Having social support is one of the primary ways to maintain emotional and mental well-being during postpartum (Barkin & Wisner, 2013; Brilitz, 2019; Feely et al., 2016). Identifying individuals you can trust to accept help from without fear of judgement allows you to engage in adequate self-care and participate in activities that are meaningful to you outside of caring for your child.

Engaging in activities outside of the home allows you to maintain positive social connections which can ultimately mitigate the risk for postpartum depresssion (Feely et al., 2016). 

When your body has healed and you are feeling stronger, resuming physical activity is a great way to get out of the house, maintain mental well-being, and help you return to pre-pregnancy weight (Knuth & Deluca, 2020; Paplinskie et al., 2020). 

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2020) reports that the following types of exercise have been extensively researched to be safe and beneficial during and shortly following pregnancy: Walking, Stationary Cycling, Dancing, Stretching Exercises, Resistance Excercises, Water Aerobics. 

Try taking your baby on a walk outside or joining a local fitness class offered at times when you can arrange childcare. 

Soaking up every second with your baby is first on the priority list. However, if you work outside of the home, maternity leave can also be stress-inducing when you must prepare to return to work. 

Before the birth of your child, talk with your employer to make a plan about how your workload will be covered while you are away so that you can focus on adjusting to new routines and enjoying time with your baby. Depending on the type of work you do, asking for updates 1-2 weeks before you return may be helpful for reducing anxieties by helping you to prepare for the transition back to work.