If you’re a new parent, you might probably be taking care of your newborn round-the-clock. Feeling like a zombie for sleepless nights, you’re feeling as if your life is upside down. Worry not, though, because you can use simple strategies to manage stress at this point in your life.
How New Parents Can Manage Stress
Your newborn is indeed a bundle of joy that always puts a smile on your face, fading your fatigue and giving you energy. However, you should also learn how to take care of yourself and learn how to manage stress.
Cut back on caffeine
While it is understandable that you want to stay alert to take care of your little one, never think caffeine will solve it for you. Do not rely on coffee, for that matter, to stay awake. What to do instead is to eat healthy food, get fresh air, exercise and drink more water. When the baby’s sleeping, get some, too. You can also set a schedule with your husband to share the chore of taking care of baby. In this case, the both of you will get enough rest and maintain good energy level to take care of baby.
Stock up on healthy foods
You don’t want to stock on junk food and soda because they will just fill you in with empty calories and they will not help you lose post-baby weight if you’re trying to shed pounds. Instead of junk food, stock on healthful foods, such as low fat yogurt, fat-free pudding, sliced fruits and vegetables, cooked while grains or readymade salads.
With healthier foods on the fridge and ready to go, you will grab less of candy, chips, cakes and cookies – all sources of too much salt and too little fiber.
Feed yourself right
What are your nutrients needs especially if you’re breastfeeding? Calorie needs vary based on activity level, age and metabolic rate. You should consult your doctor or a nutritionist about a good diet plan for breastfeeding mothers, for instance.
At the very least, breastfeeding moms need between 2000 and 2400 calories and 280 mcg of folate. For non-breastfeeding moms, calories should be between 1900 and 2200. Talk to your doctor so that you can be sure that all the nutrients that you and breastfed baby need will be met in your diet.
Eat well
Eat three meals and two snacks between each meal daily. Have more lean protein, fruits and vegetables in your diet. You should also eat frequently if you’re a new mother who is breastfeeding so that your body will have enough calories to produce milk.
Drink water
If you want to lose weight, you should not just eat well and up to five times daily, but also drink more water for easy and fast digestion. Drinking more water also keeps toxins out of your body. Bonus: Water is also perfect for skin hydration. As you may already know, being a new mom also involves having poor sleep. Water can help in preventing skin problems, such as dryness and dullness.
There you have the simple and easy lifestyle tips for mothers looking to lose pregnancy weight, live happier and healthier with new baby, and feel better. Do you think we missed a tip or two on the list? Tell us in the comments. Finally, share this article on Facebook today!
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