash, the list is never-ending! 

With so much to do, it is extremely important to set certain boundaries and stop the attempt to meet unrealistic expectations. You need to learn to let some things go and delegate some of the tasks on your to-do list. True, the journey of motherhood means taking on a lot of responsibilities, but it also requires you to experience the joy and love without the pressure. 

Fitness First

It is a well-established fact that your physical health is directly proportional to your mental state of being. Mothers have a tendency to either ignore or remain oblivious to this fact. As a new mom, getting out of bed might also feel like a difficult task on some days. It is best to start slow, take out some time for yourself every day. Steal a few minutes while your baby sleeps or is playing with another family member and invest the time in your exercise. You can practice yoga, head out for a jog or walk, indulge in a dance session, or follow some in-house workout videos.

Support Network

You are not a one-man army. As a new mother, you get so engrossed with everything related to the baby, that it might lead to bouts of loneliness or isolation. Added to the heap of tasks on the to-do list, this kind of feeling can bring a downward spiral in your mental health.

It is important to create a support system wherein you can share your thoughts and keep in touch with the outside world. Sharing your concerns and your joys over a call or catching up with friends can help cheer you up immediately. Grab the phone, make the call, and interact with your loved ones as much as possible.