After having a baby, you may be wondering “How can I start to recover from childbirth while taking care of a newborn baby and how long will my recovery be?” While it is common for women to take only 6-12 weeks off from work, recovering from birth can take up to a year. This may sound surprising, but while you may feel like you have recovered after only six months, your body may still be getting back to normal.

Focus on Self-Care

We talk about self-care quite often because it is essential, and as parents, it can be difficult to give yourself the proper care you deserve. The first six weeks after giving birth can be very intense because of your changing hormones, adjusting to a new baby, and sleep deprivation. This period in your postpartum recovery necessitates a high level of grace and courtesy to yourself as you learn how to get into a new role and routine. 

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You will need to prioritize what you do with your time and let some things go that can be handled at a later date or delegate tasks to friends and family who want to help. When guests come to visit, don’t be afraid to ask them for help if you need it, and don’t feel like you need to be a host or keep them entertained. Save your energy for taking care of yourself and bonding with your baby. 

Productivity During Postpartum

During your postpartum recovery, productivity will look very different than before. You do not need to be constantly doing something to be productive while healing, what productivity looks like during postpartum is more like resting and caring for your baby. Don’t feel like you need to keep your house spotless, just ignore the mess and rest. 

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You are being productive when you get up to feed the baby, change their diaper, and engage with them. You are being productive when you get in the shower and clean yourself off, brush your teeth, and when you are eating. Giving your body the rest and relaxation that it needs to heal from growing a baby is one of the most productive things you can do during this time. 

Lean into your Support System

Lean on the people who are there for you and reach out for help when you need it, even for daily tasks. Don’t suffer and cause your healing to be prolonged. If you are up all day taking care of the baby and trying to keep yourself busy, you will be exhausted, and your healing will be drawn out. Ask your friends and family if they are able to bring you food, tidy your house, or take your dog for a walk to give you and your partner more time to bond as a family. 

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If you don’t have a support system in place already, get started on creating your own village. My Family Birth Center in Ogden will be hosting a Mother’s Village Social Hour on Tuesday, March 5th from 10:30-11:30 AM where you’ll be able to meet other moms and let your children play. Our Ogden birth center’s address is 5319 S 500 E, Suite C, Ogden, UT, 84405. We hope to see you there! 

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For more information on postpartum recovery, contact us today!

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