Mamas, your bodies are more powerful and capable than anyone gives it credit. Do not lose sight of this fact. Pregnancy can be a time of immense joy and hope but also a time of doubt. Read on, to find some words of encouragement, comfort and support as you embark on your parenthood journey. We hope that at the end of this article you will find a way to balance your confidence with any doubts that creep in.
Surround yourself with positivity
Positive thoughts can go a long way- talk to family and friends who are supporting you. Read books with birth stories which will empower you. Watch birth videos with your partner which have positive, happy outcomes. Do the things that bring you happiness and calm and fill your cup – spending time outdoors, reading, watching movies or cooking a meal with your partner, connecting with a friend over a coffee and a long chat.
Connect with your partner
Have open conversations with your partner about the changes that are coming your way. Discuss hopes, fears and anxieties. Reassure and support each other. One exercise that many parents-to-be really like is to sit together at a calm time, across a table. Each person makes a list of their hopes and fears. Exchange the list and read the items one by one and discuss what you will both do in case you are faced with the listed situation. This helps both of you to be on the same page and give you both a good peep inside each other’s thought processes.
Rest up!
Take as many chances you get to take a nap, sleep in or just snuggle in bed. Especially if you are closer to your due date. Labor and birth are hard work in and of themselves, but the real work starts after birth, taking care of the baby and recovering. Many pregnant parents in the third trimester feel tired at the end of a long day. Tuning into your body and its needs can help go a long way in preparing your body for birth. In the nights ensure you have enough pillows to support your back, knees and growing belly. In case you wake up to make a bathroom trip, it’s a good idea to eat a snack or drink a glass of milk or smoothie. Usually the glucose needs increase in pregnancy and sometimes you may wake up because of hunger as well. This helps to go right back to sleep. At other times you may wake up and not be able to go back to sleep, feeling wide awake. Best to avoid your phone at this time. Instead, you can try to play some soothing music or a relaxation/sleep script.
Nourish your body, nourish your baby
Pregnancy is a complex body process and the best you can do is focus on getting a wide variety of foods with a focus on proteins, salt and water. The more colorful your food, the more variety of micronutrients you can get. This is a good time to do blood work to test for any deficiencies and have the right supplements to boost levels. This is a good way to ensure that you are supporting your body and your baby to do the work through pregnancy, labor and birth. It usually ensures a better and easier recovery in the postpartum. Do think about hydration as well. The body is made up of 70% water and in pregnancy the fluid in the body increases almost 3 fold. Support the functioning by making water interesting. You can add cucumber, pineapple, lemon, ginger, salt, etc. You can get creative and mix it up. Drink at least 2-3 liters of water per day. Consider eating wet dates everyday. In your second trimester you can start with 2-4 and in the third trimester you can eat 4-6. It helps with a smoother labor and birth.
Move it Move it!
Movement is a sure fire way to lift up your mood with endorphins or happy hormones. It also helps balance your body, which inturn helps your baby be in a good position for birth. Join a fitness class if you haven’t already. Stretching, walking, prenatal yoga, prenatal aerobics- the options are endless. At Veira Life we offer personalised yoga sessions on Zoom with pre/postnatal yoga specialists enabling you to keep moving in the comfort of your home, no matter where you are located. Aim to exercise at least 5-6 times every week. As your pregnancy progresses, focus on mindful, slow movements to be gentle on your body. You can snack on exercise- moving about 10-15 mins, even 5 mins at different times during the day. It all adds up and it all helps. Posture is another aspect that needs focus, the right way to stand, sit and walk is important. Discuss it with your Veira coach, your doula or your care provider.
Build your Support team
It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a village to raise a mother too. Find your support systems in pregnancy who will not only help you during the 9 months but also labor, birth and especially in the postpartum period. In addition to family and friends, professionals like your care providers, Veira coaches, doula, lactation counselors, chiropractors are all people that can help you. Put up a list of resources, phone numbers and websites on your fridge. Motherhood can be quite lonely especially in the current lifestyle and family situations. Find a mother or breastfeeding support group near you. You can build a new tribe of new mothers to be there for each other.
Give yourself time in postnatal recovery
Keep in mind that your recovery postpartum may take a minimum of nine months and possibly even two years. Birth is a life altering process for both the mother and baby. Be kind to yourself and do not hesitate to ask for help. Your body will not be the same as it was before pregnancy, but you have nurtured a full baby and take pride in that. Trust your body and your instincts to do the right thing for yourself and your situation.
Conclusion
Mama, in your journey through pregnancy and motherhood, remember this: You are strong, capable, and deserving of support. Each step you take, from the moments of doubt to the moments of joy, is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Surround yourself with positivity, finding solace in the encouraging words of loved ones and the empowering stories of other mothers. Connect deeply with your partner, sharing your hopes and fears, and creating a bond that will carry you through the challenges ahead. Prioritize rest, allowing your body to rejuvenate and prepare for the incredible work of birth and the demands of caring for a newborn. Nourish yourself and your baby with a vibrant array of foods, staying hydrated and mindful of the nutrients your body needs. Embrace movement, savoring the endorphins and the harmony it brings to your body and your baby’s positioning. Seek out a support system, whether it’s the caring guidance of professionals or the understanding embrace of fellow mothers. And as you embark on the transformative postpartum period, be patient and kind to yourself, understanding that healing and adjustment take time. Embrace the beauty of this journey, celebrating the profound love and strength that flows through you.
How can Veira Life Support You?
Parenthood can be a time of excitement, nervousness and a conviction to do the best by your little one. Rest assured, at Veira Life, we want you to have the best start possible, we are here for you every step of the way. Our prenatal classes are engaging, multi-modal and packed with resources that provide you all the relevant information you need in each of the phases in a structured and modular manner. Every user on the platform is paired with their dedicated Veira Coach. Veira Coaches are certified doulas, midwives, childbirth educators or lactation counsellors with years of experience supporting pregnant and new mothers through their transition into motherhood. The coaches are available to answer any questions you have, ease your anxieties, even help preempt the challenges coming your way and support you in a holistic and compassionate manner. At Veira our mission is to provide personalised pregnancy and postnatal support to women throughout their motherhood journeys. Register to try it out for yourself.
Author Bio
Chetana is a skilled and passionate Childbirth Educator trained in the Lamaze philosophy of childbirth preparation. She is also a Lactation Educator-Counselor and practicing midwife. She has developed a holistic childbirth preparation course which she has delivered to hundreds of families and has founded a highly rated natural birth center in Bangalore, India. She has over 11 years of experience supporting families through their journey and transition into parenthood.
