3 Things All Moms Must Do After Giving Birth

You’ve carried your baby around for nine months, and you’ve just gone through one of the biggest challenges any human being can face; childbirth! 

After all that effort, it can seem strange to no longer have all the extra weight bearing down on your ankles, or the morning sickness plaguing your daily routine. Some moms don’t know what to do after giving birth - do you carry on as usual? Are there things you should definitely avoid? It’s a bit of a surreal time, so here are a few things you should most certainly look to do following childbirth:

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Rest

It sounds so obvious, but you need a lot of rest! Obviously, as a new mom, you’ll have to deal with a crying baby all the time. So, rest comes at a premium. It can also be very tempting to go back to work or start hitting the gym to get rid of your baby belly. For me, the best thing to do in this situation is to stay at home for a few weeks. Your body has been through a lot, so don’t put it under any stress. Work can wait, and you should be given time off for maternity leave anyway. Use up all of this time and let your body and mind recover after this highly stressful experience. You can still be active and go for walks with your baby, but focus on resting for the foreseeable future. 

Take baby photos

Honestly, you might think this is trivial, but it’s one of the most essential things to do. As soon as your baby is born, try and get some newborn photos taken. This is the best way to document their life and you will look back on them for many years to come. As your baby gets older and bigger, you can keep taking photos to show how they progress. Get these done professionally, so they’re high-quality! You will regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t take these photos right away. Remember, your baby is only a newborn once, and you’ll be stunned at how fast they grow. 

Get skin-to-skin time with the baby

Finally, all moms need to get as much skin-to-skin time with their baby as possible. This is vital for developing a strong relationship with your little one. When they feel your skin against them, it makes them feel very safe. Some studies show that feeling your skin - or feeling your heartbeat - makes a baby think it’s still in the womb. It creates surroundings that the baby is used to, which makes them comfortable and can stop tearful outbursts. The more skin-to-skin time you get when they’re a newborn, the stronger your bond will be. 

Obviously, giving birth is the most magical thing that can happen to a woman. You are creating life, you are responsible for bringing another human being into this world! If you feel at a loss for what you need to do next, then these three tips should help you out.