Self Care, a phrase that I have really struggled to make time for since having Theodore! We’ve been back and forwards from hospital more times than I’d like to count and my only self care has been cleaning my teeth or brushing my hair!
The Little Book of Self Care for New Mums by midwife and doula Becky Hands and Alexis Stick really got me thinking about the fact motherhood was swallowing me up and I needed to make a conscious effort for some me time. The Little Book of Self Care for New Mums is perfectly sized to hold in one hand so I’ve been reading a few pages every time I sit down to feed Theodore (which is a lot of times a day!)
The book is split into three sections, healing a mother, minding a mother and guiding a mother. Each section is filled full of helpful tips, recipes, exercises and life lessons so help you make the most of motherhood and be the best mum you can be.
Healing a Mother focuses on healing the body after birth. There’s plenty of information on all the things your body has gone through along with gentle post natal exercises you can do to aid healing. There’s also a section on nourishing food and the importance of eating well. This is something I really struggled with when Theodore was just born and still struggle with even now, finding the time to plan and make substantial meals is tough when you have a teeny baby who doesn’t wish to be set down! There’s lots of quick and easy recipe ideas, my current favourite is ‘Energy Bulbs’ they’re the perfect breastfeeding energy boost snack!
Minding a Mother focuses on your mental health after having a baby. There’s some great breathing exercises to keep you calm when it’s all getting a bit too much and lots of information on baby blues and post natal depression as well as ways to help you love your post baby body and how to appreciate your ‘love lines’! I want to make a real effort to try out some of the positivity activities in this section over the coming weeks to help me feel a little better about myself!
Finally Guiding a Mother teaches you how to still be yourself now you’re a mum! I’ve definitely got swallowed up in the world of everything baby so this section has been great at reminding me to take some time for me and still do the things I enjoyed before Theodore’s arrival.
The Little Book of Self Care for New Mums is the perfect gift for any pregnant mama or new mum. It’s a great pick me up and has been a mini bible to the first few months of motherhood.
You can pick up The Little Book of Self Care for New Mums from Waterstones or Amazon.
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