To the Mama who may be grieving the loss of the postpartum recovery period you hoped to have, you are not alone. You are not selfish for wanting support and the extra care and attention. You are so worthy of all of this and i'm sorry that your postpartum is now looking rather differently. 

I know how hard it is, because i went through this as well. During level 4 lockdown in 2020, my youngest was still a newborn. I had only just gained the confidence to emerge out of my newborn life cocoon and really craved social interaction. Just then, the level 4 lockdown announcement was made. 
I wanted to share some tips and advice on what helped me get through lockdown with a newborn, to hopefully help our community of Mama's currently going through this as well.  

💖 Create a new daily routine that works best for you and try and stick to it. This especially helped my older boy settle into lockdown life while also learning about his new sibling.

💖 Get some fresh air, take some deep belly breaths and stick your face into the sun like the beautiful sunflower that you are! Lack of Vitamin D is known to affect our moods.

💖 If you're feeling upset, cry it out, sob it out, talk it out, get it out of your system. Call friends and family that you know will listen and support you.

💖 If you're having trouble with breastfeeding, talk to a lactation consultant ASAP. My newborn had a tongue tie (RIP nipples) but luckily the clinic could still release it.

💖 Eat foods that are high in nutrients. This is not only important for your postpartum recovery but also for your mental health. How often do you feel sluggish and crap after eating junk food? Set aside some time to pre-make some nourishing meals and snacks for yourself. 

💖 Be aware of what you're absorbing on social media, especially because you're likely to be spending more time on your phone in lockdown. Is what you're seeing making you happy, or is it triggering a negative emotion?

💖 You do not have to have your sh*t together. It's OK if the house is a mess or you have washing to fold. If skipping the washing means you get to have an early night and some extra sleep - that is your priority. 

💖 If you feel like you are not coping, help IS still available. Please call your GP and talk to them about how you are feeling.

My heart also goes out to all of those cancelled birth plans and the Mama's having to birth alone. You are amazing, you are strong and you can do this.

Big virtual hugs to all,
Izzy xx