New mum’s guide to reclaiming your confidence
The transition into motherhood can be a strenuous one at best. Your body undergoes a drastic transition, all of that ‘me time’ you had in the past now feels scarce at best and with a big shift in your priorities, booking those monthly hair appointments seem far less important. We sat down with Len and Maria, both mothers of 2, and asked them about their own experiences as they welcomed motherhood.
What about motherhood came as most of a shock?
Len: Adjusting to the new routine for sure. You know it’s hard work; everyone has spent 9 months telling you about it, but when you actually become a new Mum that’s when you really understand! No sleep, feeding every four hours, changing an endless stream of diapers and a serious lack of sleep, it’s tough.
Maria: The never ending fear! I was constantly worried about whether or not the baby was ok, worried that I wasn’t feeding him properly, unsure how to hold him when taking a bath, there’s always a new thing to worry about as a new mum.
How did you cope?
Len: I was really lucky, my mum was around a lot, she really showed me the ropes. Having an extra set of hands when you needed a few hours of sleep is all you need in the first few months.
Maria: My husband was the best. He really took to fatherhood, he was the first to offer support whenever he saw me struggling, it really eased the transition.
Did motherhood affect your self-confidence at all?
Len: Absolutely! I felt like my body was never going to be the same again and I simply did not have the time to really take care of myself.
Maria: I think that goes without say, so much changes in your body and it really knocked my self-esteem.
How did you restore your confidence?
Len: It definitely took time! Eventually I just came to the realization that all of my stretchmarks and bumpy bits weren’t anything to be ashamed of – they were my victory scars! They showed that I went through motherhood and came out a better person for it, what more can you ask for?
Maria: When I was feeling right and ready, I re-enrolled in the gym. I lost my baby weight and little by little, started to rediscover my confidence. Every woman is different though, there’s no right or wrong answer. My best advice would be to just go with the flow, take every day as it comes and always remember to put yourself first from time to time.
There you have it ladies, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Motherhood welcomes a lot blessings and a lot of strife too, the best thing you can do is really focus on what matters in the moment. You have plenty of time to rediscover your confidence so don’t put too much pressure on yourself straight away. And remember, If you ever need a quick confidence boost, Philips is always here to lend you a helping hand.
