How to restore the brain after childbirth

It has been proven that after childbirth, a woman’s brain changes both organically and functionally. Its volume decreases, memory deteriorates, even the ability to think logically decreases. Do not despair: after 6-12 months everything returns to normal. But this process can be accelerated. Do you want to know how to do it? So this article will come in handy for you.

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1. Prioritize

In many ways, the decline in cognitive functions after childbirth is due to the fact that a woman’s lifestyle is changing dramatically. She is forced to stay awake at night, spends a lot of energy on caring for the newborn, and sometimes relatives refuse to help, claiming that the mother must cope with everything herself.

This overload, especially when combined with a lack of sleep, negatively affects the brain. Therefore, Margarita Lezhepekova, a breastfeeding and time management consultant, advises first of all to learn how to correctly prioritize. Maybe you shouldn’t worry about unwashed dishes and shift this responsibility onto your spouse? Cleaning can also be entrusted to the baby’s dad. Do not strive to be perfect in everything: this can cause emotional burnout.

2. Normalization of sleep

This is difficult to do, especially in the first year of a child’s life. It is unlikely that you will be able to sleep at least 7 hours in a row. However, if you transfer some of the responsibilities to your husband, it is quite possible to normalize the regime. For example, you can take turns getting up to your baby. Adequate rest is the key to the production of the hormone melatonin, which regulates cell renewal and makes a great contribution to the functioning of the nervous system.

3. Learn new things

Naturally, when the child is very small, the mother simply does not have time to study. As your baby grows, you can start reading popular science literature, trying to memorize new facts. Try to read at least 10 pages a day.

Why is it important? Tatiana Chernigovskaya, a neurophysiologist, claims that learning new information trains the brain, forcing new neural networks to form.

4. Taking multivitamins

If mom is breastfeeding, sometimes she has to go on a strict diet. Naturally, this leads to the fact that the body does not receive enough vitamins. For normal brain function, a person needs to get vitamins of groups B and E with food. Therefore, ask your doctor to help you choose the right multivitamin complex that can be taken by lactating women.

5. Fresh air

The brain is actively consuming oxygen. Therefore, try to walk more and ventilate the room in which you are often.

6. Exercise

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. Check with your doctor to find out when to start simple workouts. Walk more, sign up for the pool, located near the house. This is important not only for regaining your figure: regular activity has been proven to improve memory.

7. Fighting depression

After giving birth, some women face the problem of postpartum depression. One of the symptoms of depression is memory impairment and decreased ability to concentrate. If these signs are accompanied by tearfulness, self-accusation, conviction that a woman is a bad mother, the alarm should be sounded.

Postpartum depression is a reason to immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medications. Launched depression can turn into a chronic stage, and then it will be much more difficult to cope with it.

8. Get plenty of liquid

Surprisingly, the brain does shrink after pregnancy. This is due to its dehydration. That is, the neurons do not disappear, but the fluid becomes less. Therefore, you should drink plenty of water to quickly restore balance (of course, if there is no kidney disease).

9. Crosswords and puzzles

It is worth trying to find time to solve crosswords and puzzles. You can set aside at least 10 minutes a day for this, starting with simple tasks and moving on to more complex ones.

10. Positive emotions

Stress always leads to poor brain function. Therefore, in order to quickly restore its work, you should give yourself pleasant emotions. Ask loved ones to take care of the baby for at least a couple of hours on the weekend, and devote this time only to yourself. Take a walk with a friend, get a manicure, take up your favorite hobby. So you will at least partially restore strength and quickly adapt to a new life period.

In the recovery of a woman after childbirth, her relatives play a huge role. The more actively they help, the more time a young mother has for rest and recovery after a huge load. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, prioritize wisely and remember that perfect moms don’t exist, and perfectionism can lead to increased stress levels!