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9 months of carrying a little miracle, and of course so deeply grateful to have been given that gift. So many lovely moments, but tough ones too. Because let's be honest, alongside all that happiness you may feel your body more than ever! Body parts grow and take shape. Pain in places you never had it before. Maybe a few discomforts, and I haven't even mentioned the hormonal 'parties' yet...
I'd love to share with you the tips that helped me a lot during this special phase of my life:
Postpartum ('after giving birth').
Of course everyone is different and has their own experience. But one thing we all have in common: pregnancy and childbirth have a (temporary) impact on our body and mind. It's not for nothing that it's compared to two (or three) marathons!
In this blog you'll find my tips for taking care of yourself during your recovery. In those short moments you find for yourself, in between feeding and changing.
And don't forget to give your beautiful body time to recover. Time heals. Especially in this case! We quickly forget this with the new daily routine, but it's really important. My motto is:
Which products can you use to be extra kind to yourself? I've lined up a few for you. Products that make your body happy and bring you a step closer to your 'old' body, in a new outfit! For me, these are little gifts that really make a difference on this 'journey'!
Our body has asked a lot of flexibility from our skin. It's not just your belly that has stretched from providing room and board for your little one, but also your breasts, thighs and hips. They could all use some extra hydration!
I use the amazing Shea Nilotica myself. After a shower, this Natural Hero leaves my skin feeling lovely and soft. I really like the scent and it absorbs nice and quickly. I also rub it on my little one after his bath, especially when he has dry patches! It's a lovely little moment together with him, too.
Below is some more information about this gold in a jar!
Shea cares for your skin and keeps it nice and supple. The difference between Shea Butter and Shea Nilotica is that Shea Butter is made in West Africa and Shea Nilotica in East Africa. Shea Butter has a different scent because the nuts are boiled. This releases more aroma, which is sometimes experienced as a smoky scent. The nuts for Shea Nilotica are cold-pressed, so less scent is released.
Do you love body butter as much as I do? Then Shea Butter or Shea Nilotica is lovely to rub on after a shower. Do it quickly when your little one is calling you again, or take your time to treat yourself to a nice rub.
The connective tissue in your body is naturally flexible and generally stretches along with you if you 'look after' it well. Tension and stress can cause knots or adhesions, make your muscles feel stiff and make it harder to move freely. That can feel pretty uncomfortable.
I wasn't able to keep up all my yoga routines, workouts or walks during my pregnancy. Were you?!
Now that the birth is behind me, I want to make my connective tissue supple again and keep it that way. With an oil I give my tummy, thighs and arms a nice (quick) massage, and care for my skin at the same time!
If you have specific complaints for which you're being treated by a physiotherapist, or other complaints where this doesn't feel comfortable, check with your therapist first before doing this.
This oil focuses specifically on 'deep' care, exactly what our skin layers need. It also has a nourishing and cleansing effect. Sesame seed oil is made from... sesame seeds! The sesame seeds are cold-pressed to obtain the oil.
Jojoba Oil is a versatile oil, or rather: a liquid wax (because officially that's what it is!). Lovely for a massage, because it doesn't leave a greasy layer. But it also purifies the skin and brings it back into balance.
Apply a few drops of oil to your hands and massage it with firm movements into the area you want to give some attention. Don't be too 'gentle'! Connective tissue can sometimes feel a bit stiff, so feel free to massage nice and firmly. You can do this before or after your shower, whatever you prefer. A firm massage like this feels wonderful, and the oil keeps your skin supple.
A blog is coming soon in which I go deeper into the question: what actually is connective tissue? Stay tuned!
To give you a helping hand, there's also the Jade roller. It's especially suitable for use on your face and gives your skin a lovely, relaxing massage moment. Really nice, because your skin has a lot to put up with during those broken nights!
Use the face roller after your morning and/or evening facial routine. Apply an oil or serum after cleansing your skin. Massage your face by rolling the roller outwards from the centre of your face with light pressure. Use the small end for under your eyes. Repeat daily for the best results! After use, clean the roller with some warm water and natural soap and wipe it with a dry cloth. Take your moment!
During my pregnancy: hello luscious locks and voluminous hair! After the pregnancy: where did you go? Suddenly your hair is limp, maybe greasy, and to top it all off, you might even find clumps of hair all over your house and in your brush. So mean! Because that really completes your loungewear-mommy-gala look. And yet the saying 'As long as your hair looks good' is so true! It brightens everything up, your mood included. I certainly feel a lot better then, anyway. With the products below you can give your hair some extra love!
Castor oil is made from the green fruits of the Ricinus Communis tree. It contains a large amount of omega 9 fatty acids that care for your hair and scalp, giving your hairdo a boost!
Apply a little oil to your hands and work it through slightly damp hair and onto your scalp. Leave the oil on for a few hours, then wash your hair with your usual (natural) shampoo. Castor oil is a rich, thick oil and can sometimes be tricky to wash out of your hair. That's why it's a good idea to dilute it with another oil such as sweet almond or coconut oil. You can do this little ritual several times a week.
Our Argan oil is made from the argan fruit. The oil is pressed from the fruit using a stone hand mill. You can use it for your skin and hair. To give your hair ends some shine again, this is your rescue remedy!
You can use Argan oil as a leave-in conditioner by massaging a few drops through your hair after washing it. You can also spread a few drops over your hands and massage them into your ends. You don't need to rinse it out. This brings the shine back to your ends.
Now a bit of attention for your 'ladies', in other words, your breasts. They now play a really big role in your life and your baby's. If breastfeeding is possible, of course, or if you've chosen to do it. It's not a given!
I got this tip from a lactation consultant: it's important to take good care of your nipples after every feed. Because how awful is it when a lot of pain disrupts that intimate moment between you and your little one? Coconut oil cares for and protects the skin and can be used as a nipple cream.
After feeding, take a small amount of coconut oil on your fingers and spread it over your nipple. Do this after every feed. It's safe to use for you and your baby. This way you give your skin some extra care after every feed!
That's it for a few tips to help you through this special time! Trust your own body, it's resilient, and take good care of yourself! That's the foundation for you, your baby and your brand-new little family. Do you have any other tips? Share them in the comments below, so we can all help each other out!
Author: Linda Riepe
