Hello friends! I’m rolling into my second trimester now and everything is starting to set in. Worries, excitement, eagerness, doubt, fear, cravings, reality, EVERYTHING. Let me share with you how I stayed positive during my first (and current) pregnancy with these simple wellness and mindfulness tips!
Pregnancy is always a lot. My first time was terrifying for me. It was so scary because
1. I didn’t think I could get pregnant
2. The thought of my body and mind going through changes when I had just found my balance emotionally and physically was terrifying
3. I didn’t know if I could handle the postpartum blues and aftermath of it all with out the help of family and friends. We had recently moved to a new state right before becoming pregnant.
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My Past Pregnancy
I’ve always been an optimist, a ‘positive radiant beam of sunshine’ as people have said to me, but when you conceive your mind starts running wild. Your body does things you don’t want it to; you don’t really have a whole lot of control.
That first trimester for me was daunting because feeling nauseous, emotional, ugly and out of control was not what I was expecting or wanted from the pregnancy. Keeping my positive mind I kept telling myself:
“This is only temporary, it could be so much worse, I could be throwing up and losing weight”
The second trimester is when everything felt like I took the reigns back. I could eat again, I had more energy, I felt somewhat attractive finally.
My current pregnancy is very similar to the last. The first trimester SUCKED. Especially when you’ve got a toddler to entertain all day it’s very exhausting, but you get through it quicker the second time.
Second trimester has been breezy. Just trying to stay active and build up my uterus strength.
My mind is still reeling with all the questions and doubts though…
“what if this baby is harder?”
“will I be able to give my other child enough attention?”
“What if he doesn’t like me?”
I realized that I couldn’t forget about all my wellness and mindfulness practices that I integrated in my non – pregnant mind.
Calming the Doubts with Mindfulness
BECOMING AWARE of your emotions and understanding that you’re being flooded with chemicals and hormones and all kinds of jazz that you aren’t used to having in a regular day of life. Knowing the temporary state your in is just a blip in the grand scheme of your parenthood. Allowing yourself to hold space for the emotions, don’t stuff them away, but don’t cling to them either. Then wave at them as they pass by after some deep breaths and maybe a glass of water.
LETTING GO of the control as needed and doing your best to know that pain and discomfort is helping your baby grow and develop. They’re taking everything from you but returning it in the form of unconditional love. Let nature run its course and if you put it into perspective that nine months of your 70/80 year life span is NOTHING!
SURRENDER EXPECTATIONS. We can’t, or maybe shouldn’t, allow expectations to run our life because life happens, plans fall through, things go wrong. Only because they can easily be let down or not met which implies disappointment, failure, rejection, guilt, etc. Every feeling we don’t want when attempting to focus on the present goodness of life. That’s where we return to, the presence of life growing inside us.
Staying Positive with Wellness
FIND SUPPORT through your partner, your friends, family, even online communities can help. Hearing beautiful birth stories and sharing fears/excitements with others is a really wonderful outlet. Especially if it’s your first. Having positive birth/motherhood affirmations was also a good thing for me, and reciting them constantly as a mantra.
EATING HEALTHY, WHOLE FOODS and steering clear of as much processed crap as possible. That will ensure you don’t feel sluggish or gross, it’ll help keep that vitality which dwindles as your countdown gets shorter. Of course there will be times where you can’t resist the pack of gummy worms at the check out counter (my pregnancy vice) so just watch your moderation and listen to your body! I’ll also add DRINK A LOT OF WATER! But that seems like a given 🙂
LIGHT PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES such as yoga, walking, swimming, are an excellent way to get you out of your head and helping that body feel great! Even chasing toddlers and house work have been good exercises for me this time around!
LOVE YOURSELF. Tell yourself you look beautiful BECAUSE YOU DO! Pamper yourself as often as you can and don’t forgot about the sacred vessel that your child needs to enter this world. Make sure that baby has a happy and healthy home to reside in for nine months until they’re ready to greet the world!
What sort of mindfulness or wellness practices helped you with your last pregnancies? Or perhaps with your upcoming pregnancy, what do you plan to do to keep your mind in the right headspace? I’d love to hear from you below in the comments!
Blessings Mamas!
xoxo, Tayler