I'm really enjoying the Valentine's box that I ordered from Guilt Free Goodies! Packed with tasty sweet treats suitable for wheat free and Paleo diets - all made with ingredients as close to their natural form as possible!
I don't have any recipes to share from this week however I will be testing out baking these
Carrot Banana Breakfast Bakes tomorrow morning! I'll be sure to share the results with you tomorrow!
Meantime, I wanted to make the topic of today's post on self-care during the postpartum period.
This is a wonderful time for many new mums but it is also a little fragile, tender and raw - both physically and emotionally. The '4th Trimester' or the 3 months immediately after giving birth, is a time for creating your own, safe wee bubble for you and your baby and moving reverently through the days. Instead of jumping straight into exercise and trying to 'get back your body' , perhaps take this short period of time to respect your body - respecting what it has been through and what it is currently needing. Self-Care is paramount. The gym will still be there in 3 months, the yoga classes will still be there in 3 months but for now, you can take this time, to settle into this moment and into your new way of life.....
Perhaps taking a short period of time in your day for practicing meditation and deep breathing - creating a haven, inside your mind, where you can relax and let go of your stress, tension or worries as a new momma. Even 2 minutes out of your day would do - you could try, every time you go to make yourself a cuppa, taking 3 deep breaths in through the nose and out through the nose. See how you feel, after a day or two of practicing this each time you make your tea or coffee - see if you can continue practicing it each day. Maybe after a week, you can bring your meditation into the tea drinking itself - so often we are not fully present when drinking our tea so try to notice your hands, moulding around the cosiness of the cup. See the steam dancing above your mug. Enjoy the soothing warmth of each sip.
Now, I'm not naive - I know that with a new baby this sounds like a challenge and a half..and most of the time you might not finish a cup of tea! And it is a challenge, you're right! But even managing to be fully present in your tea drinking for one or two sips , is a mindful act, a meditative act. These simple practices can help you to be present in this moment. Present with all of the emotions inside of you. Present with your baby and your family.
Physically, the body is not ready for exercise until a minimum of 6 weeks postnatal (10 weeks if you had a section) and once it is starting to emerge from its postnatal haze, yoga is a very good practice for both you and baby. I would recommend going to a mother & baby yoga class; here, you can safely practice yoga that respects the stage in which your body is and also practice some yoga for baby - helping to strengthen the bond between mother and baby, stimulating and soothing, increasing baby's co-ordination and a great excuse to sing fun songs and meet other mums! You can also learn breathing techniques to ground you when life seems a little overwhelming :)
So give yourself permission aside the need to 'get your body back' until you are fully ready for that type of movement.. Enjoy your tea drinking meditation and your beautiful new baby..You're doing well. And it is wonderful.
Namaste
x
