Top 5 Tips on How We Celebrate Our New Bodies Postpartum | Hotmilk

“motherhood doesn't diminish but rather enhances”

Embarking on the journey of becoming a new mother is an incredible adventure, filled with both physical and emotional transformations. Navigating the postpartum period demands a delicate balance of self-care, a keen awareness of mental health, and the unwavering support of a nurturing community. As mothers ourselves at the Hotmilk office, we've gathered our top 5 personal tips on how we celebrate our new bodies postpartum and breastfeeding. In this heartfelt exploration, let's dive into how embracing your new body can become a personal confidence booster. Each tip, born out of our own experiences as mothers, is more than just advice—it's a sharing of our personal triumphs, struggles, and moments of self-discovery.

 

1. Throw out the Scales! Pregnancy weight gain is normal

While pregnancy naturally involves weight gain, witnessing the numbers rise on the scale can be unsettling, especially for women with a history of eating disorders. Postpartum it is crucial to bear in mind that growing a baby takes nine months, so don't feel disheartened if shedding the baby weight takes time. Instead of fixating on weight loss, shift your focus to how you nourish your body through this intense and exhausting period.
In the early days of breastfeeding, concentrate on maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Prioritise essential nutrients like iron, calcium, and omega-3s, which can be particularly beneficial during this period. When breastfeeding, your body requires additional energy, so opting for frequent, smaller meals can be an effective approach.
Our advice? Bid farewell to the scales! They won't provide insights into the truly important aspects of your well-being: your overall health, strength, mental well-being, self-worth, resilience, and your ability to be the best mama. Welcoming a new baby not only transforms your body but also alters your daily life, priorities, and relationships. Embracing these changes in your postpartum body serves as a constant reminder of the transformations unfolding in your world.

2. Dress to impress ….yourself!

Hotmilk launched over 19 years ago when our founder, Lisa, wasn't prepared to give up wearing beautiful lingerie just because she was about to become a nursing mother. “When I was pregnant with my first child, I was horrified by what was available on the market. The bras on offer were so drab. I used to think to myself, I'm pregnant, not 80”. As a result, she set about revolutionising the nursing lingerie landscape.
Uncomfortable nursing bras in boring colours, nana knickers, and oversized T-shirts worn as nightgowns and hiked up for breastfeeding are not the way to celebrate your new body. Feeling good about yourself is integral during postpartum. You are the most important person in your baby's world right now, so make sure you feel that way too. Beautiful colours and fabrics can lift the soul, so don’t forget to invest in quality breastfeeding lingerie, like nursing bras and nursing loungewear that are designed specifically to provide comfort and support for changing postpartum bodies. Celebrating your new body with a few key pieces of postpartum wear in the early days will help you feel supported and comfortable allowing you to embrace the journey of motherhood with pride. Beautiful, sexy, or powerful high-quality lingerie is about you and you only, how it makes you feel and elevates the mother in you.

The team at Hotmilk are immensely proud of the knowledge that our products are more than just lingerie; they are instruments of empowerment. Every piece we create is a reminder to women that they are stunning, confident, and strong. We take pride in helping new breastfeeding mothers (including our team with 3 new babies in the last 8 months!) regain their femininity, allowing them to embrace the sensuality that motherhood doesn't diminish but rather enhances. 

Proudly stocked with Victoria's Secret, David Jones, Marks and Spencer and over 250 key boutique lingerie stores worldwide. 

3. Movement - Postpartum exercise is different for everyone

Easing into post-partum exercise is like gifting your body some serious self-care after the whirlwind of pregnancy and childbirth. A great way to celebrate our new bodies, it’s like saying, "Hey, body, you did an amazing job!" Movement not only gives your heart a boost and helps those hardworking post-pregnancy muscles but also acts as a superhero against postpartum blues, thanks to those mood-boosting endorphins.
Start slow, tune in to what your body needs, and touch base with your healthcare professional before increasing the intensity of your fitness routine with Hotmilk Lingerie Maternity Activewear Range
Some of the office favourites to start with were,

• Walking with your new baby in the pram around the neighbourhood, local park or beach side. The fresh air and sunlight as part of your daily routine is always great for the baby and you. Lots of areas have mother and baby walking groups which have the bonus of social interaction and it's free!
• Yoga, specifically with a teacher who understands the postpartum journey. Great for releasing muscle tension, lowering bloody pressure, and increasing calmness
• Swimming is a great low-impact activity that is gentle on the joints. Swimming uses your whole body, upper and lower as well as core so build up gently. Check with your health care provider before beginning, it is usually recommended to be at least 6 weeks postpartum. 

Movement is a great way to celebrate our new bodies, value them for the incredible journey they have been through with pregnancy, giving new life and nursing your little one. Just remember it's not just about breaking a sweat; it's a chance to reconnect with your body, find flexibility, build strength, and soak up some well-deserved "me" time. It's not a race to 'bounce back'; it's a journey forward, at your pace, towards health and wellness.

4. Connect ….. and Disconnect - Find your new mum support network

Find your community, this will look different for every new mother. It is super important to find the community that you resonate with both online and in person. Your pre-pregnancy lifestyle will pave the way, for your individual goals, expectations, and ability and every experience is so different but also still valid. For some new mothers, they will “bounce back” or for their own mental and physical well-being be focused on this, and this is also ok. Other new mothers will have a softer slower journey to recovery, and for lots of new mums, their bodies have changed forever. It's important to recognise your journey to loving your new body will not be like any other, and that is ok. Our beautiful models flaunt their different body shapes, equally stunning and real. It’s time we stop competing and see the beauty in each other. Social media can be a real hazard, if what you are seeing is not empowering you, change what you are seeing.

5. Capture Precious Moments - Your New Mum Body is beautiful!

Too often mums are behind the camera, make sure to have your support network or family members capturing these beautiful and often too short early weeks after birth. Documenting moments is a powerful tool for fostering self-love in nursing mums as it is often a blur of sleepless nights and feeding. These keepsakes serve as reminders of your body's power and strength in growing and nurturing life, helping you appreciate the beauty in every postpartum stage, change, and new curve. Reflecting on these captured moments provides a positive perspective on your body's transformation, instilling confidence, and self-love. Embracing and proudly capturing your amazing self in the postpartum phase sets a powerful example for future generations, demonstrating the beauty of being body proud.

Remember, your post-partum body is a symbol of strength, beauty, and the incredible journey into the transformative world of motherhood.