Pregnancy inevitably takes a toll on a woman’s body – after all, you’re literally creating life! However, for new mums, the changes that happen after pregnancy might be a bit discouraging. A new mum not only has to learn her new role as a mother, but also has to get used to a brand-new body that’s nothing like the one she had before. Thankfully, pregnancy doesn’t have to mean kissing your beauty goodbye – you can still look your best and be an amazing mum! Here’s how…

Take Postnatal Supplements

While you should rely on diet as often as possible for nutrients, taking a postpartum supplement can help you speed up your metabolism after baby. Nordic Naturals sells a great Postnatal Omega-3 supplement that helps support weight loss and positive mood after giving birth. (It’s even recommended by the American Pregnancy Association – plus, they’re lemon-flavored!) Supplements like these can help you look and feel better, even while your post-pregnancy hormones are running wild.

Target Your Stretch Marks

If you’re a new mum, you’re probably self-conscious about your stretch marks. One way to get rid of these might be with the help of a mommy makeover in Denver or wherever you’re based. Stretch marks are almost universal after pregnancy, so there’s no reason to be ashamed! They’ll fade on their own eventually, though they may never disappear completely. However, should you want to speed up the process, you can apply a product like The Honest Company’s belly balm. You could also seek the help of a plastic surgeon for a medical solution – see this page for examples of mummy makeovers!

Use Flushable Wipes

Part of looking your best after pregnancy is feeling your best – and, well, ladies, when you’ve just gotten your period for the first time in nine months, it can be difficult to feel beautiful. Postpartum periods come back with a vengeance, and the initial bleeding can last for days. Flushable wipes can help you feel more confident and clean as you’re out and about postpartum. Keep a pack in every bathroom to help you freshen up and avoid that uncomfortable diaper feeling.

Work Out Safely

As you can imagine, your body might not feel its best during the postpartum period. This is to be expected, since you just finished carrying a baby around for nine months! But it also means that you won’t be able to go back to your regular fitness routine as soon as you say hello to baby. For the first six weeks after delivery, you should focus on your baby and your body, engaging in gentle exercise like walks or kegels only when you feel up to it. Seven to 12 weeks later, you’ll likely get the okay from your doctor to resume normal exercise, but it’s still recommended that you start out slowly with exercises like Pilates and Yoga. Only at 13+ weeks should you try your hand at more intense exercises like HIIT training and kickboxing!

Use a Hair Mask

One unexpected symptom of the postpartum period is hair loss! Hair loss often surprises first-time mothers, but it’s common to lose hair one to six months after giving birth, due to the dramatic drop in your estrogen levels that occurs after pregnancy. To combat these symptoms, you can easily create a DIY hair mask at home that will help strengthen those lovely locks and nourish your scalp. Mix together 2 egg yolks, cup coconut oil and 4 tbsp mashed avocado (not guacamole!) for a concoction that will soothe those strands ASAP.

Pregnancy may have taken a toll on your body and your self-esteem, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel miserable forever. Even during the dreadful postpartum period, you can look and feel beautiful following my simple tips. Take care of yourself and I promise your confidence and appearance will both improve.