Thinking about your brain is probably one of the last things you will do after your baby is born.
After all, you are undergoing a major life change--becoming a mother. And you are busy. Nevertheless, your brain may be calling you. And what might it be saying? Probably something like this: "NURSE!"
Without paying attention to your brain, all of the aspects of life that it influences-emotional, physical, and mental-will suffer from a loss of balance. Due to the special intersection between neurobiology, reproductive biology, genetics and hormones in the postpartum, paying attention to your brain is key for the new mom to survive and thrive!
At times like this, NURSE is what we at MamaDoula have found works wonders with new moms. Developed by research scientists and women's health practitioners, simply put, NURSE is a guide for recovering new moms and, more importantly, NURSE is effective!
If you do not have a postpartum doula from MamaDoula, consider posting these principles on your refrigerator or anywhere else that you might have a moment to remind yourself that you deserve to take good care of you!
N.U.R.S.E
Nourishment: Of Mind, Body, and Soul!
Food is the most obvious source of our energy. A healthy diet promotes physiological and psychological balance. But it's also important to keep the brain creatively active, even a tiny bit! Consider very simple activities that you enjoy and can engage in even if you are exhausted. Examples include: looking at a book with beautiful drawings, mindfully eating a piece of chocolate, stretching, feeling the sun on your face, smelling essential oils, snuggling in a fuzzy blanket, taking a warm herbal bath, using a hot pad or hot water bottle.
Understanding: Understanding and appreciating that the hormones that make birth possible can and do contribute to mood and anxiety disorders. (To find out exactly how, check out Women's Moods by Jeanne Driscoll.) And equally understanding that you can take steps to help your brain weather this sometimes turbulent hormone storm!
Rest and Relaxation: The brain needs sleep to rebalance and replenish. Newborns only sleep for 2 or 3 hours at a time and do not usually distinguish between night and daytime sleep cycles. This is why it's very important for new parents to know that periods of relaxation are equally as important for your brain as the elusive "good night's sleep" might be, and probably much easier to accomplish. Learning to relax is a form of treatment and aids in recovery for women who are experiencing mood swings, anxieties, and pain. Regular brief periods of mindful relaxation also contribute to the prevention of these issues. You may have learned relaxation techniques in childbirth education that you can continue to use in the postpartum. Consider a New Mom CD with positive messages that you can listen to each day to feed your brain positive messages. If you are having trouble with a fussy baby, be sure to get help (we have a free coaching program at MamaDoula and will teach you how to calm fussy babies and get them to sleep longer, too).
Spirituality: NURSE defines spirituality as a sense of self, balance, and connection with a higher power or being. Personal spirituality can be any experience that helps you to feel uplifted and joyful. Relationship, solitude, appreciation of nature, music, journaling, or other mindful practices nourish the soul.
Exercise: It's a daunting word for a new mom: the key questions being, "When?" and "How?" Plan a short walk as part of your day. It's essential. Baby will be happy in a sling or Ergo or stroller-or with your partner, doula, or friend.
For more information on the NURSE program and brain health, please read Women's Moods by Jeanne Watson Driscoll.
And while we at MamaDoula do not practice nursing, we can support YOU in practicing the NURSE program!
