Mommy makeover tips to be a more confident you
Holding a child in your arms can feel both rewarding and stressful; becoming a parent is a blessing, yet it comes with so many new responsibilities.
As a mother, your main priority is the health and wellbeing of your child. And often, because motherhood demands so much of your time, energy and attention, it can be easy to forget to care for and pamper yourself.
But being a mother doesn’t mean that you can’t look youthful and stress-free, even if you may often feel quite the opposite. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good while juggling your responsibilities as a mother.
Some moms may even opt for cosmetic surgery to enhance their physical appearance and regain their confidence. (Just make sure you have a realistic idea of your recovery expectations so you can still care for your child.)
Here are some mommy makeover tips that can help you regain your confidence.
Smile with confidence
One of the easiest ways to feel confident and beautiful is by smiling. A simple smile can have a powerful effect on the impression you make on other people, helping you to appear more attractive and friendly (even if you’re feeling stressed and haggard).
Indeed, just smiling can have more impact on how you look (and therefore how other people respond to you – and how good you feel as a result) than makeup and cosmetics. In one study, 70% of participants said they found women with a beautiful smile more attractive than women wearing makeup.
So don’t worry about maintaining an onerous beauty regime if you don’t have the time, energy or will. Just smile warmly for an instant beauty boost.
Keep your body fit and healthy with physical activity
Our bodies go through a LOT when we’re pregnant, so it’s no surprise that most women notice significant changes in their body shape, appearance, texture, and condition after giving birth.
These changes can include stretch marks, skin discoloration, swollen and sore breasts, stomach flabbiness, larger thighs and butt, and even the inability to prevent urine from leaking.
Thanks to innovations in medical technology, mommy makeover surgeries such as liposuction, breast lifts, and vaginal rejuvenation are becoming more popular, and helping women get back to their pre-baby body as much as possible.
Whether or not you opt for survey, physical activity will help your body heal better from birth. Just remember to take it easy, listen to your body and remember you’re still taking care of a baby too.
You can usually start your physical activities as early as three weeks after birth, as long as your body feels comfortable. Start from small steps and gradually increase the length and extremity of your activities as time passes. Physical activities activities can include:
- Kegel exercises to strengthen your vaginal muscles and control incontinence.
- Five minute walks every morning.
- Crunches and ab work if your pelvic floor is weak.
- Mild yoga classes.
- Abdominal postpartum workout to repair the abdominal muscles.
- Swimming to strengthen core and back muscles, and keep the joints moving.
Don’t forget your skincare routine
Before being a mom, you might have maintained a strict, daily ten-step skincare routine. But as motherhood leaves you with less me-time, you might need to cut down on some of the steps.
Instead, you can alternatively have only three steps on your skincare routine: cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. You can also add an eye cream in the evening to lighten up any eye bags from sleepless nights.
Weekly, don’t forget to exfoliate and have a refreshing face mask. You can skip all that double cleansing, ampoules, and essences because, let’s face it, nobody’s got time for that, especially moms.
Eat a healthy diet
It’s important to make sure that your responsibilities as a mother don’t stop you taking care of your own health.
Becoming a mother, and being responsible for a tiny, new life can be stressful, so make sure your diet is rich in the vitamins and minerals that will help you to be healthy and happy. These nutrients will boost your overall health, and help to rejuvenate your skin for a beautiful and healthier look.
And it’s not just your diet. Breastfeeding can also help to lower your potential risks of breast and ovarian cancers. It’s not just the prolactin or milk hormones that will be produced by your body, but also an important hormone called oxytocin. Its secretion is caused by the warm connection between you and your baby, which brings about a feeling of contentment and nurturing. These chemicals, released in your body, help to boost your mood and confidence.
Take care of your baby AND you
While the health and wellness of your baby is of paramount importance for you as a mom, taking care of yourself is important too. If you’re healthy, happy and confident, you’ll have more emotional resilience (and therefore energy) to be the best mom you can be.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
