Life is often a whirlwind when your bundle of joy arrives and, as a new mom, all of your focus and energy goes into feeding and caring for your little one. It is wonderful to throw yourself into motherhood but also essential not to neglect yourself while caring for your newborn.
It all comes down to the old adage: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Prioritising self-care as a young mom is for your family’s benefit, not to their detriment, so you should never feel guilty making time for yourself.
Benefits of collagen supplementation for new moms
Collagen supplementation can benefit new moms in many ways. Some of these benefits include:
- Improved wound healing: Collagen is crucial for tissue repair and wound healing. After childbirth, collagen supplementation may support faster wound healing.
- Skin elasticity: Pregnancy and childbirth can lead to changes in skin elasticity and firmness. Collagen helps maintain skin structure and elasticity, potentially reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
- Hair and nail health: Many new moms experience postpartum hair loss. Collagen supports hair health and may help reduce hair shedding. Collagen also contributes to stronger nails, which can be beneficial as hormonal changes may weaken them.
- Joint health: Carrying and caring for a newborn can strain joints. Collagen supplementation may support joint health by promoting cartilage repair and reducing joint discomfort.
Top tips for self-care in the newborn phase
Go to bed early
Don’t hold yourself to impossible standards like “sleep when the baby sleeps.” If you can, what a bonus. Most moms, however, don’t have this luxury because baby’s daytime naps are often your only opportunity to do anything productive with your day. One thing you do have control over is what time you go to bed. Avoid the temptation to get stuck scrolling on your phone and try to get to bed even 30 minutes earlier if you can.
Exercise
Move a little every day. Not to help your body bounce back or meet any external expectations. But move a little every day to promote circulation, encourage deep breathing, improve mood, and reduce depression and anxiety. No gym membership? No problem. Strap your baby into a carrier and take a slow walk. Your body will thank you for it, and your baby will probably have a great nap.
Drink lots of water
Do yourself a favour and carry a water bottle around with you to sip throughout the day. It’s especially important to have water on a little table in the area where you breastfeed. Inevitably, when your baby latches to start drinking, you feel instantly thirsty but can’t move! Make your life easier by having water close at hand.
Eat well
Your body will prioritise your baby’s needs over your own and deplete your energy reserves producing milk. This makes it even more important to ensure that you are nourishing yourself with good, clean nutrition to give your body the building blocks it needs to heal after childbirth and give you the energy you need to care for your little one. Collagen supplementation is believed to help with improved wound healing, improved sleep, reduced hair loss, and increased muscle mass.
Ask for help when you need it
Whether that’s in the form of medical intervention, a meal for your freezer, or just a nap. It takes a village, so lean on yours for support and don’t be too proud to communicate when you are not coping.
Remember: You are doing a phenomenal job and are the best mom your little one has ever had, but you don’t have to do it alone and you do still need to look after yourself first.
Embrace self-care and make it a priority in your life. Incorporate collagen supplementation into your daily routine with high-quality products from The Harvest Table. Start feeling better, healing faster, and enjoying motherhood even more.
