It’s no secret that a mother goes through many changes during and after pregnancy, both in her life and her body. While she is always there to look after her children, she must also remember to take care of herself.
This highlights the importance of postnatal care and why mums shouldn’t hesitate to reach out for help or guidance.
Whether you’re a new mum or not, it’s always best to learn more about how you can take care of your body during and after pregnancy.
To look into the importance of pre and postnatal care for mums, theAsianparent spoke to the Founder of Schöne mama Singapore and mum of two, Veronica Ni.
From Being A Caring Mum To Taking Care Of All Mums In Singapore
Image source: Veronica Ni
Veronica Ni is a happy mother of two little girls aged two and five. She was born in Shanghai and raised in Singapore since she was seven years.
She had her first daughter Lauren in 2016–when she was 28-years-old–through an epidural-free delivery. Giving birth to her second daughter was not an easy journey either as it was a breech birth.
“Parenting is always about learning – as my children grow, I learn more every day; since having them, I’ve learnt to be more compassionate and empathetic,” Veronica tells theAsianparent.
When asked how being a mum has changed her life, Veronica shared that despite always adoring children, she couldn’t handle a child’s meltdown. But after having her own daughter, Veronica’s maternal instincts kicked in.
“I’ve learnt to be more patient than before. No parent enjoys a tantrum or a meltdown from their child, but I’ve learnt to dig deep down to try to communicate and understand what they are facing or experiencing that results in their attitude,” shares Veronica.
She added, “I would like to take this chance to share with mummies the importance of self-love. You must be able to take care of yourself before taking care of your kids. Kids need fair attention from parents therefore, it is important to spend plenty of time with your kids whenever possible.”
Wanting to help other women along their motherhood journey, Veronica started Schöne mama Singapore that helps mothers recuperate after birth using scientific technology and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) knowledge.
With an aim to spread the importance of pre and postnatal care, Schöne mama Singapore provides mums with all the support and guidance they may need.
They do this by offering a one-stop comprehensive pre and postnatal healthcare centre that focuses on providing health assessments, counselling, and guidance for women.
Balancing Work-life With Motherhood
Image source: Veronica Ni
The journey to both motherhood and her entrepreneurship was, of course, not without a few challenges along the way.
Veronica shares that in the beginning, it was “draining” for there was a lot on her plate. She not only had to focus on her newborn baby but breastfeeding as well. This made her “physically and emotionally overwhelmed.”
One of the most imperative parenting challenges that Veronica has personally faced is having to juggle time between a plethora of duties. This includes being a working professional having to complete office tasks and being a mother looking after kids, and herself.
“An exhausted mom often fears that they are not being good enough, relinquishing control and losing their sense of self. But mummies need to know that the perfect mother doesn’t exist,” she says.
Veronica makes sure to add, “We should try not to let any forms of pressure create unrealistic ideals that will undermine our capacity and self-confidence. Every mother is the embodiment of love and selflessness – we are always there for our children, regardless.”
As for how she manages to balance her many roles as a mum and professional, Veronica says that she realised just how important it is to prioritise.
“Sometimes, I like to remind myself that instead of dwelling on how I’m not with my children, I would like to complete my work on time so that I can spend my evenings and weekends with them,” she shares. Adding, “On the weekends, I like to arrange plenty of activities with my girls and give us a chance to bond.”
“There are more aspects than just being a mother – as a working professional, I take advantage of my knowledge as a mother to provide mothers who are seeking help for concerns that they are facing, and I enjoy sharing the journey with them along the way,” notes the mumpreneur.
“As a mother, I struggle with always being able to always be there for my girls. Children grow up so quickly, I feel like I’m missing out on milestones in their lives,” Veronica continues to share. Adding, “But I remind myself to work quickly and efficiently so that I can go home on time to see my girls and to find out how their day has been like.”
The Challenges Of Wanting To Share The Importance Of Postnatal Care And Being A Mum Herself
Image source: Veronica Ni
The successful mum of two actually started Schöne mama Singapore due to her personal experience post her first child, Lauren. It was during this time that she couldn’t find a suitable postnatal care centre in Singapore that could help resolve her postpartum issues.
While having trouble with blocked ducts and mastitis, Veronica saw a gap in Singapore’s postnatal recovery services. Because of this, she wanted to provide other mums the same help and experience she received in Shanghai when she went back to visit her family.
“The results and reviews we’ve received from our customers who have benefited from our treatments continue to push us to be able to provide even more for them,” shares the mumpreneur.
But it wasn’t easy getting to where she is now. The biggest difficulty Veronica faced when she first started out as a business owner was the last of awareness of the importance of postnatal centres. It was also a challenge to educate the Singapore market about Schöne mama.
Despite having faith that Schöne mama would be beneficial for mothers, it was difficult since they used Traditional Chinese Medicine and scientific approaches to provide health recuperation. This was compared to Jamu massages, which Singaporeans are more used to.
“As such, we aim to be a pre and postnatal healthcare centre and we educate mummies about what Schöne mama is all about, along with the importance of postpartum recovery,” says the centre Founder.
Importance Of Pre And Postnatal Care That Every Mum Should Know
Image source: iStock
On the importance of pre and postnatal care, Veronica explains that a mother’s body goes through so many changes during pregnancy. Their body’s muscles and organs shift to accommodate the baby as they develop. This can cause concerns such as:
- Pain in the upper or lower back
- Postnatal weight gain that can’t seem to be lost
- Lactation problems
“It is important to treat such concerns once it’s spotted to prevent further discomfort. To be able to keep up with our children throughout their growth and to keep fit, it is very important to take good care of ourselves first,” says Veronica.
Over the years, Veronica and her team have learnt the importance of a good physical condition and taking care of the body in preparation for birth.
For instance, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes in the 180 days Golden Recovery Period, which is very important for postnatal women to recuperate from childbirth to allow the body to repair itself. TCM believes that giving birth is a rebirth and a second chance to “repair” the body.
5 Tips On How Mothers Can Take Care Of Their Bodies Pre And Post Pregnancy
For the ladies who are planning to have a baby, Veronica advises preparing the body by undertaking the following practices
- Not drinking cold water
- Avoid walking around barefoot at home
- Avoid being under the air conditioners directly
- Reserve time to exercise to keep your body physically well
- Have ample amount of sleep
Veronica signs off with an important piece of advice. “Always have time for yourself. It can be a short walk around your neighbourhood, enjoying a facial, spa or even an exercise session would serve as a good breather for every mother. It’s always important to love yourself to fully provide for your children,” she says.
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