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Your body is brand new after baby. In fact, it becomes a completely new body that you may not recognize, but this body is completely capable of being fit, fabulous and full of health. As a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist, I believe and know that our bodies are in fact eager to repair and recover after birth, as well as let go of unneeded weight and fully nourish a tiny human being. Teaching new and seasoned mommies to love and nourish their bodies for healing and health is my passion. Sharing knowledge and encouragement, along with helpful tools and programs is the best way I can do this in order to reach thousands of mommies each month.
I decided to share 5 of my secrets, and insider tips that I want all new mamas to know about their bodies after babies. This information is helpful because it trumps false beliefs mamas have about their bodies, as well as surrender excuses and step up to the challenge of caring for yourself. Let’s go over these insider tips, so you too can share my knowledge and passion for what your body has achieved, and how you need to care for it.
Insider Tip 1: Your Body Isn’t Damaged In Any Way
Many mamas think of diastasis recti or flabby skin as a sign of being damaged. This is not the case in any way shape or form. Your body has stretched, become stronger, grown a baby, birthed a baby and nourished a baby. It has CLIMBED A HUGE MOUNTAIN, but it is not damaged. Your body didn’t fail. It succeeded. Therefore, it may have winning marks from where the muscles miraculously moved to fit a growing fetus, or where the skin stretched just perfect for the size of your belly, and your muscles may feel relaxed and awkward all around your pelvic floor, but this is because your body is now healing. Muscle memory is a real thing, and we can help our bodies heal by practicing our muscle memory and strengthening the bond between our minds and our muscles. The fact that we need to care for our muscles and bodies after growing and birthing a baby does not mean it is damaged, but it does mean that it needs time and attention to heal. I want to explain this as the first insider tip because there seems to be a repeated negative connotation with postpartum bodies. Postpartum bodies are in fact stronger and more accomplished, and thus they need more care for their newfound strength and achievement. Think of it this way, as a runner achieves faster and longer miles, the muscles stretch and grow, and they also need more care and rehabilitation for the more extensive work. Postpartum bodies are no different. Think of yourself as an athlete. A gold-medal winner in the Olympics. Those athletes have teams of people for massages, physical therapy, supplements and more. By shifting our perspectives to believe we too are athletes, we can mentally accept the care and attention our bodies are needing.
Insider Tip 2: Babies Are Not Excuses For A Bad Diet
I am not completely sorry for some tough love here. But, to be honest, your baby does not put food in your mouth. Your baby doesn’t tell you what to eat. You put food in your mouth and you decide what you are eating. Of course, having a baby brings on all sorts of stresses, fatigue, lack of motivation and sometimes depression. Those emotions can affect how you crave food, but ultimately you are responsible for exactly what you put in your mouth, and how much. No one else. If your husband eats a certain food or meal, it doesn’t mean you have to. If your family doesn’t eat healthily, you can still choose to eat healthy if you want to. I am going to leave this tip short and sweet because your diet is THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT TO YOUR POSTPARTUM WEIGHT. If you haven’t lost the baby weight it isn’t because you don’t have time to work out. It is because your diet needs tweaking. To take it one step further, if you eat healthily and care for your body from the inside, you can better care for your baby. Let’s get into the insider tip 3 because I know you want to know more about your diet.
Insider Tip 3: Your Diet Will Help You Heal Faster/Better:
Food is literally medicine for your body postpartum. Your new body needs protein to heal and repair cells, nutrients to produce breast milk and energy to thrive as a breastfeeding or new mommy. By taking care of your diet, you are helping your body heal itself faster because it has more nutrients to send to wounds. Nutrients also play a part in balancing hormones, which are essential to helping your body produce lots of breast milk and re-calibrate itself after 9 months of pregnancy. Eating a diet right in fruits, vegetables and protein can also combat mood swings, give you more energy and ensure your breast milk is full of nutrients for the baby. If you need help with your diet, I have an amazing breastfeeding diet program, specifically for Postpartum healing and weight loss that is available in an app. Lots of mamas are having tons of success losing weight without losing their milk. Think about vitamin C and protein as some major nutrients for healing. Lean proteins and colorful fruits and veggies infuse your body with antioxidants and phytonutrients.
Insider Tip 4: You Don’t Have To Have Accidents
And by accidents I mean incontinence. These can be so embarrassing, yet a very common part of postpartum life. I originally thought it was just a part of life after babies. Jumping jacks just weren’t really an option. Jumping rope, to be honest, is still a bit of a struggle, but through some work and time, it is already much, much better. I say this because if you take some time weekly to remind those muscles how to function again, after their major accomplishment, they will remember. Muscle memory is profound and amazing. I have a 3-week ab rehab and pelvic floor restore program in The Postpartum Cure, which focuses on healing and preparing your core and pelvic floor. Whether you do a program or find some YouTube videos, you need to take time to practice contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor, as well as pulling your abs in. Posture plays more of a role in your pelvic floor than many realize, and practicing standing correctly can dramatically help any incontinence issues. I go over all this in my program, and there are tons of resources out there to help you relearn proper posture now that you aren’t pregnant, and how to properly stand and hold your baby to help your abs and pelvic floor. It only takes a couple of weeks, and your muscle memory will start coming back quickly. I promise if you get through two weeks of 3 days working on posture, pelvic floor and your core, you will notice a difference. The hardest part is just making the time to do it. Luckily, if the baby is little, they are sleeping a lot!
Insider Tip 5: Sometimes You Need A Physical Therapist
There are physical therapists and highly-trained experts that you may need to consult. This is WONDERFUL! I personally visited a pelvic floor physical therapist after my first baby, and there is nothing wrong with this. I personally think every new mommy should be checked by a physical floor therapist postpartum, and if you can, do it. It only helps educate you more, and sometimes we NEED HELP. Asking your doctor for special care is the hardest part. To know if you need some special attention is usually an instinct that something seems off, despite what your doctor says. Never ignore this instinct. You may have scar tissue that developed (like me!), making things uncomfortable, you may be having trouble relaxing your pelvic floor, or you may not even be engaging your pelvic floor at all, and an expert can guide you in all of this. Part of the difficulties with so much information available to us is that we self-diagnose and try to self-heal. If you think anything is abnormal, never feel like you can just heal on your own. Asking for help is always a great way to go, and as Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialists, we are more aware of the limitations we have to help.
These insider tips are meant to encourage you, motivate you, and give you some truth about the realities of your postpartum body. I believe in mommies encouraging each other and helping each other, which is why we have a Facebook group with my program, and why I am launching Milk Dust. It is a protein powder that will help you with sugar cravings as well as boost your milk supply.
This is the only protein powder that pumps up your milk supply with a special lactation blend, while also curbing sugar cravings!! There are no other clean, super nutrient-dense protein powders like this, and I would love for you to sign up for the pre-sale lists, where I am offering the first batch at a discount!!
If you haven’t yet, check out all our courses, programs, challenges, & recipe book!
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