Pregnancy and giving birth is truly the most rewarding experience any woman can go through. However, is it essential to call out on how it affects the body and the immense strength of will and effort it takes a mother to get back to the state their pre-natal body and mind were in.

There were times I used to wonder how do mothers have the strength and energy after childbirth. When I delivered my baby girl, I experienced a complete lack of energy with zero stamina to even walk a couple of steps. I needed to halt whilst walking, sit back and had a tough time doing basic tasks. My feet would feel jammed.

It was with this experience and debilitating feeling that I realized that I had to be selfish and focus on my body, which can be easy for most mothers to neglect while nursing and taking care of infants. What one must realize is that our body and health is so important to be able to run around with the child, especially if going back to work is on the charts. I did make some changes to lifestyle and focussed on the following:

1. Prioritized my things to do - it was critical to de-clutter the head and think through what needed my attention and what could wait. I learned to pause a bit, only to pick it up more enthusiastically later with a semblance of when to tackle which issue.

2. Meditate or chant - Meditation always helps in controlling and balancing the mind, body, and soul. This is a single most effective way to calm the body which is going through major hormonal upheavals. It also helps to keep a calm composure for the tasks ahead.

3. Eat right - when you feel fit, you think better. Start embracing organic foods and healthy alternatives for both you and the baby.

4. Exercise - a fit body is a fit life. Start exercising in a limited capacity to build up once again all the muscles that have been bearing the weight of pregnancy. Start slow and keep building endurance.

5. Routine - try setting a routine for yourself and the baby. Believe me, this is the best gift you can give yourself to return back to normal.

6. Sleep - whenever you can, get off devices and laptops hours before bedtime to fall asleep with natural melatonin generation.

7. Lots of giggles and hugs with the baby is the best source of fitness and health recipe! This one should be done with as much frequency as possible!

8. Keep positive - be positive and tell yourself that you can do it all. It is of critical importance to keep your and your baby's spirits high.