Self Care for Mothers and Mothers-to-be
By Jenn Cochrane
I M A G I N E - a world where mothers are embraced, nurtured, and nourished throughout pregnancy and immediately after giving birth.
The model of maternal care varies greatly from one country to another, with some nations excelling while others, like Australia, unfortunately, have much room for improvement. The support system for mothers is an aspect of society that desperately needs change. But how can we do this? Well, it starts with each one of us.
If we were to revolutionise the way we care for mothers it could have profound effects on our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, potentially reshaping the way we approach parenting and raising future generations.
The initial step in centering and prioritising our care around mothers is to set the example ourselves. It's not always easy to put yourself first, and doing so can come with a touch of guilt. So, here are 3 cup filling things you can do yourself that take less than 5 minutes.
Enjoy a freshly brewed cup of herbal tea - doing so with mindfulness can help you to relax, unwind, ease the mind and soothe the soul. Drinking herbal teas also have many benefits in assisting digestion, calming our nervous system, sleep and helping to relieve some of those pesky pregnancy symptoms you may have.
Love on your body - take 5 minutes to appreciate your body and connect with your baby through massage. Loving massage your belly, chest, hips, bum and thighs with nourishing belly butter and oil and take the time to truly marvel and appreciate your body’s capacity to stretch, grow and accommodate life.
Soak - run yourself a relaxing bath with calm bath salts or postpartum herbal sitz to truly relax, rejuvenate and soak away stress, aches and pains and assist with your recovery.
If you know a mama who isn’t great at putting herself first and deserves some extra special attention, why not take the initiative to provide them with a thoughtful gift and perhaps the most priceless gift of all – your unwavering support. Here are 3 caring ideas.
Text them a message of support - we all know the impact of the right words at the right time, especially when navigating the intensity of parenting can often be challenging. This could be as simple as an emoji or a funny gif or meme if you don’t have capacity for words.
Cook a double batch of your own dinner - and leave it on their doorstep. Or drop off their favourite hot drink and some yummy and convenient one-handed snacks.
Buy a thoughtful gift for them! NOT the baby. Often our own priorities fall by the wayside when there’s a baby imminently on the horizon, any self-care, time, or attention once given is now focused on the new bundle of joy. Help a new parent remember that their well-being is important with a gift that focuses on them or encourages them to take a few moments for themselves.
Individually, we all have the power to shift the narrative by placing greater importance on our own well-being during the journey into motherhood. By changing the narrative from prioritising the needs of the baby above our own health and well-being, to looking after ourselves just as much, we can serve as catalysts for societal change. Collectively, we can transform how we support new parents and raise our children.
Jenn Cochrane is the founder of Vida for Mamas and the first in establishing an online store uniquely for mothers on the Sunshine Coast. The idea of creating gift sets for pregnancy and beyond came about as Jenn lived through her first pregnancy experience in 2019. Vida for Mamas mission is to prioritise, support, and hold mothers during their most crucial times of need. Vida offers a curated selection of beautiful, high-quality, and practical products to meet your every need, from early pregnancy through postpartum and beyond. To treat yourself, or another mama today or head to www.vidaformamas.com.au