My mindful pregnancy practice, so far!
More happiness is coming to my life very soon! Yes, I am expecting my second baby and I can’t wait to hold this little angle in my arms. In this blog post I would like to share with you some healthy and happy pregnancy tips that have been helping me to go through this fantastic journey, so far. This is so important to give yourself the best chance of having a problem-free pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Below you will find my 10 steps to a healthy and happy pregnancy:
Meditation.
Meditation can help you to listen to your voice, your body, that small heartbeat and help you to be more energized, relaxed and focuses. How often a mum to be spends a lot of time worrying about their developing baby, about the upcoming labour, about the look. Only what is matter at this stage of your life is to connect with your growing baby and have some quiet time for yourself. Meditation can help you with so many things during your pregnancy, some of the benefits of practising meditation include:
-stress relief,
-peace of mind,
-better sleep,
-connecting to your changing body ad your growing baby,
-less tension,
-positive labour preparation,
-lower risk of postpartum depression.
Visualization.
I firmly believe that one of the very most important parts of woman’s prenatal care should be creative visualization. It is important to visualize a positive pregnancy. Visualize your baby healthy inside the womb and being delivered safely into your arms.
Pregnancy yoga.
Since I have started my second trimester, every Wednesday evening I spend at pregnancy yoga class on the yoga mat. In my opinion, yoga can help women get through their pregnancy with minimal discomfort and can teach you a corrective breathing which is very crucial. It also helps the birth and post-delivery stages. Plus posture is also improved by yoga and this can help ease back problems, which are common in pregnant women.
Theta sound.
As a Silva Method Instructor I know how beneficial Alpha and Theta sounds are for our lives. Sometimes pregnancy could be very challenging emotionally and physically. Theta sound can help to find inner peace to a future mum. Theta healing addresses issues of subconscious mind and helps to reprogram toxic thoughts and negative beliefs which sometimes can be triggered by pregnancy. Theta sound can help with overcoming fears, morning sickness, pains control and programing mind for easy childbirth. I have been listening and meditating to theta sound once a week.
Walk.
Walking is one exercise which is fun, easy and needs absolutely no equipment or special planning. All you need is a pair of good walking shoes, and you are good to go. I am a mum of three years old boy, so even if I am not in the mood to go for a walk, I am going anyway as my son loves to be outside, especially on the beach. What I like the most about my walk that it makes my physically fit, also it keeps my weight in check. Also, walking, like any other exercise, releases endorphins, the super good chemical of the body. It is a great stress-buster and elevates my mood especially on days when I am feeling extremely low.
Drinking water.
During pregnancy, your body needs more water to come with the demands of your changing body. Water is essential for healthy blood cells and to keep your body hydrated. Water is also a key component of breast milk and it is essential for good lactation if you planning to breastfeed your baby like I plan to do. It is probably not necessary to write, but FYI… I start my day with the glass of warm water and lemon and I carry my bottle of water with me everywhere.
Healthy food.
I try to eat well and healthy and I try to not eat for two. I choose foods that are high in vitamins and lower in processed sugars and fats. I notice that eating fresh fruit and vegetables can really help me to feel good during my busy day. Plus I try to avoid to eat my meals in the public places – if I can, instead I make some homemade food for myself and my family.
Good sleep.
I am lucky one, as I do not have any difficulties to sleep well during a night, but I think that there are some reasons behind:
-At least 30 minutes before I go to sleep I stay away from my phone, laptop, etc.
-I skip the late night snacks.
-I sleep on my side (most of the time on the left one), since it reduces the amount of pressure on my uterus and help me breathe better.
-Since my 6 months of being pregnant I have been sleeping with a pillow between my knees.
-I always have a bottle of water beside my bed.
-I always think of the things I am grateful for before I fall asleep.
Do what you love.
I keep myself busy with my work and projects. I try to meet with friends and other positive people I am surrounded with as much as I can. I treat myself nicely with a new haircut, some shopping, relaxation bath and a good book.
Positive attitude.
My motto during this pregnancy is ‘Stay positive no matter what’. Pregnancy is a special experience for every woman, but sometimes a pregnant woman feels all kinds of negative emotions and thoughts. This can affect pregnancy and childbirth, this is why it’s so vital to stay positive. It is so good to train a mind to think in a positive way. It’s not easy to do it, but if you put in your best effort, you’ll do it. So, for the baby’s sake and yours, try to avoid stress and stay positive, no matter how difficult some days can be. Finally, make sure you avoid negative people during your pregnancy. It’s important to surround yourself only with positive people and those who love you.
Do let me know about your happy and healthy pregnancy practice and share them in the comment box below.
The Silva Method Ireland