4 Tips for Easing the Discomfort of Postpartum Feelings

I would have titled this post 4 Ways to Get Over Uncomfortable Postpartum Feelings but that would be misleading and provide false hope. When you become a mother, you become a new person altogether. As people, even small changes can be uncomfortable and this transition probably could qualify as the most intense in a lifetime.

As a woman who has experienced this major life alteration of becoming a mother, here are my tips for a little softer landing once you enter postpartum.

I believe once postpartum, always postpartum.

#1: Admit to yourself that you feel uncomfortable.

Stop trying to play it off! Feeling uncomfortable in your new identity is not a negative, it simply will take time to accept that your whole life has changed. You can feel extremely happy and uncomfortable at the same time.

#2: Write down or tell a trusted person that you are uncomfortable.

Getting the thought out via speaking or writing will lower the concentration of that feeling on your mind. Just because you’re a mom now does not mean you must carry all the weight alone despite the messages society puts out there.

#3: Do a very small self-care “something.”

I don’t care if this is a face mask for 10 minutes or soaking your feet in the tub for an hour. I’m not asking you to complete an extravagant spa day, be real with yourself. When’s the last time you did something for yourself without feeling any guilt for it since having that baby? This is something I really struggle with. (Cleaning your house does not count as self-care! Relax for once.)

#4: Pause and allow yourself to feel.

It is so easy to ignore yourself and keep busy with mom duties. Please, for your health and your family’s, take breaks and think about yourself. These brief pauses throughout your day will help more than you’d like to acknowledge. This one has been a game changer for me.