Emily Carlson, BSN, RN, is a mother of four and works full-time for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC) as a Bright Start home visiting nurse. She divides her time caring for her family and providing personalized nursing care to the first-time mothers enrolled in Bright Start. Balancing work and life can be overwhelming, and she practices and promotes self-care to maintain well-being.
“As a mom of four kids under five, I understand how easy it is to get swept away in motherhood and filling everyone else’s cup. I also understand how exhausting it can be and how rejuvenating taking a little time for self-care can be,” shared Carlson.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in five mothers experience mental health conditions during pregnancy or the first year after childbirth.
“When working with new moms, I really want them to understand how important it is to keep their own cup full while filling the cups of others,” explained Carlson. “Mothers need to take the time to care for themselves so they can take care of others.”
For both new and experienced mothers, it is incredibly easy to prioritize work, home, and family before their own needs. Taking care of others is natural for many women. Many mothers have full days and find it difficult to prioritize time to relax and have fun. Practicing self-care improves physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The Ross Center article, Maternal Mental Health: Prioritizing Self-Care for Moms, provides a list of helpful self-care tips.
- Delegate and ask for help
- Stay organized
- Focus on basic healthy lifestyle habits
- Schedule time for self-care
- Take breaks
- Practice mindfulness
- Connect with others
- Engage in physical activity
The Bright Start program provides pregnancy and parenting support and education to eligible first-time mothers in South Dakota. Anyone can start the Bright Start enrollment process by completing the referral form for themself, a friend, or a family member.
