New Moms: Understanding Postpartum and Parenthood

The day our little one is born is also the day we witness a miracle like no other. Love gushes forth from our entire being. It then defines the next phase of our Motherhood journey -- we endure the sacrifices the moment they spring up.

No matter how smooth or bumpy our pregnancy may have been from the first to the third trimester, this beginning phase of becoming a parent builds up our strength. Once we know we are expecting, it allows us to take that first step towards redefining our purpose, and our sense of gratitude enables us to establish a happy and stable family.

Come postpartum. Yes, we have sheer strength, but the pages of our own story may not appear to be a page-turner on certain days. The struggles we face are tests and blessings at the same time.

Sometimes, a life with a newborn in our arms 24/7 can become downright tiring. Nevertheless, more than the gloomy days, more than the sleepless nights or a rundown body, the obvious is also staring at us -- being a parent is unequivocally rewarding.

So how do we stay focused and constantly dwell on the rewarding part of Parenthood? Here are some of the advice inspired by the bestselling book What to Expect that we can consider applying into our lives while we nurture our newborn:

 Get some help if exhaustion overwhelms you. Let family or friends give their support or service to you especially when they're willing to lend a helping hand.

 Discuss with your partner in advance how you will both divide the tasks in caring for your new family member and also in doing the chores (if help isn't around). Parenting is always a two-person job in a household.

 Choose your battles; don't sweat the small stuff. Make a priority list if you must and do the less important tasks when you have the time and space.

 Let deliveries be your delightful best friend. It sure does (hands down) save time with just a few clicks from your delivery apps. Errands, food, whatever you need to tackle, this can help save a lot of your energy too.

 The timeless practice: sleep when your baby sleeps. Although it may not be the case on some days, find your moment of rest especially when there are others around to assist.

 Feed yourself well. Choose the right & healthy foods that can combat exhaustion properly and always drink plenty of water.

💡 Oftentimes, the secret just lies in the food we consume. We can become too focused on our bundle of joy that we forget we also have our own body to attend to.

To avoid dehydration, drink 8 glasses of water on top of your other lactation drinks if you're breastfeeding. Eat food with lots of fiber if you think you're going to be constipated. Eat just the same even if your bowel movement is A-okay because it regulates your entire system round-the-clock.

Nourish yourself while you nourish your little one.

 Also, use mild everyday skin care because your skin changes too as your body transitions from all the hormones circulating during your pregnancy days. Some women develop sensitive skin postpartum. While others begin to be sensitive to a lot of things during the first few weeks of pregnancy. The bottom line: always be mindful of what you use on your skin so you'll have one less thing to worry about.

Doing light exercises is also helpful. Your body needs constant movement to support the strength and internal healing that your body needs. Just avoid the heavy-duty work. 😉

The first 6-12 weeks postpartum can be crucial. In addition to your vitamins and other supplements, always remember to take your daily dose of happiness from different sources -- the sources that can be considered your favorites -- fave food to uplift your mood (just make sure you eat more of the healthy kind regularly), listen to your fave music, go on a date with your husband, visit a fave place where you can take a beat to process things, etc.

Motherhood can be a lot of things happening simultaneously. So take a breather. Take it easy as much as you possibly can. Most of all, take your prayers with you every step of the way. And don't forget that miracles (even tiny ones) happen every single day. ❤️