Breastfeeding mothers should not only prioritise their babies but also prioritise themselves too. Breastfeeding can be very exhausting and stressful for some mothers because of the many demands that they have to juggle simultaneously. To ensure that your physical health and mental health as a breastfeeding mother is well, you need to indulge in self-care practices.
Breast Care
When breastfeeding your baby, your breast will become dry and develop rashes. To ensure that this does not happen, you need to invest in proper breast care products to take proper care of it. You need to make sure you are wearing a proper breastfeeding bra so that it does not cause pressure on your breast which leads to the blockage of milk ducts. Not only that, to prevent your breast from dryness, apply breastfeeding cream Malaysia because it protects your breast from rashes and itchiness.
Vitamins
Doctors will usually prescribe breastfeeding mothers some vitamins to ensure that they receive enough nutrients to stay healthy while breastfeeding. When you do not have enough nutrients in your body, your body’s system will start prioritising by consuming the nutrients that are left in your body to produce the breastmilk for your baby. This will eventually lead you to feel exhausted and fall sick. When taking vitamins, you need to ensure they are the ones prescribed by your doctor that are safe for both you and your baby. This is because unprescribed supplements can have adverse side effects for your baby due to them being consumed by your baby through your breastmilk.
Stay Hydrated
As a breastfeeding mother, you need to ensure that you are well hydrated to ensure that you can pump enough milk for your baby. You need to ensure that you consume enough fluids to stay hydrated. The only restriction on the type of fluid intake is that you need to refrain from alcoholic beverages, as it is not good for you and your baby. You can consume either plain water, fruit juices or even soupy beverages to quench your thirst.
Relaxation
Being a breastfeeding mother can be stressful because you are pushing aside your other work and yourself to the side so that you can prioritise your baby. This is not healthy for both your body and mind since long-term stress due to breastfeeding might lead some mothers to postpartum depression. To avoid this, you need to take some time off for yourself. Try to practise mindfulness because studies have shown that mindfulness is a great relaxation method, especially for breastfeeding mothers. You can also take part in non-strenuous physical fitness activities.
These are the 4 important self-care practices that a breastfeeding mother should practise. If you require some time after giving birth to get used to the new changes, these self-care practices can help you deal with them well without you worrying about causing your baby to fall sick or endangering their health. If you are a new father reading this article, help your wife understand the proper self-care practices for both her and the baby.
