6 Tips for New Moms From a Mom of 7

As I’m in the first weeks postpartum with BabyT4 I’m excited to bring these guest posts to you! Several lovely ladies are bringing words of wisdom and advice to Surviving Toddlerhood, I hope that you find these posts as encouraging as I do. 🙂 This first post includes 6 tips for new moms from an experienced momma of 7. 

Oh, Mama! You have just done the most amazing thing: you brought a life into this world!

 

You have taken in the smell of that sweet treasure, kissed her head 10,000 times already, nuzzled her neck again and again, and run your fingers across the tiny fingers and toes. She’s close enough to perfect for you to stare at and snuggle with for–well, forever.

 

Except it’s time to go back home, back to your “normal” – wife, mom to other littles, home manager. At least that’s what they tell us. “They” expect us to bounce right back, hop right on back in the saddle, pretend our bodies didn’t just go through enormous amounts of pain and transformation. And we are WOMEN! Strong. Resilient. Never bowing to pain or fatigue or sickness. Right? Nope.

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I want to encourage you today.

 

Take the time you need to heal and to enjoy the newness of your sweet treasure. I want you to embrace where you are right now because true is the old cliche: time flies. In six months you’ll look back and wonder how you survived at all on so little sleep. But for now, slow down and enjoy this moment.

Slow Down Using These Tips from an Experienced Mom of 7

How do you do that?

Rest and Let Things Slide

First, rest. You need rest in order to heal. You’re not “milking it” if you lay around most of the day or nap with your baby. It’s important for milk supply and healing that you get the rest you need. I know from experience when you are not getting adequate rest, milk supply just can’t keep up. Take care of you, so that in turn you can take care of your baby and the rest of your family.

What about older kids? You ask, “How in the world am I supposed to rest with all these little people around my feet?” The answer is simple, but it’s hard to do. You just do. You let things like housework slide or enlist help from family and friends. Don’t be afraid to ask! You’ll be surprised at who may step up and help you out.

When I had the twins, my life was crazy! They were babies 5 & 6, so I had four other little people to keep alive. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, and one day in my status update, I wrote: “I want to give up, but then again, I don’t.” It was a crazy-hard day. So many people stopped to pray, and two stopped their day and came to help. They rocked babies and let me rest. One brought me a wonderful lunch from my favorite local place. There were others who came, loaded up a few kids and took off for the afternoon.  Glory!  They relieved the stress even if only for a couple of hours. It strengthened me physically, but mostly it lifted my spirit. Someone (or a few someones) actually cared! Sometimes, we just have to be willing to let go of our pride and confess that we aren’t supermom by simply saying, “Yes. Come.”

Let People Help

Let people help. When people ask if they can help, answer yes! When they ask how, be ready to tell people what you need, whether it’s food or laundry folded or groceries picked up or even help with your other littles. Maybe it’s an offer to hold baby while you nap. Say yes and set a day and time. If you don’t actually set a time, you won’t follow through, so be sure you do that right then.

Eat Easy Meals

Understand that it’s okay to eat light and easy. This is the time to both let people in to help and remember that if you have to order pizza, it’s okay! Kids and hubbies have survived on much less – and worse!

Let the Littles Watch TV

Netflix, PBS Kids, and Amazon are your new best friends. There are tons of educational shows that you turn on for toddlers and older kids to watch without you feeling guilty. And don’t feel guilty. It’s a season, and it will pass all too soon.

Have Daily Nap Time or Rest Time

Make the kids take a nap or at the very least have a rest time. I did this for years when I had a 5 year old, a 19 month old, and newborn twins. We (me included) all napped in my room, all over my king-sized bed.

But what about the one making mischief? Take the time to let that one crawl into your lap and snuggle with you and baby as much as possible. Allow him (or her) and yourself grace to adjust to this new normal.

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Create a Minimalistic Routine

Let the days roll through at a slower pace. Say no to things, and stay close to home. We get so excited about showing our new bundle off that we forget that it’s just plain hard to get out. There will be time for outings later. Make life easy on you right now. If I have one regret about how I managed life after having a baby, it was this.

Mama, I know how hard it is. Give yourself time to heal and time to just be. You need time to soak in all that’s going on around you and time to drink in your sweet baby. Go slow and don’t be tempted to rush yourself. There will be time for other things, but right now is the time for you to enjoy this, a most precious blessing!

So, kiss her head and toes. Sniff her neck; watch her precious face as she dreams about milk. Don’t let “them” tell you to hurry up and get back to normal. Take your time and embrace your new normal.

BrinaLynn understands how it feels to be isolated and alone and that no one understands or cares about the struggles you face as a wife and mom. She offers encouragement to women who feel trapped in the trenches of life and help them to find joy in even when their marriages are falling apart, kids are off the chain, and the money’s tighter than last year’s skinny jeans! You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Thanks so much to BrinaLynn for sharing these 6 tips for new moms! 

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