As the days get longer and hotter you’re probably thanking your lucky stars that you’re about to pop. Somehow pregnancy just seems extra uncomfortable once the thermometer climbs over 80 degrees. But as excited as you are have you taken the time to prepare for your summer postpartum?
Having a baby in the summer is great! You get to dress baby in adorable little tank tops and hats. And give me all the nursing friendly sun dresses, amiright?!
But make sure you slow down and take the time to adequately prepare for a summer postpartum?
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I know what you’re thinking. How is a summer postpartum different from postpartum in any other season?
And to an extent you would be right. On some level having a baby is having a baby. And it doesn’t matter if it’s at the peak of the summer heat in early August or the dead of winter in February – you’re going to be experiencing the same things.
But the more extreme seasons -like winter and summer – do offer some challenges after birth.
So let’s dive right in and talk about the best ways to beat the heat after birth and totally kick butt during your summer postpartum.
SUMMER POSTPARTUM TIPS
To be fair, most of these tips are great advice for any brand new mom. But we’re going to expand on these ideas and dig a little deeper to see how they apply specifically to summer.
stay hydrated
Staying hydrated in summer is always a good thing. Staying hydrated when you’re postpartum and breastfeeding – also a good thing.
Put the two together and you can imagine that taking in plenty of hydrating fluids during your summer postpartum is going to be an absolute must.
I recommend carrying around a great reusable water bottle and making sure that bad boy is filled all. the. time.
If you get bored of plain old water I suggest Vitamin Water (dragonfruit water is my favorite) or you could try adding some flavored electrolyte drops to your water.
Dress for your body, not the weather
Ok this might seems like kind of a weird tip, but hear me out.
Postpartum hormones can be tricky. I’ve had four babies and I can tell you that my hormones have not been the same after any of them.
After some of my babies I remember being chilled to the bone constantly. Always bundled up in sweats and blanket, even when the weather outside was decent.
But after my most recent baby I was hot all the time. Like I would wake up in the middle of the night in a pool of sweat, even though it was the dead of winter.
Just because you’re having a baby in the summer doesn’t mean you’ll be hot all the time. Especially if your house has central A/C you might be surprised to find that you’re actually kind of chilly.
Pay attention to your body and dress based on how you feel. And I suggest light layers so you can add or remove layers as your body temperature changes.
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go to bed when you’re tired, not when it’s dark
Most of us love summer because of the longer days. I mean, how great is it to sit on your patio sipping a glass of lemonade at 9:00 pm? Life pretty much doesn’t get more simple and wonderful than that.
But more light in the day leads to us wanting to stay up later at night. Which under different circumstances might not be a huge deal.
But when you’re smack in the middle of your summer postpartum you’re going to need all the sleep you can get.
Resist the temptation to stay up until 10 or 11 simply because the sun was out until 9. I would suggest investing in some blackout curtains or maybe an eye mask.
This will help you get some much needed rest in a dark room, even when the sun is still out.
avoid submerging yourself in large bodies of water
I don’t know about you but I love to go swimming in the summer. Nothing feels better than wading into a cool lake when the day is hot and muggy. Truly refreshing.
But you’ll want to avoid this kind of activity for the first six weeks of your summer postpartum, or until you are fully healed.
Particularly if you had stitches or a c section you’ll want to check with your doctor before swimming.
stay home & rest during your summer postpartum
For many of us summer is prime socializing season.
It’s the season of BBQ’s and get togethers, margaritas on the restaurant rooftop and long walks around the park.
We love to get outside when the weather is nice – and you absolutely should enjoy some fresh air and sunshine on the regular.
But it would be smart to stay close to home.
First, remember that baby’s immune system is still developing. And germs are still prevalent during the summer, even though we often think of germs more in the winter.
Second, regardless of the season it’s always a good idea for a new mom to stay home and rest as much as possible.
Don’t worry, there will be plenty of social outings for you once you’re healed and baby is older. But for now stay home and enjoy those baby snuggles.
If you’d like to learn more about the importance of rest during your summer postpartum I highly recommend the book “The First 40 Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother”. It’s a fantastic book about the importance of rest and proper nourishment after birth. This book completely changed how I approach my postpartum periods.
enjoy the fresh air and sunshine
Postpartum blues are a real thing, and many women struggle with them. I’m not talking about postpartum depression, simply the low mood swings that often come after birth.
Postpartum blues are more of a low, mopey feeling that you get after giving birth. Mostly due to hormone changes, a little bit because of sleep deprivation, and sometimes women are a little bummed about no longer being pregnant.
No matter the reason, the postpartum blues are real. I wrote an entire article about how to handle (and beat) the postpartum blues (which you can read by clicking here).
Taking advantage of the fresh air and sunshine is one of the best tips in that article. In fact, in the article I even tell winter postpartum moms to simply open a window just to get some fresh air once or twice a day.
But you are a summer postpartum mama. You have the advantage of beautiful weather and long days.
I definitely don’t recommend going out during the hottest part of the day, but load up baby in your stroller and go for a cruise a couple times a day.
Soak up the sun and breathe in the air! It’s great for your physically and emotionally and can help keep those baby blues at bay.
TL; DR….Summer Postpartum tips
- stay hydrated
- dress for your body, not the weather
- go to bed when you’re tired, don’t wait for the dark
- avoid swimming
- stay home and rest
- enjoy the fresh air and sunshine
Congratulations on your summer baby! Hopefully these tips will help you make the most of your summer postpartum!