The postpartum stage of motherhood is HARD in more ways than one. I’ve seen a lot of focus on tips regarding the baby but not so much regarding the mom. Thanks to a few blog posts I read on postpartum from Simply Chanel P, I knew I needed to be intentional about checking in with myself and what I needed during this significant life transition.
Below I will share three tips to help you nurture the new you during the postpartum stage.
1. Get Dressed
When I was in the trenches of the 4th trimester, I had days where I didn’t even look in the mirror before going outside. I was so focused on baby boy and having what we needed that I wasn’t a priority. One day, I was looking at pictures and realized I was always looking like a hot mess. I didn’t care the first few months, but it bothered me after a while. I set a goal to get dressed at least 2x a week in something other than sweats.
I was still working on feeling comfortable in my new body but didn’t want to wait for it to be perfect for dressing it up. The team over at Closet52 reached out for a collab at precisely the right time; I ordered a few dresses that would work for running behind a toddler and make me feel more put together.
When I say effortless, the Chambray dress is breathable and structured, and it didn’t need to be ironed! The flutter sleeve dress made me feel fun the flirty! It’s the perfect dress for brunch on the patio, and did I mention it’s lined?! The last dress has a fun sheen to it that will be so fun for holiday parties or a night out with hubby! I was so impressed with the quality of these dresses! They are comfy, cute, and toddler-approved. Click the pictures or links above to shop for these styles!
2. Get With Your People
Getting out and doing things is so important when lifting that postpartum fog. Anything that gets you around someone other than your partner and baby is fair game. Having adult conversations can do something unique for your mental health. You can also get double the benefit if these happen to be other moms! You can vent, get encouragement, and see them interact with their littles through a new lens!
When these ladies left, I felt so full! So excited to be a mom and grow into that part of me. They had been there long before Baby Boy came to be, but the way they have supported me through the growing pains of becoming a mother is beyond what I knew I needed. If you want to grow into this next phase of yourself truly, get around people who make you feel good!
3. Get A Goal
Find something you love that has nothing to do with your kid. Yes, you are a mother, but you are also a wife, a friend, a sister, and more. Find ways to honor the other facets, so you don’t get lost in that one part of you. During this postpartum stage, I would realize I had not been outside in days. I had not done one thing that was 100% for me. I did not want that to become a pattern, so I set a goal to do something for myself once a month. A massage, a new outfit, a solo walk on the trail, something that was solely for me.
I am obsessed with my baby! Full stop. I genuinely feel like I was born to be a mother. But I did have a period during the postpartum phase where I completely forgot about myself. You will never hear me say, “my old self” because she is gone. I am no longer that girl, and frankly, I don’t want to be. I thoroughly enjoyed pre-mommy Laya, but this grew and birthed a whole human badass that I’ve become is THAT GIRL! I am excited to nurture and mold her 🙂
XOXO, Laya
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