W.H.Y. Coaching

I recently gave birth to our first child, and I’m LOVING being a mom! I was fortunate to have 8 weeks at home with her before heading back to work, and could go back to work part time! Now that I’m back at work, and about 3 months postpartum, I’m starting to really feel myself again. But what does it look like to take care of myself while also caring for a baby, cooking for my family, working outside the home, and figuring out new goals to get back to where I want to be?? One of the biggest reasons I wanted to become a health and wellness coach was for the mamas who are asking these same questions!

•Do I have time to workout?

•What should I be cooking? I don’t have TIME to cook!

•My baby doesn’t sleep through the night, and I have so much to do during his/her day naps. How am I supposed to sleep??

•I’m stressed and overwhelmed! What do I do?!

These are all legitimate feelings and questions. And every mama is going to experience them at different times and in different ways. Having a coach to walk you through what’s possible now and in the future can be so beneficial. While we may not get back to our “old” bodies or snap back as quickly as we would like, there are still ways we can love ourselves (and our babes!).

•Baby-wearing! This is a great way to let your little one know that you’re near, while still being able to move and get stuff done around the house.

•Floor exercises during tummy time! My daughter recently started doing long enough stretches of tummy time that I realized I could get a small floor routine in at the same time. Just make sure that you’re listening to your body and doing workouts appropriate for your stage of recovery.

•Stroller walks! I did SO much walking before giving birth, and that has been my main form of exercise during this recovery. I try to time my walks with her naps so she can enjoy some fresh air, and I can go as long as I want.

•Easy meal planning! Taking care of a baby is a full-time job where you may not feel like you have time to cook. And if you’re working a job outside of the home, that’s even less time! Find what works for you: Crock pot dump meals? Salads packed with lots of veggies? Tuna packets that you can take on the go? You don’t have to eat perfectly, but finding healthy, filling on-the-go options makes you feel more in control of your health.

•Sleep! Ok, so the saying is “sleep when the baby sleeps,” right?? How in the world are you supposed to get everything else done when you only have a limited amount of time when the baby is down?! This is one of the hardest things for me, but I make myself take a 10-20 minute rest right after one of my girl’s afternoon naps. It helps me feel like I have some time for myself and allows me to shut off my mind for a few minutes every day. It’s not always perfect, but it keeps me a little more sane 😉

Hang in there mamas! If you feel overwhelmed and need someone to cheer you on and help you come up with a game plan, book a discovery session with me. And if you feel too overwhelmed or it feels more than just the Baby Blues, please reach out to a your doctor and/or a mental health professional ❤️ (Here is a link for professional help https://www.postpartum.net.)