Lets face it becoming a mum is a bit of a shock at first, to say the least. Sleepless nights and eventful days make it a struggle to get a shower and wash your hair in the morning, never mind applying make up and fiddling with volume brushes and hairdryers. This is why most mums have swapped their kitten heels and sleek hair for the more comfortable trainers and scrunchy.

When entering into motherhood for the first time alot of women feel their identity has disappeared along with their waistline. Don't fret! All is not lost, by putting aside a little time for yourself you can recapture your sense of self, improve your overall appearance and more importantly your self-esteem.

If you just put some thinking into a new wardrobe and spend about 10 minutes in the morning on yourself you can look and feel a lot better for the day ahead. Most mums find their figure changes after giving birth (apart from those lucky few) so you may have to make some adjustments to the style of clothes you wear.

More strategically designed clothes that are loose fitting around the middle and tapered along the side can hide a multitude of sins. Get rid of all those frumpy jog suits, that way you won't be tempted to throw it on in the morning. Comprise a closet of practical well-cut outfits that can be worn daily and will flatter your figure. Jeans can still look sexy if they are well cut and accompanied by some nice sexy boots and maybe a smart figured jacket. You don't have to spend too much time on yourself too look fresh and attractive.

The key is a low maintenance, smart style that can carry you through the week without you making too much of an effort. Don't stop shopping for yourself just because you have a baby or you don't feel sexy anymore. There are plenty of stores with fabulous clothes and beautiful designs for mothers, just stay away from the jog suits. It's also a good excuse for mummy and baby to get out of the house for an hour, but don't spend too much time in the baby stores remember it's your time too.

Invest in a good haircut every four to six weeks. Explain to the stylist you need a low maintenance cut that won't need much styling. If you get some nice choppy layers that don't require blow-drying, you can apply some product and leave to dry naturally. This will give a nice tousled, frizz free look with little or no effort. While in the salon why not get your eyebrows and eyelashes dyed, this way you don't have to apply any mascara in the morning and it lasts from four to six weeks.

Invest in some good face and body products too keep your skin looking healthy and glowing. Anti puffiness eye cream will be your new best friend after all those sleepless nights and a daily exfoliater to keep your skin bright. Spend about two minutes washing your face and applying your creams, fit this into your morning routine your skin will look and feel great.

If you get your eyelashes dyed your make up bag will consist of two things, a good under eye concealer ("YSL Touche ?clat") is highly recommended) coupled with fresh pink gel blusher this will brighten up your whole face and make you look fresh and confident. Try to remember to apply some petroleum jelly to your lips through out the day to keep them soft and moist.

These basic steps will take very little time and effort each day but will affect the way you look and feel about yourself. The key is to spend an hour or two per month in the salon and ten minutes every morning on you, this is really not asking too much. Remember you were a women before you were a mother and if looking frumpy is getting you down it doesn't take a lot to get back on track. If you feel attractive and confident this will boost your self-esteem you will be a happier mummy not too mention a yummy mummy.

About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for parents and consumers on purchasing a variety of baby products which includes baby crib bedding, strollers, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.