You are a good mom.
Hi. You are here because you related in some way to a reel on postpartum. Now some of you may be years PP, some may be months in. Either way its all friggin hard.
I posted I am experiencing postpartum rage, which I have never felt before with the other 3 kiddos. So this road has been somewhat slippery and unknown to me. The feedback saying you also feel or have felt these same things has left me feeling so much less alone and really like Im not losing my mind. I have compiled a little list of things I have started doing and taking to try and keep swimming through this big pool of postpartum hormonal mess.
1. Sunshine. I have been making myself go outside even if its 10 minutes when its cold as crap.
2. Getting in my bible or devotional. I can totally feel satan in full force when its been days outside of my time with God.
Favorite Devotionals:
-30 days with Jesus
-You’re going to make it
-Streams in the Desert
-M is for Mama
-Suffering is never for nothing
-Jesus Listens Daily Devotional
3. Supplements
-Mood Support Postpartum I am really liking this and have felt so much better.
-COQ10 per my best friend Dietitian rec.
-Omegas
-Calcium w Magnesium & Magnesium Lotion
4. Doing something JOYFUL for me.
During a coaching session I was asked what I do for fun or play that brings me Joy and I truthfully had no answer.
So I had to dig a little and figure out what exactly that was for me anymore. Motherhood, A Farm and Being a Wife and Homemaker seems to take up all the time and then whats left is just tired most days. So heres my new list:
-Read just for fun, no strings attached.
-Drone, I LOVE to drone on the farm and didnt take any time to do it once last year. So its charged and ready.
-Hot Tub with Bart. This is truly out only alone time and I really cherish it, so we have made more time for that.
-Garden and Yard Work (cannot wait for spring) It doesnt help that winter blues have been FULL affect along with postpartum.
5. Talk. About. Whats. Hard.
This is hard for me if you know my, I dont like to talk about feelings. Ok. Its just who I am. But honestly since I opened up to Bart, my best friends and even you in the IG world I feel so much less alone with my struggle of rage postpartum. I think being aware of it and talking about it was truly a brick lifter for me. If you need to tell your OB how you are feeling, please do it. There is NO SHAME in getting on meds even just for a little while. Talk to a therapist or life coach. Talk to a friend a stranger, just open up to someone. YOU ARE NO ALONE.
6. I wont lie, I started following several more accounts for my current season of life and muted/ unfollowed a lot from previous seasons. They started to make me feel less than I am, and that is a feeling sent from the enemy. I even signed up for a little class from a new one I follow on handling anger in parenting. Her account is: https://www.instagram.com/simplyjoyfulwonderland/ and I also started listening the the book: Triggers. about biblical responses to anger in parenting.
7. Finally I know I know, everyone says it. Movement.
I have been walking and adding in 20 min strength sessions WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED, no damn program I signed up for, no coach. Just me and my peloton app doing what I WANT TO. Its been a relief to not think I need someone else to make me workout, its also sort of been one of my joys to take that time for me.
These things are so tangible. They are also things people have suggested to me and honestly until I was really ready to put in the work….I didnt want to listen.
A friend told me the other day “Whit we can either take what life has dealt us, whatever that may be, and we can lay down and quit. OR we can put on our big girl panties, pull up our boots and give life hell right back.” So Thank you Jen. My big girl panties are on and I am ready to start reacting to life in a different light, even in the midst of the hard postpartum has thrown me.
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” God is with you. Right now in your postpartum season. He will not fail you or abandon you. He is taking care of you. Our bodies are very complex and labor and delivery brings all kinds of mental, physical, and emotional challenges. And through it all, He is faithful.
