I’ve been So Dedicated to my Pregnancy and Nutrition, but how do I Healthily Prepare for After the Baby Arrives?

You are beginning to round out your pregnancy term, in more ways than one, and your due date is rapidly approaching. Now is the time to pat yourself on the back for being dedicated to a healthy pregnancy and nutrition plan.

However, you may be beginning to realiz that the journey has just begun. Those habits that you developed need to carry on into the first years of your child’s life and beyond.

However having a newborn and being pregnant are two different stages of life, each offering their own struggles and rewards. So once your baby is here, you will need to have already established a few habits that will keep you happy, healthy and sane in those first few months of parenthood.

Common Mistakes that First Time Moms Make

1. Don’t Ask For Help

One of the most common mistakes that first-time moms make is to try and do it all themselves. Before baby was born, maybe you didn’t need help getting your life organized and took pride in your ability to manage your household without a hitch.

But once that bundle arrives you may find that your pre-baby strengths have been replaced with lack of sleep and disinterest in anything other than eating and caring for your baby. Hormonal changes may make you feel overwhelmed or even depressed.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! There will be people in your life that understand what you are going through, let those family and friends lend a helping hand.

2. Overdo It, Too Soon

The recommended wait period for a new mother’s body to recover from the delivery and to adjust to the new demands of motherhood, is six weeks. This means that you need to take it easy–literally.

For those type A personalities, it is so hard to simply be at home, relishing in the new life you’ve made and falling into that rhythm. But these six weeks will fly by fast so enjoy them.

3. Try to be Martha Stewart Mommy

Erase those images from your mind that you will be whipping up beautiful three course meals for your new family a few days after delivery. Instead stock your freezer with frozen meals, solicit help from friends, and order in take-out when you can. This is not the time to try to rival Martha Stewart! Just relax and everything will be fine.