Top Tips For New Moms - From New Moms!

Swollen ankles and feet

During the last few months of pregnancy your feet and ankles can become very swollen – and this can get worse after you’ve had your baby. It will calm down eventually but there are a few things you can do to help the extra fluid on its way:

1.      Try sleeping with your feet raised on a couple of pillows. This is easier than trying to get your feet up during the day with a young baby to look after! Sleeping this way helps to move the excess fluid back into your body’s natural drainage system.

2.      Cut back on the amount of tea and coffee you are drinking and drink lots of water instead. It sounds counter-intuitive to drink more water if you are trying to get rid of excess water, but it really does help!

3.      Avoid water-retention tablets – these are not advised by doctors for post-pregnancy swelling.

4.      Ask your doctor for a couple of pairs of support stockings on prescription. They are available in natural and black, and aren’t as bad as you might think – the hold-up stockings even have a nice lacy top. Wearing these also helps your body to drain the excess fluid, and your legs will feel lighter and less tired. 

Stitches

There’s no getting away from it – stitches are painful and they can take a while to heal. To make things easier for yourself, follow these tips: 

1.      All health professionals will tell you to keep the area clean and dry. Clean isn’t a problem; you’ll just have to make time for regular baths (try bathing at the same time as your little one). But dry can be more problematic. The secret is to dry the area thoroughly after each wash, and then expose your stitches to ‘the air’ for a few minutes a couple of times a day. In the early days when you are still bleeding this is difficult, so try lying down on a towel without your pants on.

2.      Use your hairdryer – set to cool – to dry yourself after a bath.

3.      Don’t be afraid to take a look at your stitches using a small hand-held mirror. This way you will be able to tell when they are healing and won’t have to rely on your midwife or health visitor. 

      Just occasionally things can go wrong down there. If you notice an offensive smell, be sure to speak to your midwife or doctor about it quickly. You may need an antibiotic to help healing along.

Your mood

All the books tell you to expect to be up and down for a few weeks following the birth of your baby – what they don’t always tell you is how to cope with feeling like this! It’s hard to know what is normal, and easy to worry that there’s something seriously wrong with you and your abilities as a mother if you don’t feel ‘right’.

·         It is completely normal to feel a little deflated after the birth. (And that’s not just your tummy!) Many new moms report feelings of loss – for their old lives and the freedom that came with it. It doesn’t make you a bad person or mean you won’t be a great mom.

·         Get outside every single day. Yes, you must. Even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing, even if it’s raining, even if going out with your baby seems like a mammoth task. Trust the advice of other moms – it will always make you feel a little better about everything.

·         Keep a journal. Writing out your feelings – good and bad – helps to combat symptoms of Post Natal Depression, and gives you a benchmark so you can see when things start to improve.

·         If things don’t improve, see your doctor as soon as possible. PND is a physical condition that can be treated very effectively.

You might also be interested in:

Read our Diary Of A New Mum and discover what happens when Jessica-Ann comes home from the hospital and during her first year at home. This fun read is perfect for new mums and experienced mums alike! New episodes weekly.
Diary Of A New Mum

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AV Baby content is for information only. If you are at all worried about your baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.

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