I delivered Julian just two months ago and like many new moms, these first few weeks were more of an adjustment for me than they were for him. After all, he only needed to leave a safe, warm, uninterrupted and secure environment where life was a warm bubble bath and all was content. I had to re-learn how to live a life already full of many passionate things and re-introduce, very slowly, only those things that are most precious to me.
Having a new baby gives me one great new opportunity. The opportunity to say “No, I’m REALLY too busy right now,” and have others actually believe this. As I’m saying NO to the extra committees, board positions, creative ideas, get-togethers, parties and side-bar commitments – and by saying NO, I’m also saying YES – utilizing this time to be my very best and offer my very best.
The most important step for me (and I’d love to hear from ALL women out there, not just those who have new babies) is to affirm my need for self-care. I cannot be my best if I’m feeling my worst. I cannot achieve inner contentment if I hate how I look and feel. My plan has been simple and today I’ll share my first step with you:
GETTING BACK TO SELF CARE AFTER BABY – Step One:
Rest. Decent sleep is probably the most overlooked fitness plan in America. But good sleep helps our bodies (and minds) handle stress, burn fat, repair damaged cells (and after delivering a baby – there’s some repair that needs to take place) and think clear. If you’re not getting adequate rest, look at ways you can begin to get better sleep.
My coaching question to you is HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP? And how will you know when you are? Please share your ideas here and with friends – and as sisters, we can help one another begin to operate at our best!
March 24, 2009 at 2:56 am
Getting Back to Self Care – STEP TWO…
Here I am again.
If you can manage to get some rest, you are ready for the next step to re-gain your mind, body and spirit.
STEP TWO – Do what your doctor advised you to do.
Remember those kegels, the lower back stretches, the advise to avoid impact activity while your ligaments were still partial to overstretching and all the other words of wisdom your OB/GYN imparted as you attempted to get your newborn to latch on for that “OH SO IMPORTANT FIRST BONDING EXPERIENCE OF BREAST FEEDING”?
Well – that was VERY important advise. If you cannot remember it – call your OB/GYN now and ask for a refresher.
I’ve religiously done all the right exercises and tried to avoid introducing too much too soon to my body-much-in-need-of-healing, and after delivering three babies – I’m already at my pre-baby weight (my youngest is 2 months old) and seeing some muscular structure in my abdomen.
So, do listen to the advise of your doctor.
Until the next post….Rebecca