Taking care of your wellbeing after the birth

• Keep talking to your family and friends – be open about how you are feeling rather than keeping it inside.

• Remember most new parents feel very tired and need support – it’s normal for babies to keep waking for feeds and cuddles; they love to be near you. This means most new parents will experience tiredness. If you’re feeling low or anxious, as well, lack of sleep can make everything seem worse and more difficult to cope with. Try wearing your baby in a sling and sleeping with them in the same room. This can help make them feel more secure and comforted and therefore more settled. Can you think of someone you could ask for help so that you can get more rest? Or, could you try to rest when your baby naps? It can help to talk to your partner or family members about how you feel (you could show them this website) and discuss with them how they can support you to catch up on sleep. 

• Be social – some new mums can feel isolated or lonely so try to keep in touch with other parents that you have met at groups like Preparation for Birth and Beyond, or join a new group at your local Children’s Centre. Sharing experiences with other people who are going through the same thing can make a huge difference.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help with breastfeeding – keeping up with your baby’s needs can feel demanding and sometimes overwhelming. All babies, whether breast or formula-fed, need to be fed when they need it (sometimes called ‘fed responsively’ or ‘on-demand’) which can be quite often. If you’re breastfeeding and would like extra support there are groups and support available for you. 

• Try not to put too much pressure on yourself – some new mums feel like they’re failing if they struggle to keep on top of everything in the house. Being a new mum with new responsibilities will mean that you won’t be able to do everything, though some women find this difficult to adjust to. Try to accept help from others with things like cooking and washing if possible.

• Try to eat a well-balance diet with plenty of water and cut down on caffeine.

• Avoid smoking and drinking – there’s support to stop smoking available from Leeds Stop Smoking Services and help with alcohol difficulties at Forward Leeds

• Try to get outside for a change of scene and do some gentle exercise as often as you can – this is helpful for your own wellbeing and good for your baby. Leeds Girls Can has created a platform to help you identify safe and fun ways to get active. You could also join a social walking group like Ready Steady Mums.

• Take time to relax – try some different relaxation or breathing techniques.

• Be mindful – mindfulness is a technique which can help to bring our attention back from worrying, or thinking too much, to the present moment.

You can also create a Pregnancy and Post-birth Wellbeing Plan on the Tommy’s website.