After the first two weeks in the "early postpartum period," there is still a long way to go. Even if everyday life slowly creeps back in, the postpartum period easily lasts 6–8 weeks—that is, the entire duration of maternity leave! And for good reason, because as magical as the initial time with the baby is, everything is also brand new. We have gathered some of the things we wish we had known before birth—things we didn't have to learn the hard way ourselves!

Asking for help is SO important! Perhaps the most important thing a mother has to learn—and what is hardest for many of us to accept—is that you do NOT have to do absolutely everything by yourself. Nothing at all. There is a reason people say it takes a village to raise a baby. This is true even if you don’t have a traditional “village” in the form of a large family living right around the corner. There are plenty of support options for new mothers. For example, did you know that your health insurance provider usually provides a domestic helper during your postpartum period? Your midwife can help you arrange this, as well as assist with so many other things! Friends, family, and especially, of course, the dad can also do a great deal from the very beginning to lend a hand and support you during your postpartum period.

The important thing is to let them help, because always trying to do everything by yourself can be quite stressful in the long run—not only for you but also for those who would like to help. And you can be very specific and speak your mind. Often, others simply don’t know how best to help you—even if they want to! “Could you please cook something for us today and bring it over tomorrow?” or “Can you come over today and spend some time with the baby so I can have a quiet shower?”—anything is allowed, and there is no need to feel embarrassed! 

If the "good" advice from your mother-in-law and company feels wrong, it's okay not to accept it. You're a mother yourself now and you have a damn good feeling for what works for you and your baby, and what doesn't. Reading too many guidebooks and driving yourself crazy isn't necessarily helpful either – there are so many opinions and approaches, and ultimately it has to work for YOU, and no one else. I promise, you're doing everything just right.

Always these hormones! They don't automatically disappear after pregnancy; on the contrary. And no, there's nothing you can do about them, but yes: It will pass. For the most part at least, because hormones are also released throughout the entire breastfeeding period, and we can't guarantee that you won't shed a few tears immediately after every birth on film and television.

How do they say it so beautifully? During the postpartum period, everything needs to flow: milk, blood, and tears too. But if a perfectly normal baby blues, which most women can experience for a few days after birth, lasts longer than just a few days, it could be a very serious postpartum depression. Once again, the rule applies: seeking help is the opposite of showing weakness, because your well-being is the prerequisite for your baby's well-being.

Either way, it is important to give your feelings space. Not every mother feels the maternal love everyone always talks about at the push of a button in the delivery room. For some mothers, it only comes with time, and both are completely normal and okay.

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Breastfeeding can be so many things – and so many all at once. Beautiful and yet (at the beginning) painful, sometimes exhausting and yet so rewarding. One thing is clear: Breast milk is the best food for your baby. And even though it feels especially like nothing is working at the beginning and you have question after question about milk supply, clogged ducts and so on, it is important not to forget: This is normal!

After all, you’re looking after a little person all day – don’t forget to look after yourself too! A balanced diet is incredibly important, especially while breastfeeding – but it’s even more important to eat AT ALL! Unfortunately, that can be far too easy to forget. That’s why good preparation is essential: frozen meals, ready-to-eat snacks that friends and family can prepare for you, specialist meal delivery services for new mothers, or even a takeaway from your favourite pizzeria! And through it all: never feel guilty about ordering again or accepting help.

With the hormonal changes, your body is constantly working, and especially in summer, it can happen that when you breastfeed, it's not just the milk flowing, but also the sweat. In streams. And constantly. And at the same time, the thirst is almost unbearable, especially right at the beginning. That's normal! Just like the huge amounts of blood that leave your body, especially in the first days after birth, but also for weeks afterwards: the postpartum bleeding. Good postpartum pads – the beautiful Surfbetter pads that are as big as a forearm – are therefore particularly important and should not be missing from any postpartum gift list or preparation list.

Having a baby is no small change – it’s completely normal that it takes time to adjust. For yourself, for the dad, and especially for your relationship. Becoming parents while still remaining a couple can be quite difficult and it’s okay that you need time to find your groove. But one thing is always important: talk to each other, it helps. Promise.

Giving birth is anything but easy. You have to juggle a thousand new emotions at once. Friends without children, everyday life before the birth, and sometimes even your partner suddenly feel so far away. Instead, you sit up at night – usually alone – to nurse, even small tasks can feel overwhelming, and sometimes you simply miss your old life. All of this is completely valid and normal, and having these feelings by no means makes you a worse mother.  

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You’ve just made a human being, so everything else can wait. Even if it’s hard to delegate tasks and simply leave some things aside: now is the time to lie down, rest, and—if possible—be pampered and spoiled!

We’ve already put together a list of the best new-mom gifts for your loved ones to browse, and your pelvic floor will thank you too! After all, not only did childbirth take quite a toll on it, but so did the nine months of pregnancy. The same goes for moms who’ve had a C-section! And after a C-section, bed rest is especially important during the postpartum period, often because of the major surgery you’ve just undergone.