11 New Year’s resolutions for pregnant women and mothers

The beginning of the year is always a great opportunity to let go of old habits and adopt new ones. You must have done it countless times and perhaps your resolutions are very similar over the years. But now, pregnant or with a small child in her arms, many of them will change. So get ready for your new year greetings.

1) Don’t pressure yourself to lose weight

Few women manage to return to their previous weight in a short time, but be aware that the uterus only takes about nine months to return to its previous size. Therefore, wait a year after birth to understand what your new body is really like. And remember that breastfeeding on demand is your best ally in the process of weight loss: it can cause you to expend up to 800 calories a day just producing milk.

2) Take care of yourself before the baby

We know it seems impossible. And maybe in the first three or four months it is. But always remember the emergency notice on the plane: the oxygen mask must be put on you first, then the child. It’s the old story of a happy child alone with a happy mother. If you can, get some exercise. Not only because it produces hormones responsible for well-being. But above all because this will be a moment that you will have everything to yourself. To look at yourself, to unload the anguish, the new emotions that motherhood brings. A walk around the neighborhood is worth it.

3) Respect your brands

The great transformations of our life leave us marks. Instead of hating your new body, look at it like it’s tattooed from motherhood. I love it. Understand that you are not the same as before the baby. And that this is not bad. On the contrary. He’s been through so much lately: pumped 50% more blood than normal, fathered a life, suffered from nausea, blood pressure drops, faced a hormonal explosion, tight skin, rearranged organs, suffered from pain of childbirth or with those of the stitches. He is strong. You are strong!

4) Not taking care of everything

Mothers don’t need to be warriors or jugglers. You don’t have to (and don’t want to) manage everything. Home, food, clothes, baby… there’s a lot to think about and do. This account won’t close, so I don’t want to do miracles. Do what you can and preserve yourself. A child requires a lot of time and attention. Concentrate on it and see everything else as superfluous. Choose priorities (and always clean dishes are certainly not among them). If you don’t have help — from family, professionals, or another support network — there’s no magic that guarantees a clean home, food on time, clothes washed and ironed. So, let it go and don’t worry about comments from anyone who isn’t in your shoes. Want advice where to start? Hang wet clothes already on the hanger to avoid having to iron (and leave the iron only for the really important items). Order home delivery, buy frozen foods (but avoid processed foods, high in sodium and fat). Use disposable for a while (not sustainable, but it’s for the sake of your sanity). If you can, buy a robot vacuum, which leaves the house presentable (worth the investment).

5) Pick up your maternity clothes

We have known for a long time that clothes worn during pregnancy are the most comfortable for postpartum. But don’t make them your new style. It may sound silly, but going through your closet and choosing an outfit that makes you feel a little like the woman you were before pregnancy will do you a world of good. Reconcile these two yous: the one before the baby and the one now. You need to feel cared for to feel good, and no one can take care of you better than you. So fold your pregnancy clothes (which are usually not the most beautiful in the world), donate them or, if you intend to have another child, keep them in a place that is difficult to access until then.

6) Eat healthy

This is actually one of the traditional New Year’s resolutions that you should keep and take to heart. As with pregnancy, you need to be well nourished to stay on your feet without getting sick and feed the baby. Keep these good habits adopted in gestation. So, in six months, when your child begins to introduce food, it will be much easier and more practical to prepare just one meal for the whole family – even if adapted in size and texture – instead of making baby food and its separate. Cook immediately with very little salt!

7) Travelling, yes, because a child is not an obstacle

Traveling more is always a hit among New Year wishes. And so it must stay! Not only because it’s good for you, but because now you have one more reason to share those moments of pleasure and show them to the world. As soon as you get past the first vaccines stage, you’ll feel more confident bringing it along. If you are still unsure, choose destinations where there is a hospital nearby. And remember that children up to 2 years of age usually don’t pay the ticket (some companies apply a percentage), so take advantage of it! So it will be more expensive. In addition, the stage where babies are not yet eating solid foods and are exclusively breastfed has the advantage of not needing to carry around an arsenal of kitchen utensils.

8) Meet new people

You’ve probably heard that motherhood is a lonely time, and it’s true. Not only because the new routine eats up a lot of time, but because it radically changes our schedules and old friends end up leaving. It’s natural. Not only will you not be able to hang out with them that much in the evenings, but they won’t be available to do a mid-afternoon show while on maternity leave. So, open yourself up to new friends, who are going through a more similar time to yours — and that doesn’t mean throwing old friends away. If you attended groups for pregnant women, keep in touch. Create cell phone messaging groups with pregnant women and mothers (sometimes pediatricians organize or recommend them). Go on dates for women with young children. Go to playgrounds, even if it’s just for your child to soak up the sun. Not only does the loneliness ease, but you will feel welcomed into your newfound angst.

9) Start therapy

If you have the conditions, get started. Because you will need it. That existing woman will give way to another and this process is confusing, full of doubts and anxieties. Your relationship with your partner will also change (sometimes for the better, but not always). New feelings and emotions will appear and it is not uncommon for a very calm woman to find herself having fits of anger. This is so much more than hormones: it’s lack of sleep, it’s lack of looking at yourself, it’s lack of division of labor, it’s lack of time, it’s dealing with the unknown all the time. If you can’t go to therapy, build a network of fellow mothers, who will better understand what you’re going through and can offer a word of comfort or encouragement.

10) Celebrate and record every little milestone

Motherhood is all about progress and setbacks. One day your baby sleeps well and you even dream that “he’s gone now,” but the next day he might wake up again 586 times in the night. Don’t be discouraged. Instead, he learns to celebrate that good night’s sleep. Don’t expect too much, let yourself be surprised by what your child has to offer. And he celebrates small and big achievements, like sitting, crawling, talking, eating alone … he Records, makes videos, photographs, takes notes, keeps a diary. Everything goes by so fast. And you’ll be so tired (and sleep so messed up) that the chance of forgetting those moments is huge, because the brain can’t efficiently handle turning short memories into long ones. And the grace of life is in those little daily victories.

11) Stop doing things

Let go of everything that no longer makes sense in your life. Now it’s new and you have the opportunity to rewrite it every day.

• Leave unwanted assumptions from family, friends and neighbors out of your life, as they have already had the opportunity to raise their children the way they wanted to and/or don’t know what is really going on in your life.
• Stop worrying about what other people will think.
• Stop comparing your life and your child’s life to others – you are unique and very special, everyone has their own time!
• You always stop working overtime just to prove you’re a great employee – that doesn’t prove anything, it just makes you miss out on moments in your child’s life that never come back.
• Stop trying to do everything yourself: the child’s father has responsibilities, call him to share care.

It’s still:

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Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.