Do you pamper yourself anymore?
Pampering yourself now that you're a mom is tough, but doing it while you're pumping for your little one can be even tougher. Here are some tips to try to sneak more time in for the most important person in your baby's life -- you.
Make time for yourself. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than you need to be up so you can exercise, enjoy a longer shower, read a great book - hopefully without little eyes watching or little cries interrupting.
Let Others Care for the Baby. Partners, grandparents, friends, and neighbors love to help moms care for their little ones. We know of a group of moms who do "kid swaps", where 3-4 moms will share the child care duties among each other. The kids are swapped among the moms and 1-2 moms will alternate who watches the children while the other moms go get their nails done, go for a run, or have a massage.
Bring the Baby with You. Many places have child care located on-site and allow parents to bring their children to a gym, nail salon, or yoga studio. Your local library or bookstore may provide a nice spot for your child to be entertained while you enjoy reading a magazine.
Take Advantage of your Pumping Sessions. Some moms tell us that they truly enjoy the time they spend pumping. You can put your feet up, you can drink some water (or wine), you can just sit down (which for many moms is rare). Many moms tell us the only time they go on-line is when they're pumping. This can be a quiet time for you to catch up with friends on FB, watch a TV show you can stream on your phone, or just time to listen to music while you make food for your baby. These distractions during your pumping session may actually increase your milk supply because you tend to be more relaxed.
We know spa days and 90-minute massages won't fit into this routine and relaxation may seem tough to achieve but if you slowly re-introduce "mom time" to your days, you may see yourself finding new, creative ways to pamper yourself.
Happy Pump Day!
