From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, you do everything in your power to keep your baby healthy, which includes keeping yourself in good condition. You form some healthier habits and kick out some bad ones. You take good care of your body, as that was necessary for the wellbeing of your child. However, you should know that, once you give birth, it’s easy to start neglecting yourself and concentrating solely on your little cherub. It’s essential that you don’t let this happen, since your body is still sensitive and in distress from giving birth, and you should do whatever you can to allow it to recover and heal properly. The ideal place to start is your immune system, so that you can stay in optimum shape for yourself and your baby and avoid getting ill. Here are some ways to improve your postpartum immune response.
Tend To Your Mental Health
Once you bring a baby into this world, you’ll probably experience an overwhelming mixture of emotions, ranging from euphoria to melancholy and despair. You’ll go through hormonal changes and you’ll often feel stressed. This is something you need to address, since your stress can affect your immune system and weaken it. It would be beneficial if you could focus on something that calms you down and makes you happy. For many mothers, this is their new baby, which makes it perfectly fine to watch them sleep, hug them and touch them whenever the opportunity arises. On the other hand, there are women who will benefit from talking to other adults, such as their partner, siblings or friends. In case you need this kind of contact, reach out to those you love and tell them what’s bothering you. Social isolation in the postpartum period can cause desolation, which is why you should stay in touch with people, at least through phone calls or text messages, but eye-to-eye contact is always the best option. Perhaps you’ll relax after taking a shower, being that it doesn’t only come down to personal hygiene, but also allows you to spend some time alone. If none of these ideas work for you and you don’t think you can handle the anxiety, talk to your MD or a mental-health professional and ask for their opinion.
Eat Well
The food you choose to eat after you’ve given birth matters greatly, as it directly influences your health, but also your baby’s, especially if you’re breastfeeding. In order to keep your postpartum immune system in order, you’ll need to supply your body with several different nutrients through food or supplementation. For instance, you’ll need plenty of iron, which you can get from red meat or green leafy vegetables. Next, you’ll need vitamin B12 and you’ll find it in tuna, liver, cereals or fortified dairy, but you’ll also want to increase your vitamin D levels, since this is vital to your immune system. As far as food goes, some good sources of vitamin D are orange juice, egg yolks and fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna. Make sure you eat fresh fruit and vegetables, and if you need snacks, don’t settle for anything less than highly nutritious healthy products. Some excellent examples are shiitake mushroom and various veggie chips, as well as beetroot slices or dried mango. If you don’t have the time to go shopping for this type of food, don’t hesitate to order it online and have it delivered to your front door. Purchasing these kinds of snacks instead of the regular salted and unhealthy ones can improve your immune response and be your ally in keeping yourself and your newborn healthy.
Get Out And Walk
Taking care of a baby will take a lot of your time and energy. It’s likely you’ll feel extremely tired from time to time. Nevertheless, you need to remember that fresh air and physical exercise are crucial to your postpartum immune system and your overall well-being. Taking walks will cover both, without you overexerting yourself in the process. Walking is a light exercise, one that promotes better circulation and clears your mind, ridding you of at least one part of the stress you’re feeling. Another issue that many mothers face after giving birth is the amount of time they spend indoors. While it’s true that you have to adjust to your parenting role and get back on your feet, stepping outside regularly can only do your immune system good, so find the time and the will to take a stroll in the nearby park or around the neighborhood. These walks don’t have to be long. Half an hour a day will do the trick, and it’s something that most women can manage. If you can leave your baby with your somebody, that’s fine, but if not, you can always put them in their stroller and take them with you.
If you want your child to be healthy, you have to maintain your own wellbeing first. Your postpartum immune system is the foundation of your health, so follow these tips to strengthen it and get back to your optimal self as soon as possible after giving birth.
Author Bio
Diana Smith
is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in business and marketing related topics.
In her free time she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.