5 easy postpartum self-care tips

This post was developed in partnership with Tom’s of Maine. All Opinions are my own.

As a newly postpartum mom still in her 4th trimester, the struggle is real y’all. A newborn to care for. A toddler to look after. A home to unpack. A daily struggle to change out of pajamas. I’m learning all you moms of multiples out there are definitely superhuman! Almost three months into being a mom of two, and I’ve finally developed a postpartum self care routine.

1. Start your day off right.

I know, this seems super silly and totally obvious. But, my days are drastically different when I start my morning off on the right foot. What does that involve? A few deep breaths. A cup of water with lemon. And a green smoothie to boost my energy and help with milk production. To make it even easier on myself, I keep a bottle of water next to my bed, so the first thing I can do when I roll over in the morning is take a few swigs while taking some deep breaths. Another easy shortcut is to make prepackaged green smoothie starers. I place a banana, spinach, dates, frozen berries and a few oats into a ziplock bag and place it in the freezer. That way I can just grab a bag and throw it in the blender with a little protein powder and water and blend!

2. Get moving.

Again, this is something that seems so obvious. But days we get outside for walks or work out together in the evening, I am noticeably happier and more calm. I am still struggling with body image postpartum, but I’m trying to focus on becoming stronger and healthier for my boys, rather than a dress size. In the evenings before dinner, we turn on an at-home workout video, and the whole family gets involved! By doing this, we are showing our boys that staying healthy can be fun, and doesn’t have to be a boring chore. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I’m starting to be able to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothing either!

3. Switch to greener products.

A not so obvious choice, but hear me out. Our family has slowly but surely making the change to a more “green” lifestyle. And I’ve been getting some pretty great side effects from that. I don’t have as many headaches with getting rid of artificial fragrances, and I feel better about what I’m putting on and in my body. Did you know that your skin is one big organ? And absorbs everything you put onto it into your blood stream? With both of my pregnancies, one of the first things my OB and Midwives told me to do was to take a serious look at the products I was using. 

Because of that, I’ve started reading more labels and researching more of what comes into our home. The biggest change I’ve made is switching to natural beauty and hygiene products. That includes my skin care, makeup, hair products and deodorant. Postpartum hormones are no joke, and finding the best natural deodorant that can keep up with those was not an easy task. 

And then I rediscovered Tom’s of Maine natural deodorant. It was the first deodorant my mom started me on when I was younger, and has been the best selling natural deodorant for decades. So it was only fitting I circled back to it! 

As a woman who has been pregnant, breastfeeding, and/or trying to conceive for the last almost 4 years, there are a few things my doctors suggested I avoid. One of those being aluminum. About 60% of what we apply is absorbed by our skin, and at least some of that can make its way into your breastmilk, etc. 

I love that Tom’s of Maine’s natural deodorant contains NO aluminum, NO artificial fragrances, and NO petrochemicals.

Instead they use odor fighting hops, the mineral zinc, and ONLY natural fragrances. And yet, still provides me with 24 hour, all day odor protection. Tom’s of Maine natural deodorant scents are light and subtle, and smell like the real deal without making me feel like I just doused myself in perfume. 

Check out Bev’s story on why she switched: 

Our entire family enjoys Tom’s of Maine products. We use the baby care products for baby J, my husband, my toddler and myself use their toothpaste, and I’m a huge fan of their natural deodorant. I love finding a company who’s products are safe enough for the whole family, and who has a great ethical business. Tom’s of Maine has fully recyclable packaging, and they don’t test on animals nor do they use animal ingredients. But my favorite part? With every purchase, Tom’s of Maine gives 10% of their profits back to people and the planet. So it’s not just good for your body, it’s good for our Earth!

If you’re new to natural products for personal care, just remember to give your body some time to adjust! Give it about a week, at least 7 days, for your body to get used to the natural formula of Tom’s of Maine deodorants. Your body will thank you! (Continue on to the end of this post to learn how you can WIN an assortment of three Tom’s of Maine long lasting deodorants!)

4. Use essential oils.

We use essential oils for everything in our home. For sleep, for cuts and ouchies, for cleaning, and everything in between. One of my favorite ways to use essential oils postpartum is for rest and relaxation. During nap times and at the end of the day, we all need a good, restful sleep. To do that, I use a Lavender or a Serenity blend. I place a few drops in a diffuser with some water and hit start while we’re all getting ready for bed. It helps calm the restlessness and eases us all into a restful sleeping mode. I can literally feel the day’s tension and emotions melting away as I nurse baby J to sleep with the diffuser going. It’s heavenly. 

5. Take some time for yourself.

This is easily the most difficult postpartum self care item to remember to do. But I can feel myself get more agitated and stressed when I don’t. It doesn’t have to be a big thing! Something as simple as taking a 20 minute hot shower by yourself can be incredibly therapeutic. The other day my hsuabdn could tell I was having a rough time. So he told me to nurse J, then he took the boys on a drive for 45 minutes while I sat in silence and read a book. And you know what? We all were the better for it! He got some time with the boys to go explore, and I got some quality time with myself. I sat in silence for the first time in a while, and got to finally start the book I’ve been wanting to read. 

Life after baby will never be the same.

Your body is different, your relationships are different, everything is different. But with making simple everyday changes, I am benefitting not only my postpartum self, but the whole family as well. My body has done some pretty amazing things these past few years. It’s time I acknowledge that and take better care of myself!

Enter to win an assortment of Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorants here: 

Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant Giveaway