5 Mom Hacks for the Fourth Trimester

When you were pregnant you were so sure YOU were going to be super mom. The mom that would be taking care of her sweet little babe, while still having the dishes done, laundry folded and dinner on the table. But then that sweet little babe came, and she cried -  a lot! She needed to be held – all the time! And why did nobody tell you it would hurt for weeks to sit, let alone walk around!! These #momhacks will help make your life, just a little bit easier with a new baby around.

#momhack 1) Ask for help! This is the most important #momhack. It is ok to ask for help. You should be focusing all your energy on feeding, rocking and sleeping with your baby. Ask your mom, sister or aunt to come do a load of laundry or cook some food for you. Let your husband give you a little shoulder rub when you muscles are stiff from nursing all day. And let someone hold the baby so you can take a much needed shower. If you have no family nearby or they simply can’t or won’t than look into hiring a postpartum doula. These awesome women fold your laundry and do your dishes and hold your baby for a living!! They love what they do and they know all these neat little tricks to help make life just a little bit easier.

#momhack 2) Think ahead! When you are on maternity leave and the nesting sets in, take it to your advantage. Prep some meals ahead of time and put them in the freezer. That way you only need to heat it up once the baby is there. Or ask your friends and family to set up a meal train. When I just had my baby some lovely women came to bring me food those first few days and it was amazing. Home cooked meals delivered right to my doorstep! If someone asks how they can help you, ask them to bring you a meal! And if all else fails – it is OK to give in to take out food!! It is most important that you worry about feeding your baby and others worry about feeding you.

#momhack 3) Babywearing! Once the baby moon is over and nobody comes to feed you anymore or help you with chores babywearing is the perfect solution. It’s a win-win situation. You get some delicious newborn snuggles while getting stuff done around the house. And babywearing is great for outside the house too. No big strollers to worry about or carseats that fill up your shopping cart. If you are not sure which carrier is right for you, ask a postpartum doula or find a local babywearing store. They can help you figure out if you prefer ring slings, mei tais, wraps or soft structured carriers.

#momhack 4) Find a local moms group! It can get pretty lonely, staying home with a baby all day long. And it’s nice to get out for a little bit and meet some friends who are in the same situation. Friends who also love to talk about dirty diapers, who understand what it’s like to never sleep again and who can give you advice about anything you need. There are many mom groups and it’s important to find one you will fit in. Find a group of like-minded moms. Do you love natural parenting? Find a natural moms group! Do you love crafting? Find a moms group who comes together to scrapbook! Do you love hiking? Find a baby wearing group and wear those babies while you enjoy some scenery. It is so important to have that social connection and feel supported!

#momhack 5) Sleep! Last but not least. Sleep. Sleep as much as you can. Maybe you like sleeping when the baby sleeps. It’s the oldest advice in the book, but so helpful! Those few restful hours are worth their weight in gold. But maybe, if you’re like me, I was ecstatic when