HOW TO THRIVE AS A NEW MUM
Baby guru The Modern Midwife, aka Marie Louise, 29, who has worked closely with Emma Bunton and has been delivering babies for a decade, shares her top tips on how to navigate the first few weeks with your newborn. Marie, who gave birth to her first baby Georgie in August, says, “I have always believed firmly in the mantra, ‘Happy mum, happy baby’ – so it’s really important to have a think about your fourth trimester before your baby arrives. We all have our ups and downs, so it’s good to be more prepared and not be too hard on yourself.”
WRITE DOWN YOUR POSTNATAL PLAN
“If you’re having a baby, you’ve probably got your birth plan sorted, but it’s also good to have one in place for when the baby arrives. Build into the plan who you will have to support you – whether that’s your partner, mum or sister – and let them know that your body will be in a state of recovery for the first few weeks so you will need help. Now lockdown is easing, look to see what baby groups are happening in your local area and you can still join online classes. Freeze healthy meals now so you have lots of nutritious treats to look forward to.”
GET MOVEMENT BACK INTO YOUR BODY
“It’s really important to get moving as soon as you feel ready after the birth as you are more at risk of developing blood clots. This doesn’t mean full-on exercise, but maybe just a gentle walk, stretching or breathing exercises.”
EMBRACE YOUR GREEN SPACES
“Try to spend at least two hours a week or more in green spaces – this definitely helped me after I had my daughter. ‘Forest bathing’ is used in some countries to help with depression and I think getting that burst of fresh air can be really healing.”
DON’T PUT PRESSURE ON YOURSELF
“No one should feel the need to bounce back after having a baby and no one really ‘bounces’ back or escapes the need to recover after birth, even if they have a textbook labour. The body needs to heal, realign and recover from the vast physiological changes caused by the pregnancy and birth. Try not to feel any pressure from social-media platforms where you might feel tempted to compare yourself to others. Give yourself all the time you need to recover properly.”
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