Six Tips for New Moms: According to the Pros

With First Physicians Group OBGYN Ashworth Skibicki, MD and OBGYN Sarah Somer, MD

There’s an abundance of advice for new moms, from parenting books to family and friends who have been there, and done that. But how do you decide if the advice is trustworthy? You certainly don’t want to take the advice of a random stranger on the street, you can trust the pros.

OBGYNs with First Physicians Group, Ashworth Skibicki, MD and Sarah Somer, MD are both mothers of newborn babies. Needless to say, they are pros. Just in time for Mother’s Day, Drs. Skibicki and Somer have prepared six tips just for you.

Give Yourself Time

Whether you’re a first-time mom or introducing a new baby to the family, this is a new role for you. Remember ladies: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Look into community resources that support new mothers, such as mom-baby support groups or parenting education classes.

Allow Others to Help

New moms are probably used to hearing “How can I help?” or “Let me know if you need anything.” But how often do you actually take advantage of the extended generosity? Your family and friends want to lighten the load, but they aren’t sure the best way to help you. Let them know what you need. Whether it’s cleaning, tackling the mountain of laundry, a meal, or just holding the baby so you can take a shower (we’ve all been there). Let them help you, they’re offering because they care.

Rest Your Body

Pregnancy, labor, and delivery are the most physically taxing and inspiring feats the female body can do. After delivery, some hormones have decreased significantly while new hormones are on the rise. This leads to an overwhelming amount of physical and mental changes in the immediate postpartum period. Allow yourself to celebrate these physical changes. Be sure to rest and stay hydrated in the first few days or weeks.

Take Care of Your Tear

If you experienced a tear, don’t worry, this is more common than you would think. But it is extremely important to take care of that area. If you had a cesarean, or C-Section, taking care of the incision and allowing yourself adequate time to recover from this major operation is crucial in the healing process. The most common place to experience a tear is in the perineum, the group of muscles between the vagina and the rectum. This area will likely heal by the routine postpartum visit, but if you would like to speed the healing process along, here are some tips from the pros.

1. Ice the area throughout the day
2. Use witch hazel sprays/pads or topical lidocaine
3. Over the counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, help reduce inflammation
4. Keep bowel movements soft so you don’t push too hard

Sleep When Baby Sleeps

While you may find yourself in a trance, watching the adorable faces your sleeping baby is making, don’t forget to take some naps of your own. The general rule of thumb is to try to sleep when the baby sleeps. If you find yourself unable to fall asleep, practice some of these strategies.

1. Put on comfortable clothes, dim the lights, and turn on soft music
2. Put your phone down but keep your baby monitor close by
3. Don’t share the bed. If your baby falls asleep, place them in the crib or bassinet

Practice Wellness

We understand there’s a lot on your plate right now, taking care of a precious and adorable tiny human. But for your overall wellbeing, it is important to practice self-healing. We suggest a change in scenery. You can do some simple activities like going out to get some fresh air, taking a walk or driving with the windows down. Be sure to grab a water bottle before you go out, you need to stay hydrated, especially if your breastfeeding.

For moms who have experienced infertility, or pregnancy or infant loss, Mother’s Day can be one of the most painful days of the year. Be sensitive to friends or family who may be struggling with the holiday. If you have experienced loss, take care of yourself today and remember, you are strong!