This Mother's Day, New Moms Need Love, Too

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May 07, 2015, 07:00 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., May 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- There are plenty of helpful experts advising soon-to-be moms about how to stay healthy or what to eat during pregnancy, but what about right after the baby arrives?

Perhaps we don't hear too much about that topic because frankly, many new moms don't have time to care for themselves. And if they do have a few free minutes when they're not soothing, changing or feeding their newborns, they're probably too exhausted to tend to their own general well-being.

On this Mother's Day, we'd like to focus on the health of new mothers because we know caring for themselves after one of the most stressful and simultaneously blissful events of their lives can be a challenge. Kaiser Permanente obstetrics and gynecology expert Dr. Amanda Williams Calhoun has a bassinette-full of tips and suggestions that will help new moms feel healthy and stay healthy in the days and weeks after they arrive back home with their new bundle of joy:

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Bleeding, which you will be doing for at least the first four weeks, and breastfeeding are tremendously dehydrating. Do not go anywhere without a water bottle. Add little squeezes of your favorite citrus fruit or ice or fizzy water to jazz it up.
Snack time all the time: For the new mom, there is no day, no night, no three square meals a day. Stock your refrigerator full of nutritious snacks – almonds, dried and fresh fruit, yogurts, half-sandwiches. Having them all out and available for grazing is very helpful.
Put family, friends to work: Everybody wants to see you and the baby, but the last thing you want to do is entertain. Make a staggered schedule. In the first few weeks, limit the people who visit to those who will actually help you – cook a meal, take the baby for a stroll -- and not people who are there for a fun visit.
Accept the shift to the new normal: Having a baby has turned your life upside down. Understand that it's especially hard for women who are used to being competent and capable to be in this unknown space. It's incredibly challenging, but if you have the capacity to make that shift from anxiety to possibility, it's tremendously helpful.
Sleep is not an option: As soon as the baby is fed, give that baby to someone else for burping, diapering, swaddling, so you can get some rest. And, if you or your loved ones think you may be getting depressed, consider trading a feeding for quick pumping every once in a while. Sleeping for 5-6 hours more or less straight brings remarkable clarity.
Your baby is more resilient than you think: It's hard to make yourself believe that you have 15 minutes to take a shower and wash your hair while your baby is in its co-sleeper or bouncy seat, but they really will be OK. People think babies need a quiet, still environment, but when they were in the uterus, the rushing of blood was very noisy. Put that baby in a sling or carrier and get outside. You are actually recreating their uterine life, which is what new babies like best.
We know breastfeeding isn't easy: Once you get the hang of it, it is most often wonderful, but it requires a front end investment. Take advantage of lactation services and doulas. New moms are also encouraged, after 3-4 weeks, to start pumping at least one bottle a day, so you can build up an emergency supply or just to give yourself a little break and get family involved.
Baby blues are real: Hormone shifts. The loss of feeling special. The sleeplessness. The breastfeeding frustrations. These can lead to postpartum depression. Counseling, medication, and support groups are all available and can help moms get the support they need.

"Sometimes moms are so preoccupied with their new baby that they lose track of themselves," Dr. Calhoun said. "But remember, you are more than an incubator. Everyone is thinking about the baby, but YOU matter! You may be a new mom, but you are also a person who needs love and support, too."

Families and friends also can do their part. Here are Dr. Calhoun's top 10 tips for helping new moms:

Deliver the drinks: Anytime she's breastfeeding, bring her a beverage (or replenish her current one).
Set out finger foods: Almonds, dried fruits, yogurts, small sandwiches are a good start.
Rub a foot, massage a neck: Ask first, but the human touch may be just what she's looking for.
Become a baby-care All-Star: Master the arts of diapering, burping, and swaddling.
Take the baby for a walk: This gives mom time to sleep, Part I.
Do a pump-bottle feeding: This gives mom time to sleep, Part II.
Cook a meal or two: Think large quantities that will stay fresh for a while.
Clean, wash, fold: Help with the house upkeep and learn to do it quietly.
Do the shopping: Whether you are going to pharmacy, grocery, or big-box store, think of the new mom and ask if she needs anything.
Be a shutterbug: Try to capture the tender moments for mom and baby.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve approximately 9.6 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

Contact:
Marc Brown, (510) 271-6328
[email protected]

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SOURCE Kaiser Permanente