This is a sponsored post by Huggies and BlogHer. This is a continuing series I'm doing on a baby's first year.
Today I'm talking about how to keep your energy and sanity up when you're at the end of your pregnancy and in the first few months of having your baby.
First of all -- at the end of your pregnancy -- you need to give yourself a break. ESPECIALLY if this is your first baby -- do it because you can. It's going to be a LONG time before you can just rest again. Trust me. :-) Lay on the couch a lot. Watch NetFlix or DVR'd shows. Eat ice cream. Put your feet up. Go for walks.
You will feel pressured to get everything done before the baby comes, but a baby won't know if the nursery is perfect or the closet is completely organized. Do it if you really need to but you will have time once the baby is here too. It's important for you to rest and get your body ready for being a mom!
When the baby comes you may feel a little crazy. It's a big change. That baby needs you every minute and you can have a hard time just finding time to take a shower or to eat. I think it's important for every mom to take little breaks. This may sound crazy but because Harper was sick at birth and couldn't get out in public for a few months we were homebound for a while. So at night, when Scott came home, he would watch her and sometimes I would just go to Wal-Mart or Target for an hour and walk around and just look at things in quiet. I didn't even have to buy anything -- it was just like a mini vacation. I would also put Harper in the car and drive around town for a little bit in the afternoons. She would usually sleep and I could have quiet time. I would get a Sonic drink and just have a moment to myself. Sometimes we would even just sit parked in the driveway for a little bit when we got home. Sometimes you just need a change of scenery.
Everyone says to nap when the baby naps, and I think that's great advice. I never did that. Partly because I'm crazy and partly because naps sometimes make me feel more tired. But if you can, you need to. The house will still be there later. So will laundry.
Exercise can be something that can be a good stress reliever. It's so hard as a new mom to find time to exercise. But if the weather is nice take the baby out for a walk in the stroller. The baby will probably enjoy it and you will love getting fresh air.
I think the one thing that helped me so much through the first year and continues to be so much help is having a group of friends in the same stage. Try to have a girls' night every month or so. I think you come back refreshed when you can be with a group of friends and laugh and talk.
What do you do to preserve your energy and sanity? What's your advice?
Don't forget to check out the Huggies Mommy Answers Facebook app and then visit the Huggies page on BlogHer.com to read about other bloggers' who share their own experiences of motherhood.
