Becoming a mother is one of the best things to ever happen to us, as well as the hardest, most frustrating challenge. Your entire world changes and you lose control. You do not feel or act like yourself.
Here is a list of the best things a new mom needs for herself that will help you get your life back on track!
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What are Things a New Mom Needs for Herself During the Newborn Stage
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Having a baby is not an easy task. As soon as you get pregnant, you will never have the same body again. Because your body goes through all these changes, you start to feel like a different person.
With a newborn, the combination of sleep deprivation and mama bear instincts take over, and you are indeed a new person. When these feelings overcome you, it throws you off balance. Your identity changes, not just as a new mom but as a woman in general.
I get it because I totally have been there. I did not realize it as much being pregnant, but as soon as I got home and saw my body, I instantly noticed how different I was and felt. It was a constant roller coaster of happiness to frustration and sadness.
I had to find things that helped me to be happy with myself, which eventually helped me make it through this difficult time.
What happens as Soon as You Give Birth?
As soon as you finish labor, you are in immense pain. It is a struggle to literally just move, and you have this tiny newborn who requires your constant attention. You go from taking care of yourself, to having the responsibility of caring for a baby.
You do not get your body immediately back as people think and see on tv. Breastfeeding does not come naturally; it is definitely not as pain-free as the movies display.
All your previous ideas about having a baby are all upside down. You are sleep deprived and are in pain, which does not help at all.
Related Post: Last Minute Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby
Why do New Moms Struggle?
It is completely natural to feel this way. You have built up all these expectations about all the joys about motherhood and bringing home a new baby. You rarely think of the pain, the lack of sleep, and every other hard step to be a mom.
Struggling is natural. This is a whole new life for you; there will be bumps along the way.
I had times where I felt like I could not be a mom any longer. I thought this was not what I signed up for. My days were spent just going through the motions because I had no energy or excitement anymore.
Until one day, I decided that there was something I could do about it, and there was.
I started by talking to someone about my struggles because I could not go through this alone any longer.
A nurse came and visited my home occasionally, and I finally opened up instead of pretending I was loving life, and nothing was wrong.
My husband and I had deep conversations about what I needed from him and how he could help.
I looked and found different products that helped ease some of the challenging moments of motherhood.
5 Best Things New Moms Needs for Themselves to Overcome the Struggle of New Motherhood
Perineal Spray:
This is my number one; I seriously do not know what I would do without this! I’m going to be real with you; I ripped after my first child. Even though I was on an epidural, I felt when I ripped, and it hurt. However, the after pain from the rip was far worse. I could barely walk or sit for around two weeks.
This fantastic product was the only thing that made the pain bearable. I would simply spray down below after every time I went to the bathroom, and I had relief for a while. I’ve also heard that spraying your perineal with this spray once or twice a day starting at 30 weeks will actually soften the perineal and decreases the chance of tearing.
If I had known that before giving birth, I would have totally done that! With my next child, I will definitely be doing that!
Water Bottle with Straw
Breastfeeding requires you to eat and drink all day it seems like. I was constantly eating and going through 8 or 9 bottles of water every day. It is essential to have a water bottle you enjoy and is easy to use! Carrying a baby does not give you many hands left over to do things.
Water bottles with strays are literally heaven sent because they allow you to drink without needing your hands, so you can keep snuggling your newborn all the while staying hydrated and getting the nutrition you need.
These amazing products are stainless-steel and come in various sizes and colors; you cannot go wrong with them. I always felt drained whenever I did not drink enough water. After getting a water bottle with a straw, I drank more water than before and felt more alive.
This Sanity Savings Baby Tracker Book for New Parents
Look, new moms have a LOT on their brain, and having a dedicated place to brain dump all your baby schedule woes is AMAZING. This is the most beautiful baby tracker out there and was SUPER helpful for me while in the hospital.
I wish I had had it when I was having to feed my third baby formula for 2 weeks. It’s so hard to remember how much and WHEN the baby was fed last, especially when someone else is doing the feeding.
I love this product so much, I wanted to share a 10% off code “SM10” 🙂 Here you go! It should be good at checkout, but if not, you can type it in!
Lactation Tea
Sadly, around three months, my milk started to dry up. By four months, I had no milk left to give my baby. I wish I used this incredible lactation tea. I saw ads and social media posts about them but never went for it because at two months I had a freezer full of milk! Now I am filled with regret, wishing I had gotten these.
I had a couple of friends who used lactation tea and loved it. Within one cup of tea, their milk increased, and they were able to pump 4-5 ounces more each time!
I love having the option of an all-natural product instead of using a pill to help increase my supply. I would have felt better about myself and been way happier if I had used this incredible product.
A Memory Journal
Becoming a mother is definitely a challenge, but the good times always outweigh the bad. Having a memory journal helps you to look back on those precious happy moments. Reminiscing in the good times of the past always gave me more hope and lifted my spirits.
You can see your struggles and how you overcame them, showing you that whatever struggle you are going through now, you will make it through. Seeing your child grow up and reliving their milestones is always a heartwarming experience that you won’t be able to get without this precious product.
Shower Cap and Dry Shampoo
One of the main reasons why I never felt like myself was due to the lack of showers. My hair has a ridiculous amount of oil, and nothing I did would look nice. I had the worst messy bun there was, and it was not the cute ones you see on Pinterest.
Dry shampoo and a shower cap became my best friends. The days where I couldn’t make it to the shower, dry shampoo took care of my oily hair and helped me to smell good too. If you have the time to do your hair and look nice, do it! Feel good about yourself!
If you do feel motivated to do your hair, protect with a shower cap, so you still look nice afterward. If you’re feeling oily, simply use dry shampoo.
Commonly Questions Asked About New Mom Struggles
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What are some words of advice for new moms?
- Parenting is hard; you are not alone!
- If you and your baby are healthy and thriving, that is all that matters.
- Get rid of that mom guilt, you are doing your best, and that is enough.
- Remember the good times. Yes, it is a challenge, but it is also a blessing.
- Be kind to yourself; you are doing a great job!
- Keep moving forward. Things are going to get better.
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Are My Challenges Common?
Yes! You are not alone! Here is a list of 5 common challenges new moms face.
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- Struggling with breastfeeding. We have all been there!
- Your lack of love for your spouse. Why should he get to sleep while your baby bites your breast constantly?
- You’ve gained weight, and it’s not coming off. I thought breastfeeding was the cure for that, but I was wrong.
- You don’t know what to do about your job. Should you go back to work, or be a stay at home mom? This was a constant battle in my head too, don’t worry.
- You think you need perfection. You are going to make mistakes, and things will still work out in the end don’t worry.
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Why is it so hard to become a mom?
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- You do not look like you. It is so hard to look in the mirror and see someone you do not recognize.
- You are in pain all the time. Your muscles ache, you have a headache, you can’t sit properly, your arms feel like they are going to fall off. Having sore muscles never helps anyone.
- You are sleep deprived. You never realize just how little sleep you are going to get as a new mom, and you start to feel like a zombie.
- You are hormonal. The hormones do not stop once you give birth; you still are on a roller coaster ride.
- You feel alone. However, always remember, you are not alone!
- It is a new thing, and you are not experienced. You question every single thing you do.
- Your baby cannot thank you just yet. Giving every single breath and strength you have to someone with no appreciation in return is hard.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Your New Mom Struggles
Being a new mom is a struggle for everyone; you are not alone. However, even though there are hard times, there are also beautiful times. With all the struggles, there are different things you can do to help make things easier.
Take a look at all the fantastic products I used as well as other mothers to ease the burden and help you along your way. There are many things a mom needs for herself, and self-care will always be one of them!
What things do you do to take care of yourself as a new mom?
Other Posts You May Like:
12 Best Bras for Maternity & Nursing for Under $40 (Every Mom Needs These!)
My Favorite Summer Nursing Covers for Under $25
Last Minute Checklist for your Hospital Bag (Don’t forget them!)
My 4th Natural Birth: Charlotte’s Natural Hospital Birth Story

2 COMMENTS
I’d add heat pack to that list. Great for after pains, as well as shoulder ache that can come with breastfeeding and snuggling your little one.
That’s great! I also liked a heat pack right before breastfeeding if I was feeling a little engorged.
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