New Moms: Remember to Baby Yourself

The ride home from the hospital was a blur. Our new family of three hit the front door, and I made the mental checklist: The crib was put together. Burp cloths and onesies were washed, folded and ready to go. Heck, I'd even installed all those outlet covers. When it came to our baby's needs, I had everything covered. So why did I feel so unprepared?

"No matter how much people try to prepare you, becoming a parent is always full of surprises," says Yvonne Gustafson, Parent Consultant of the Elizabeth Blackwell Center at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. One important rule for surviving postpartum challenges seems simple enough before delivery, but often gets lost among the earliest mounds of newborn diapers: taking care of mommy is one of the best ways to take care of your little one.

Let's face it, at a time when it feels impossible to move your focus from your bundle of joy long enough to brush your teeth, it may seem easier said than done. Still, keeping in mind even a few of the new mom survival tips below can help you make it through with your sanity (and your oral health) intact.