Episode 6: Self-Care with a Newborn

In episode 6 of the Nourishing Birth and Beyond podcast I discuss the challenges new parents face in balancing self-care with caring for a newborn. It stresses the importance of taking small breaks, ensuring adequate rest, and maintaining nutrition to support mental health. The speaker advises parents to prioritize their needs, such as having undisturbed moments for relaxation and sharing household responsibilities with partners. Practical tips include preparing easy meals, asking for help, and finding ways to decompress. By embedding these habits early, parents can better manage the demands of parenting and maintain their well-being.

In this episode of the podcast I talk about:

• The importance of self-care for new parents
• How to prioritise rest and nutrition when you have a baby
• The ins and outs of sharing responsibilities with your partner (if you have one)
• Practical tips for relaxation and meal preparation
• The logistics of maintaining mental health and well-being in the early days of parenting

Sound bites from this episode:

“You’re working non-stop with the baby, that doesn’t mean you should be doing 100 percent of all the chores around the house as well.”

“The more you rest in those first weeks and months, that first six months the greater the impact it will have on your mental health because otherwise you’re just running on adrenaline and our nervous system needs it to calm regularly and it needs to rest.”

“Taking that time to rest, to recover, to allow your nervous system to get off this treadmill of go. Because yes, your baby does need care around the clock, 24 7. And you still need the same amount of rest, if not more rest. Than you did before you had a baby. So fitting it in is so important and some people can’t rest. Not rest. Some people can’t nap and I understand that. But lay down and rest properly.”