Can you believe it? This little babe turned eight months old last week! While this is my third time experiencing it, it’s still unbelievable just how slow and fast the first year seems to be at the same time.
This year, I’m making my postpartum health and self-care one of my main priorities. One thing I’ve learned after three pregnancies is to give myself grace. I’m not going to lie, it hasn’t been the easiest. It’s a struggle more than I’d like to admit, but I’m trying my best to accept the changes in my body and learning to love myself more and more each day.
Unfortunately, I am one of the unlucky ones who hold onto baby weight during my nursing months. I typically don’t lose the bulk of my pregnancy weight until closer to the one year mark. As of right now at eight months postpartum, I still have a good twenty pounds to lose to hit my “normal” weight.
Like most women, I struggle with making drastic changes to my lifestyle. The zeal of implementing a major overhaul in the eating or working out department almost certainly guarantees failure in the first month. I’ve realized after three full-term pregnancies, that rushing to lose my baby weight isn’t the healthiest. But, on the flip side, using nursing as an excuse to eat ALLTHETHINGS hasn’t been favorable to my overall health either. In order to find balance, I am taking small steps and making small changes to improve my postpartum health.
Proactive and Preventative Health Care
At the end of last year, I went into my primary care doctor at Henry Ford Health System for a (long, overdue) routine physical exam. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but it was just easier to see my OBGYN at Henry Ford Health System with being pregnant three out of the last five years.
After receiving the results of my blood screening, I know that I need to work on bringing my cholesterol levels down. It’s been an eye-opener to realize just how much I’ve been neglecting preventative health care. Next month, I’ll be heading to Henry Ford for my Heart Smart screening.
I’ve been a patient at Henry Ford Health System since I graduated from college. I delivered all three of my babies there and trust the different medical professionals I’ve seen in the various departments at Henry Ford Health System. Based on my years of experience, I know that Henry Ford promotes heart and vascular care that is customized to fit the individual needs of their patients. It’s great how they encourage their patients to seek proactive and preventative health care. And how easy and comfortable they make the entire experience.
Take the Heart Health Risk Assessment quiz to assess your own heart health today! It’s easy and free and can help you determine when to begin setting up your yearly exams or look into the $99 heart screening.
Drinking Water
While this habit is easier to maintain during breastfeeding, it’s something that I need to be more cognizant of on a daily basis. I usually do okay with bottled water, but I also love drinking fruit-infused water to change up the flavor. It’s common knowledge, but drinking water regularly makes a huge difference in how I’m feeling daily. There are definitely signs on the days that I am dehydrated; including not-so-fun migraines. So, I’m making sure to listen to my body, hydrating regularly and replacing other liquid intake with water.
Eating Clean
As of today, I’m also drastically reducing my processed foods intake. This is probably the biggest change to my overall lifestyle. But, at this point, my body is feeling sluggish and I need a fresh boost in the energy department. I’m not one for diets because I don’t think that’s a maintainable way of eating and besides I LOVE FOOD! But, my focus is more on eating whole, fresh foods primarily consisting of protein, veggies and fruit. I usually try to eat this way, so I’m hoping that after the initial detox from all of the holiday treats, it will be an easy adjustment back to my normal, healthy eating habits.
Moderate Exercise
We’re in the middle of scoping out new gyms to join, but in the meantime, I’m slowly adding back in moderate exercise to my life. Between working, blogging and taking care of the babes, this is the area of my life that I neglected most last year. I plan to change that by adding in small amounts of exercise. Since I work at home and sit in a chair for most of my day, even the smallest addition of exercise is an improvement upon what I’m doing now. Whether it is wrestling around with the boys or going for a walk around our neighborhood, I’m adding movement to my otherwise sedentary day. I’ve also joined an accountability group to add in at home work out routines to my regular daily schedule.
Above all else, my reason for health and smart lifestyle choices are these three boys. As a mom, I’m more aware of self-care and my overall health than ever before. With small lifestyle changes and proactive and preventative health care screenings at Henry Ford Health System, I hope to stay on top of my postpartum health now and in the future.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Henry Ford Health System.
Postpartum Health Tips from A Mom of Three
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